DISTRIBUTION:

Automerella chrisbrechlinae (wingspan: males: 43-50mm, probably smaller than females; female: ? 58mm // forewing length: males: 21-25mm; females: ? 29mm) flies in
southeastern Brazil: Santa Catarina: Sao Bento do Sul: Rio Vermelho.

This species is very similar to the larger Automerella aurora (male forewing length: 28-32mm) and possibly replaces it in Santa Catarina with aurora flying in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo and Mato Grosso. It is also very similar to the recently described Automerella winbrechlini (male forewing length: 25-27mm) from Bahia.

While I was searching the internet to see if I could find any images of this moth, I learned that Automerella rubicunda from Petropolis, Rio de Janeiro, has been given distinct species status by Carlos Mielke. Previously rubicunda had been designated a junior synonym of aurora. Carlos indicates that both aurora and rubicunda fly in Rio de Janeiro, but indicates rubicunda flies at higher elevation, and he does not think the two species are sympatric in that state.

View the comparison plate via the link on the Automerella genus page, for quick comparison and notes. It might be necessary to do DNA barcoding analysis to determine the four species which fortunately are quite distinct from miersi and flexuosa.

I think Automerella chrisbrechlinae probably replaces Automerella aurora in Santa Catarina, Parana and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and in Misiones, Argentina.

The following images were all originally placed on the A. aurora page, but I believe they are all more likely Automerella chrisbrechlinae.

Automerella aurora (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae) male courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Automerella aurora (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae) male courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Automerella aurora (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae) male, Don Enrique Lodge, Saltos del Mocona, Misiones, Argentina,
courtesy of Luis Cesar Tejo.

Automerella aurora (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae) male, Don Enrique Lodge, Saltos del Mocona, Misiones, Argentina,
courtesy of Luis Cesar Tejo.

A. aurora (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae) is also confirmed now in
??Argentina: ??Misiones, by Luis Cesar Tejo.

Ezequiel Osvaldo Núñez Bustos sent me a paper in August 2015 which includes Automerella aurora (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae) in northeastern Argentina: Misiones.

Automerella aurora female (more likely A. chrisbrechlinae),
Rio Natal, Sao Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
58mm, 500m, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January-February, at elevations of 400-880m.

Larvae will likely likely accept Fagus, Ligustrum, Quercus and Robinia pseudoacacia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Automerella chrisbrechlinae males fly into the wind to track the female pheromone.

Automerella chrisbrechlinae male, Sao Bento do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae probably have urticating spines and are probably gregarious in their habits, at least in the early instars.

Larval Food Plants

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

Fagus Liburnum Quercus Robinia pseudoacacia.....

Beech Privet Oak False acacia

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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.

Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

I do not know the source of the genus name 'Automerella', but it may have been for the likeness to small Automeris species.

The species name, 'chrisbrechlinae' is honourific for Dr. Christiane Brechlin, mother of Ron Brechlin.

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