DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris wenczeli (wingspan: males: 72-81mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 37-40mm; females: ) flies in
Mexico: southwestern Oaxaca, road San Gabriel (Mixtepec)-San Pedro, Portillo Lachao Viejo.

Visit comparison chart to help distinguish between maeonia, adusta, wenczeli, nogueiria and frankae.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in May and July; at elevations of 2200-2400m. There are probably additional flight months.

Host plants are as yet unknown.

Automeris wenczeli male (PT), 81mm, southwestern Oaxaca, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters of 6-40+ on hostplant twigs. Larvae have urticating spines and are gregarious, especially in the early instars.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I am not aware of the source for Automeris. The species name, "wenczeli" is honourific for Bernhard Wenczel.