DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris ecuata (wingspan: males: 54-60mm; females: 81mm) flies in
Ecuador: Pastaza: Santa Clara, Horst Kaech, 2008-02-01;
Napo: Hollin, 2001-06-11 (HK);
Napo: Tena, 1994-10-19; Misahualli; Candu;
Orellana: Yasuni, September, 300m (TS); Sucumbios: Lumbaqui 650m; and
Peru: ?Cusco?: Chontachaka (800-1200m EvS).

This species lacks the reddish tone to the basal hairs found in A. atrolimbata.

The forewing cell mark tend to be quite wide, more so than in the very similar parecuata. The hindwing pupil is black with a heavy suffusion of white on the pupil and onto the dark surrounding iris. The hindwing pm line is black, slightly undulating and not quite as thick as the very smooth line/band in parecuata, which has an overall darker appearance and more yellow, less orange hindwing median field.

Visit Automeris cecrops Group Comparison Plate: Ecuador for thumbnail images and notes on all the Automeris species found in Ecuador that belong in the Automeris cecrops Group.

Automeris ecuata male (probably parecuata), (59mm), Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
October 2003, 400m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in February, June and September-October.

Automeris ecuata (possibly parecuata) female, Las Minas, Napo, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris harrisorum (revised id to A. ecuata),
female, July 15, 2004, Cando, Napo Province, Ecuador,
courtesy of Horst Kach, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris harrisorum(revised id to A. ecuata),
female (verso), July 15, 2004, Cando, Napo Province, Ecuador,
courtesy of Horst Kach, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

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.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) fifth instar, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) eggs, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
October 16, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) second instar, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
November 28, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) second instar, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
November 28, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) fourth instar, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
December 22, 2007, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) fifth instar, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
January 31, 2008, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

Automeris annulata (probably A. ecuata) sixth instar, Lumbaqui, Sucumbios, Ecuador,
January 27, 2008, courtesy/copyright Horst Kach.

The species name, "ecuata" is indicative of a specimen type location in Ecuador and a great physical similarity to both atrolimbata and annulata.

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.

Salix .......

Willow (KW)

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