DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris argentifera moth (wingspan: males: 71-84-88mm; females: 82-113mm) flies North West of the Andean Cordillera in
northwestern Ecuador: Esmeraldas (Lita), Pichincha, Los Rios, and probably Carchi and Imbabura; to
western Colombia: Valle del Cauca, Choco, Nariono, and probably Cauca at moderate elevations (up to 1700m).

Brechlin and Meister report it in Costa Rica: Cartago, which would indicate it probably also flies in Panama.

Automeris argentina, Limon, Costa Rica, courtesy of Kelly Price,
tentative id by bill Oehlke.

This moth was formerly treated as a subspecies of banus, but Brechlin and Meister elevate it to full species status, 2011.

Automeris argentifera, male, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris argentifera, male, verso, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

The abdomen is orange, ringed with black. This subspecies is darker and slightly smaller than the nominate subspecies and has a greater infusion of silvery scales (hence argentifera) along the forwewing postmedial line, in the cell and near the outer margins of all wings.

Automeris argentifera (male), Colombia, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris argentifera (female), Colombia, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Visit Automeris argentifera male (recto and verso), Ecuador, courtesy of Kelly Price.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In Colombia moths are on the wing in March-April, July, September-December, suggesting at least three broods.

Natural hosts are unknown. Larvae feed on Ligustrum and also on Robinia pseudoacacia and Quercus sp and on Salix capraea.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Visit Automeris argentifera female, ex ova, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Visit Automeris argentifera male and fifth instar larva, northwestern Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

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

Automeris argentifera femelle, copyright protected, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

Automeris argentifera male, copyright protected,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel and Viktor Suter.

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.

Automeris argentifera second instar larvae, copyright protected, courtesy of Uwe Kauz.

Automeris argentifera, mature larva, copyright protected, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

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.

Ligustrum Quercus Robinia pseudoacacia....... Salix capraea

Privet Oak False acacia Goat Willow

Automeris argentifera courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

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Automeris argentifera male, 87mm, Cartago, Costa Rica,
on my home computer only.