Based on Lemaire's descriptions, I believe the top specimen is Automeris innoxia and the bottom specimen is Automeris arminia, corrected (2014) to Automeris elenensis.

Frederic Beneluz indicates the top specimen is more likely Automeris pomifera based on hindwing shape, especially at the hindwing anal angle. However, Brechlin & Meister 2011 confirm that Automeris pomifera lacks the small white dot that is present in A. arminia. I now believe that both species are indeed A. arminia and the excessively falcate forewing appearance of the lower specimen might be result of spreading set rather than natural appearance.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866 Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866 Genus: Automeris, Hubner, [1819]

DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris arminia (wingspan: males: 65-86mm; females: 84-94mm) flies in
Suriname: Brokopondo;
southeastern Venezuela: Bolivar;
Guyana: Mazaruni-Potaro;
French Guiana: Fleuve L'Oyapok, Saint Georges, Camopi, Coralie, Regina, Saul, Piste du Plateau des Mines, Maripasoula, Monts Tumac-Humac, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Belizon;
Ecuador: Orellana (TS); and
north central Brazil: Para.

The male's forewings are extremely falcate and the pm line broadly preapical.

Automeris arminia / elenensis / elcearaiana male, 75mm, National Road, French Guiana,
January 2015, courtesy of Philippe Brems, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

My first choice for the specimen directly above is A. arminia, but it could also be either of the other two species mentioned. The hindwing is most similar to the single specimen type of Automeris elcearaiana.

Lemaire notes the great similarity between A. arminia and A. innoxia, and indicates A. arminia has the more falcate forewing and squarer anal angle.

Examination of male genitalia shows a significantly larger bulbus ejaculatorius in A. innoxia, about twice as long as the aedeagus, whereas in arminia the structures are the same length.

Lemaire also indicates in text that innoxia has a white dot in the forewing cell area, and this same dot is missing in arminia, but his images reveal just the opposite.

Remarkably, in his description of A. elenenis Lemaire writes, "and unlike in Automeris arminia, there is no white dot at the center of the discal spot." So there is some confusion or variability regarding the white dot. Brechlin and Meister, 2011, continue to recognize both arminia and innoxia as distinct species.

Automeris arminia male, 69mm, Rio Tiputini, Orellana, Ecuador,
October 1, 2000, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris arminia male, 69mm, Rio Tiputini, Orellana, Ecuador,
September, 2000, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

The moths depicted above have some of the characters of A. pomifera and some for A. innoxia and some for A. pomiferoides. Based solely on elevation, it should be innoxia. The presence of the white dot in the forewing cell seems to confirm innoxia, but there are other characters more supportive of pomifera. I favour pomifera or pomiferoides.

The Automeris arminia group consists of six species as of 2011 (8 species as of 2014 with the additions of parafera and elcearaiana):
1) A. arminia males have a markedly produced, falcate forewing apex. The forewing discal mark, outlined in very dark brown to black, is relatively small and dark, and may or may not host a tiny white dot. A. arminia is a Guyano-Amazonian species. Lemaire's 2002 Hemileucinae Plate 58 image shows a moth, labelled arminia, with markedly produced forewing apices with a small white dot in center of forewing cell. His text description for that species indicates that the small white dot in the forewing cell is "apparently lacking", but in another place he writes of A. elenensis: "and unlike in Automeris arminia, there is no white dot at the center of the discal spot." An image I have of a moth from this group with a markedly produced, falcate forewing apex from Bernhard Wenczel shows a small white dot in the center of the forewing cell. A smaller image I have from Carlot Didier, also with the markedly produced, falcate forewing apex, has no white cell mark readily apparent. An image from French Guiana Systematics shows only the tiniest indication of a small white dot in the forewing cell.

As of December 2012, there are six representatives in the Automeris arminia subgroup. Based on the many digital images I have received, I think the ranges indicated by Lemaire, Hemileucinae, 2002, may be more extensive than indicated. I am now attempting to organize the images into the best appearance-matches, regardless of geographic location.

Group members with a white dot in the forewing cell.

