DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris alticola moth (wingspan: males: 78-82mm; females: 74mm // forewing length: males: 38-46mm; females: 36mm) flies in
eastern Ecuador: Carchi??, Sucumbios, Napo: Guango and Morona Santiago, and probably also in Pastaza.

This species has been taken at elevations between 1530m and 3000m.

Automeris alticola male, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 2, 2010, courtesy of Horst Kach.

I am not sure if the presence in Carchi still stands, as two new species in the alticola group, alticarchensis and sachai, have been described from Carchi, and one of those species may replace alticola in Carchi, although both are quite different from alticola.

The abdomen is carmine with a beige anal tuft. The forewing is slightly elongate with a slightly convex outer margin. Ground colour is a dark brownish grey with some saffron highlights. The distinct black pm line is slightly wavy with lighter internal lining. It meets the very dark brown to black inner margin near its midpoint. The am line is dark, more diffuse, and it meets the inner margin at a right angle. The basal area and cell are quite dark.

The hindwing inner margin and basal area are covered in carmine hairs.The rest of the median area is orange. The pm lines are black, smooth and relatively thick.

The eyespot is small with a tiny pupil, covered in white, and the iris is brown.

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

Automeris alticola male, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 20, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris alticola male (verso), Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 20, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, September-October and December.

Larval hosts are unknown.

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 alticola female, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 18, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach

Automeris alticola female, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 19, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach

Automeris alticola female, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 20, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach,
digital repairs by Bill Oehlke, white spot (copied) in lower part of cell probably not present.

Automeris alticola female, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 20, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris alticola female (verso), Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 20, 2009, 2600m, courtesy of Horst Kach

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.

Visit Automeris napoensis/caucensis/alticola comparison plate prepared by Horst Kach. Horst notes the great similarity between these moths from Ecuador and iguaquensis from eastern Columbia, labriquei from Peru and lachaumei from western Bolivia. Lachaumei is also very similar to rougeoti, margaritae and basalis, but Lemaire notes distinct genitalia for lachaumei.

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Automeris alticola male, Morona Santiago, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.

Automeris alticola male, Morona Santiago, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.

Automeris alticola female, Napo, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.

Automeris alticola female, Napo, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.