DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris despicata (wingspan: males: 72-91mm; females: 82-94mm // forewing length: males: ; females: 46-51mm) flies in
eastern Peru: HT Junin: Junin: Chuchurras; Pasco: Oxapampa; Madre de Dios;
Ecuador: Marona-Santiago (FB);
French Guiana: Saint Laurent du Maroni; at elevations from 200-900m.

Although the Holotype is listed as Chuchurras, Junin in Lemaire's Hemileucinae, 2002, I think Chuchurras is further north in Pasco. Perhaps the river runs into western Junin Department in the Province of Junin (Bill Oehlke)

The almost straight forewing pml is pre-apical, scarcely discernable (slightly darker with faint inward tracing of white) as it approaches the very slightly produced apex. The outer margin is slightly hollowed out just below the apex. Most of the am line is scarcely discernable, like the pml, it is almost concolourus (slightly darker with faint outward tracing of white) with rest of brownish grey forewing. The cell is slightly darker grey, often with the inner and outer dark spots at the tips of the projections at its base, connected by thin dark lines.

The inner black ring of the hindwing ocellus (larger than in cintistriga) is thick. The iris is concolorous with forewing ground cover. Small black pupil is heavily suffused with white. The yellow ring is very thin, scarcely visible if present on upper half oriented toward body when spread. Very very thin outer suffusion of back dots, not a continuous outer black ring.

In 2011, Brechlin and Meister published a description and image of what they believed to be a new species, Automeris santaclariana, which is very similar to Automeris duchartrei. Frederic Beneluz recently (November 4, 2013) sent me a pdf copy of The European Entomologist Vol 4. Number 4 where he describes and depicts for the first time males of Automeris despicata. Previously only the female had been described. DNA analysis shows despicata to be quite distinct from A. duchartrei with which it had often been confused, but Brechlin and Meister apparently did not check the Barcode for the specimens they were describing as santaclariana with the DNA for the female despicata. Beneluz confirms places santaclariana in synonymy with Automeris despicata, and confirms specimens of despicata from Peru, Ecuador and French Guiana.

Automeris despicata male (verso), Morona Santiago, Ecuador,
January 12, 1975, 900m, courtesy of Frederic Beneluz.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in July. Larval host plants are unknown.

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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72mm dh

73mm rb

76mm dh

84mm fm

91mm rr

The almost straight forewing pml is pre-apical, scarcely discernable (slightly darker with faint inward tracing of white) as it approaches the very slightly produced apex. The outer margin is slightly hollowed out just below the apex. Most of the am line is scarcely discernable, like the pml, it is almost concolourus (slightly darker with faint outward tracing of white) with rest of brownish grey forewing. The cell is slightly darker grey, often with the inner and outer dark spots at the tips of the projections at its base, connected by thin dark lines.

The inner black ring of the hindwing ocellus (larger than in cintistriga) is thick. The iris is concolorous with forewing ground cover. Small black pupil is heavily suffused with white. The yellow ring is very thin, scarcely visible if present on upper half oriented toward body when spread. Very very thin outer suffusion of back dots, not a continuous outer black ring.