Automeris muscula
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, March 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Carlos Mielke (Parana), April 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Chris Conlan (Prunus salicifolia), April 2008
Updated as per ZOOLOGIA LEPIDÓPTEROS DE IMPORTÂNCIA MÉDICA OCORRENTES NO RIO GRANDE DO SUL. III. SATURNIIDAE – HEMILEUCINAE (flight months; location; foodplants); Alexandre Specht; Elio Corseuil; Aline Carraro Formentini

Automeris muscula
(Vuillot, 1893) Hylesia

Automeris muscula male, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

TAXONOMY:

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

MIDI MUSIC

"Someone to Watch Over Me"
copyright C. Odenkirk
ON.OFF
<bgsound src="watch.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris muscula (wingspan: males: 50-58mm; females: 65-80mm) flies in
southeastern Brazil: Rio de Janeiro; Parana (CM); Santa Catarina; (probably Sao Paulo (WO?)); Rio Grande Do Sul (AS).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, March, June-July, September-October-November-December.

Automeris muscula larvae can be fed on Rosa. Natural hosts are unknown. Chris Conlan reports them on Prunus salicifolia.

Automeris muscula female, Brazil, courtesy of Carlos Mielke.

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 muscula sixth instar, on Prunus salicifolia, Brazil, courtesy of Chris Conlan.

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.

Prunus salicifolia (CC) .......
Rosa

Capulin Cherry
Rose

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