DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris midea moth (wingspan: males: 68-89mm; females: 88-114mm) flies in tropical rain forest from sea level to 1500 m in the Guyano-Amazonian region:
Brazil: Amazonas, Para, Mato Grosso, (probably Amapa (WO?));
Bolivia: Beni (more likely Automeris mideperuensis);
French Guiana: Riviere Orapu, Cayenne, Regina, Montsinery, Sinnamary, Saint-Elie, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Piste Plateau des Mines, Haut Maroni, Saul, Coralie, Cacao, Belizon;
Guyana: East Demerara-West Coast Berbice, Mazaruni-Potaro;
Venezuela: Amazonas, Bolivar;
Ecuador: Orellana, Napo, Pastaza and Morona-Santiago (more likely Automeris midenapoensis);
Peru: Loreto (more likely Automeris amaloretensis), Amazonas, San Martin, Junin (VI), Cusco, Puno (more likely Automeris mideperuensis); and
probably in Suriname.

The hindwing eyespot has a small white pupil, a dark iris and a wide yellow outer ring. The forewing pm line is straight to slightly concave, usually relatively close and parallel to the outer margin (slightly concave) and is preapical. The fw basal area is darker than the median area which often has a bit of a purplish tinge. Lemaire remarks that some specimens are quite dark and sometimes the hindwing basal median area is black. This is also confirmed by the imagein the Entomo-Satsphingia journal Jarhgang 4, Heft 1 23.03.2011.

Automeris midea male, 79mm, melanic or very dark form, Rio Tiputini, Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador,
October 2001, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

The thorax is dark to light brown; the abdomen is slightly lighter. it is quite similar in wing patterning to A. cinctistriga.

Based on recent (2011) DNA barcoding analysis, I believe specimens with a more produced apex from Peru, and possibly Boliva are the recently described Automeris mideperuensis. Those specimens from Ecuador are probably A. midenapoensis, and those from Amazonas and Loreto, Peru, are probably A. amaloretensis.

Automeris midea male (probably something else), French Guiana, courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in March, August, December-January-Februay, suggesting two or three broods at least. Automeris midea larvae feed on Salix.

Automeris midea male (more likely Automeris mideperuensis), Beni, Bolivia,
T. Decaëns & G. Lecourt

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females.

Automeris midea (female), French Guiana, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris midea gynandromorph, French Guiana, copyright Steve Kohll

Of the gynandromorph, Steve writes, "Today, I send you a picture of a perfect bilateral gynander of Automeris midea, reared on beech, from French Guiana; already the caterpillar looked quite strange, having a somewhat "inflated" aspect, a little bit like the Michelin tire man...sorry that I didn't take a picture of it as far as I recall...Hope you enjoy!"

Automeris midea male, French Guiana,
April 1, 2011, courtesy of Andres Urbas.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious.

Urticating spines offer the Automeris midea larvae much protection.

Automeris midea, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe

Automeris midea 7th instar, (more likely Automeris mideperuensis), Peru, copyright Viktor Suter

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.

Fagus Salix........

Beech (SK) 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 midea is a famous ancient city from Greek mythology. Midea is also the name of a Phrygian woman who is a concubine of King Electryon 1 of Mycenae.

Automeris midea male, French Guiana,
on my home computer only.