DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris amoena amoena moth (wingspan: males: 69-92mm; females: 83-103mm) flies in tropical rain forests in
French Guiana: Cayenne, Kourou, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Coralie, Kaw;
Guyana: Kartabo;
Venezuela: Bolivar, Teritorio Delta Amacuro, Miranda;
Peru: Junin, Pasco;
Bolivia: La Paz, Santa Cruz;
Paraguay: Guaira (CL), southern Presidente Hayes, San Pedro, Canindeyu, Alto Parana, Cordillera, Caaguazu, Paraguari, Caazapa, Itapua, and (possibly Asuncion, Central and Itapua confirmed by Paul Smith: see image); and
Brazil: Paraiba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Mato Grosso, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo; from sea level - 1800 m.

Visit Automeris amoena amoena female (recto and verso), Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, September 22, 2009, courtesy of Larry Valentine, from larva found and reared and pictured, November 14, 2008, and April 10, 2009.

Lemaire groups illustris, amoena, amoena rotunda and coresus as having abdomens that are usually orange, matching the basal area of the hindwings. The forewing postmedial line is preapical.

A. amoena generally has a larger, more rounded pupil with a lighter iris; A. amoena rotunda has a concave outer margin and a markedly concave postmedial line; A. coresus has a basic ground colour of ash-gray.

Note the thin yellow line around the hw eyespot.

Here is a very beautiful aberration from Eurides Furtado.

Automeris amoena amoena female, wingspan: 90 mm,
Reserva Vale da Solidão 14o22’S 56o07’W, 450 m,
Mato Grosso, Brazil. December, courtesy of Eurides Furtado

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in January, June-July, November-December in Venezuela; March, May, September in Peru, suggesting at least three broods.

In Europe, Bernhard Wenczel reports Fagus silvatica and Quercus are used with good success.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Automeris amoena amoena female by Viktor Suter, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Automeris amoena amoena male by Viktor Suter, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

Automeris amoena male, Ecuador??,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters of 6-40 on hostplant stems and branches. Like all Automeris larvae, caterpillars are gregarious and have urticating spines. First instar image by Bernhard Jost.

Lateral view of fifth instar larva, courtesy of Chris Conlan, reveals longitudinal white subspiracular line and red spiracle circles.

Even while moving, the larvae is well protected with branching spines that leave few areas of the dorsal surface uncovered. Bernhard Jost image

In this "cut-away" view by Bernhard Jost, the wider outline of the male antennae is clearly visible on the pupal shell. Females tend to be considerably larger than males. The discarded skin of the final moult remains in the cocoon.

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.

Crataegus Fagus silvatica........ Quercus Salix capraea

Hawthorn European Beech Oak Willow

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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, but amoena is the Latin word for beautiful, delightful or dressy.

Automeris amoena male, Santa Cruz, Bolivia,
on my home computer only.