DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris atrolimbata (wingspan: males: 57-65mm; females: 74-83mm // forewing length: males: 30-34mm; females: 40-45mm) flies in
Ecuador??: Sucumbios, Orellana, Napo: Misahualli, Pastaza and Morona-Santiago; and
Peru: Huanuco: Tinga Maria; Junin: La Merced; Cusco; Madre de Dios: Salvacion; Puno: Carabaya; and
Bolivia: La Paz at low altitude (300(TS)-650 - 1200 m) in Andean forest.

Many new species from Ecuador have recently (2011-2013) been described by Brechlin, Kaech & Meister. I think that A. atrolimbata probably does not fly into Ecuador, but is replaced in Ecuador by Automeris ecuata and A. parecuata.

Visit Automeris cecrops Group Comparison Plate: Ecuador for thumbnail images and notes on all the Automeris species found in Ecuador that belong in the Automeris cecrops Group.

Based on the different widths of the hindwing submarginal band, the different colours displayed in the hindwing basal areas and along the inner margin, the general shape of the pm line in several different specimens, I feel there may be two to four species currently displayed on this page. I will try to sort them out as I go through the new species accounts of 2010-2013.

Automeris atrolimbata?? male, Rio Venado, Junin, Peru,
January 26, 2008, 1050m, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

Automeris atrolimbata?? male, Coviriali, Junin, Peru,
January 16, 2008, 662m, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

Automeris atrolimbata?? male, Bolivia,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

The brown very slightly preapical postmedian line runs obliquely and almost meets the am line well inside the midpoint of the inner margin. The apex is slightly produced, and the outer margin is slightly concave for its upper half before it ends along the well-rounded anal angle.

The basal area, cell, preapical bar and apical areas are darker than the much lighter remaining areas.

On the hindwing, reddish-grey-brown hairs cover most of the inner margin and basal areas, almost to the eyespot. Apparently the red in these hairs quickly fades. The pupil is small with a white streak and heavy suffusion of white. The iris is dark grey, also heavily suffused with white in the female, and is hardly discernable from the wide black ring. The black median band is usually smoothly curved, outwardly traced with a light beige band, a dark brown band, another beige band and then a dark brown outer margin.

Automeris atrolimbata male, Satipo, Junin, Peru,
courtesy of Philippe Brems, id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

This moth has new species status in Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002. It was formerly treated as a subspecies of annulata, but atrolimbata has a markedly different larval phenotype. Lemaire writes, atrolimbata "differs from Automeris annulata by a duller appearance and by a combination of the following characters: forewing less elongate, not falcate, postmedial area not markedly lighter than the baso-median area, concolorous with the latter, and only slightly suffused with light gray instead of almost uniformly light gray; submarginal band conspicuous. Yellow periocellar area of the hindwing duller than in the previous species (annulata) and usually reduced."

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are probably at least two broods annually with moths on the wing November-February and then again May-June-July-August.

Larvae have been successfully reared on Robinia pseudoacacia.

Automeris atrolimbata ?? questionable id male copyright Kirby Wolfe

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:

Grayish-white eggs with a black micropyle are deposited in clusters of 6-40+ on hostplant twigs. Larvae have urticating spines and are gregarious, especially in the early instars.

Automeris atrolimbata larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

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.......

False acacia

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