Automeris arminia Pm line, with light inward tracing, slightly concave in upper third apex greatly produced Small cell, usually darker than surrounding area, often outlined in black GC often darker, more grey brown

Automeris innoxia Pm line, with light inward tracing and broadly preapical, subparallel to slightly concave outer margin Gc lighter brown than pomiferoides, cell smaller than in pomiferoides Apex less produced compared to similar species.

Automeris pomiferoides Pm line, devoid of light tracing and less preapical, very straight except for slight outturn near inner margin Gc deeper reddish brown, and fw cell larger than in similar species Hw ocellus larger than in similar species.

Automeris schwartze Very dark, straight, broadly preapical pm line median area much lighter than basal or subterminal areas long hairs in hw basal area light brown as opposed to red in other species small hw ocellus

Group members without a white dot in the forewing cell.

Automeris pomifera

Automeris elensis

Automeris arminia male, Coralie, French Guiana,
92mm, courtesy of Alex Cahurel.

Automeris arminia male, French Guiana,
French Guiana Systematics, on my home computer only.

2) A. innoxia males have a forewing apex that is produced, but not to the extent of arminia. The forewing discal spots is slightly larger than in arminia, and there is no white dot in the center of the forewing discal spot. Guiano-Amazon
3) A. elenensis (HT: Bolivar, Venezuela) is intermediate between the two previous species with regard to produced apex. The cell spot is also devoid of the white dot. Venezuela
4) A. pomifera has the least produced apex, and the cell mark is also devoid of the white dot. Colombia
5) A. pomiferoides has a forewing apex more produced than pomifera. There is a white dot in the center of the cell. Peru; Ecuador to Bolivia
6) A. schwartzi has distinctly darker basal area, and a forewing apex that is only very slightly produced. There is a white dot in the forewing cell. The hindwing is quite distinct with small ocellus, more orangey median area colour, brownish hairs in basal area and along inner margin. Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Distinguishing between the six species in the Automeris arminia Group can be very challenging as there are great similarities between many of the species. Fortunately the choices can be somewhat reduced by the fact that Automeris schwartzi does have a distinct forewing pattern with a basal area significantly darker than the median area. This same dark colour appears in the forewing subterminal band and also in the hindwing postmedian band. The hindwing ocellus of A. schwartzi is relatively small, and the hairs along the hindwing inner margin are brown as opposed to reddish in the other five species.

It is believed that Automeris elenensis may have a very restricted range in Venezuela: Bolivar (bordering Brazil): Sierra de Lema, at elevations near 1350m. A. elenensis is devoid of the white dot in the forewing cell, and the forewing am line is scarcely indented at the cubitus.

The remaining four species in the group are more challenging, but location can help as both Automeris arminia and Automeris innoxia are thus far only confirmed in the Guiano-Amazonian region while Automeris pomifera and Automeris pomiferoides seem to have a much more westerly range on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Automeris arminia, a Guiano-Amazonian species has the most produced, forewing apex, considerably more so than does A. innoxia which flies in the same general area. Both Automeris arminia and Automeris innoxia are reported to have the small white dot in the discal cell. A. arminia has been reported at elevations from 105m-1100m, and A. innoxia is sympatric with it in most locations. A. innoxia has an overall darker appearance, and the outer forewing outer margin of A. innoxia is much more oblique in its course from the less hollowed out region to the anal angle.

Automeris arminia male, Amazone Nature Lodge, Kaw Rd 6, French Guiana,
80mm, September 2018, courtesy of Roy Morris.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In French Guiana the moth has been taken from November-May and again in July.

In Venezuela, the moth has been taken from July-September. Roy Morris specimen suggests a September flight in French Guiana.

Hostplant is unknown.

Automeris arminia female, French Guiana,
courtesy of Frederic Beneluz.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky. The forewings of the male have pronounced "hooks" as evidenced in this image from French Guiana, courtesy of Carlot Didier.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are probably deposited in clusters of 6-40+ on hostplant twigs. Larvae probably 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, but arminia might be for the Cheruscian chieftain Arminius, who defeated a Roman army in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest."