DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris averna moth (wingspan: males: ?; females: 90mm) flies in the mountains of central Mexico.

Automeris averna male, very tentative id by Bill Oehlke, Mexico,
courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Leroy Simon sent me a DVD with many images on it. I found this moth, incorrectly (I believe) identified on the DVD as staciae. I looked at images of all the males of Automeris species known from Mexico, and I could not find a satisfactory match.

In his Hemileucinae 2002, Lemaire indicates the male of Automeris averna is unknown, but that averna is regarded as a common species from the mountains of central Mexico.

Because of the similarity to the female of averna, and by process of elimination, I (Bill Oehlke) have tentatively identified the moth as Automeris averna.

I would very much like additional opinions. Leroy, on the same DVD, sent the accompanying image of the larva, immediately below.

Automeris averna fifth instar, very tentative id by Bill Oehlke, Mexico,
courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

Since the larval image is not at all what I expected for averna, I think the larval image may be staciae, as it was sent to me.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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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