DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris alticarchensis moth (wingspan: males: 65mm; females: 76mm // forewing length: males 35-40mm; females: 45mm) flies in
Ecuador: Carchi: El Chical-Carolinae, etc.; at elevations around 1975-2785m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in January, February, May, June, October, November. There are probably additional flight months, but at least three annual flights are expected.

On average this species from Carchi is slightly smaller than A. alticola, found in Morona Santiago, in eastern Ecuador. In addition, A. alticarchensis has a more pointed forewing apex with a darker brown ground colour with less contrast on the forewing. The hindwing is a uniform red while that of alticola is yellow with some reddish hairs, especially along the inner margin.

As of 2013, the Automeris alticola Group consists of the following species:

alticarchensis Ecuador: Carchi
alticola Ecuador: Napo
winbrechlini Ecuador: Loja
caucensis western Colombia; ?? Ecuador ??
doelfi Ecuador: Pichincha; Imbabura
huascari Ecuador: Morona Santiago
iguaquensis eastern Colombia
iwanowitschi Ecuador: Sucumbios; Napo
napoensis eastern Ecuador
papallactensis Ecuador: Napo
sachai Ecuador: Carchi

Visit Automeris alticola Group Comparison Plate

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

Automeris alticarchensis PT female, 74mm, Carchi, Ecuador,
November, 2012, 2360m, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae probably pupate in a very flimsy cocoon spun amongst leaf litter.

The species name, alticarchensis, signifies as specimen type location in Carchi, Ecuador, and a similarity to A. alticola.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticiated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Eugena Malosma (=Rhus) laurina ........ Myrcia Protium heptaphyllum

Eugena Laurel Sumac Myrcia Incense Tree

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