DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris altotridens (wingspan: males: 92-95mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 50-52mm; females: ) flies in
Guatemala: Baja Verapaz: Purulha, 15.14, -90.17, collected by Rudloff, 2001-07-03; Guatemala: Coban, 2004-11-16; Chimaltenango. It is a species of dry montane oak forest regions, taken at altitudes of 1500-1650m.

It is much larger than tridens (male forewing length: 35-37mm); rubescens (male forewing length: 35-40mm); intertridens (male forewing length: 38-45mm).

The forewing apex is more pointed than in tridens, and the outer margin is almost straight to very slighlty concave and more oblique than in tridens.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in Guatemala in July and November (Mirror). There are probably additional flight months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.

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.

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