DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudautomeris arminirene (wingspan: males: 65-70mm; females: 75-102mm // male forewing length: 32-34mm) flies in
northeastern Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Orellana, Tungurahua, Morona-Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe and Pastaza; and
Peru: Huanuco, Cusco, Junin, Madre de Dios and Puno; and in
Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba and Chuquisaca; and probably in southeastern Colombia in tropical rain forest (100 - 1600 m).

Up until 2013, this species was treated as a subspecies of Automeris irene.

Pseudautomeris arminirene male?? (possibly marceli), 74mm, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador,
October, 2003, 400m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, id by Bill Oehlke.

Based on DNA barcoding analysis I now (2012) believe those specimens previously thought to be P. arminirene from Peru (Cusco south to Puno) are more likely Pseudautomeris arminicuscoensis and those similar specimens from Bolivia are Pseudautomeris arminiyungasensis. I have moved those images from those locales from this page to the respective files.

More recently, a slightly larger new species, P. marceli (male forewing length: 35-37mm), has been described from Orellana and Zamora-Chinchipe, Ecuador. It seems to have a lighter median field compared to arminirene, and heavier dark grey rather than brown suffusions.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth likely broods continuously with peak flights December-February-March; June-July and October.

Pseudautomeris arminirene female?? (possibly marceli), 85mm, Rio Taputini, Orellana, Ecuador,
October, 2001, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Pseudautomeris arminirene female, 109mm, Chanchamayo, northern Junin, Peru,
Cornell University Collection, via Ryan Saint Laurent, tentative id by RSL and Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males. Most male activity occurs in the two hours before midnight.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Pseudautomeris arminirene larvae are similar to Automeris larvae, being gregarious and having urticating spines. In captivity, larvae have been reared on Robinia pseudoacacia and Salix caprea.

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.

Robinia pseudoacacia ...... Salix caprea

Black locust/False acacia Goat willow

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Pseudautomeris Genus

Return to South American Saturniidae Direcotry

Return to Main WLSS Index