DISTRIBUTION:

Automerella winbrechlini (wingspan: males: 53mm, probably smaller than females; female: 67mm // forewing length: males: 25-27mm; females: 39mm) flies in
northeastern Brazil: Bahia: near Camacan and Marau.

This species is very similar to the larger Automerella aurora (male forewing length: 28-32mm). It is also very similar to the recently described slightly smaller Automerella chrisbrechlinae (male forewing length: 21-25mm) from Santa Catarina, Brazil.

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, Brazil, has been given distinct species status by Carlos Mielke. Previously rubicunda had been designated a junior synonym of aurora. Carlos indicates 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 in the aurora-like group.

The forewing ground colour of winbrechlini is brighter than that aurora, but the dark markings are darker in winbrechlini, giving the moth an appearance of strong contrasts.

The forewing pm line of winbrechlini runs subparallel to the line of the costa toward the middle of the cell before turning abruptly downward in a slightly concave run to the inner margin. In aurora the fw pm line runs in a slight curve toward the bottom of the cell, and then continues the curveto the inner margin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April, at elevations of 150-750m.

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Automerella winbrechlini AT female, 67mm, near Marau, Bahia, Brazil,
April, 2001, 150m, on my home computer only.

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, 'winbrechlini' is honourific for Dr. Winfried Brechlin, father of Ron Brechlin.

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