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Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, October 3, 2006 Updated as per personal communication with Nigel Venters (Tucuman, 2000m, November 18, 2009); November |
TAXONOMY:Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 |
"Someone to Watch Over Me" |
Automeris amanda tucumana, Tafe de Valle Tucuman, Tucuman, Argentina,
November 19, 2009, 2000m, courtesy of Nigel Venters.
Nigel Venters writes, November 19, 2010: "As for Automeris amanda tucumana, this species seems to have two gens per year, (In Tucuman). The first fresh males are seen in early November (Followed of course by the females) and again fresh males appear again in early January. In early Jan you find ragged females together with fresh males, which again are followed by fresh females."
With regard to foodplants, Nigel writes, "A. amanda tucumana feeds happily on any species of Oak I tried, (Both U.S. and European species, especially Q. borealis and Q. robur), but was not so keen on the tough Quercus suber leaves (Cork Oak)."
Automeris amanda tucumana female, Tafe de Valle, Tucuman, Argentina, 2000m,
November 19, 2010, courtesy of Nigel Venters,
ex ova from females caught November 12, 2009.
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 amanda tucumana male, North Tucuman Province, Argentina, courtesy of Pablo Wagner. |
Quercus borealis ....... | Northern Red Oak, Champion Oak |
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