DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris banus banumediata (wingspan: males: 81-89mm; females: 105-111mm // forewing length: males: 42-46mm; females: 57mm) flies in
Costa Rica: Heredia: Valle Central, 9.59, -83.45, collected by Rudloff, 1999-05-17;
Nicaragua: Matagalpa: Linda Vista, collected by Pierre Schmit, 2006-09-13;
Nicaragua: Jinotega (HT): `El Jaguar` 28 km NE from Jinotega, collected by Schmit, 2007-05-17
Nicaragua: Nueva Segovia: Caballo Blanco, Maleconcito, collected by P. Schmit, 2007-05-14

Specimens have been taken at elevations from 220m-1470m.

On average this species is about the same size as Automeris banus banus and Automeris argentifera. Its name was assigned based on an intermediate geographic range (Nicaragua and Costa Rica) between the more northerly A. banus banus (holotype Mexico) and the more southerly A. argentifera (Costa Rica: Cartago; Panama; western Colombia and northwestern Ecuador. In southwestern Ecuador A. argentina is replaced by A. banus proxima. I have received reports and images from Honduras that could be nominate banus or banumediata.

Automeris banus banumediata exhibits two colour morphs, one tan and one silvery-grey.

To my eye, there seems to be very little consistent difference in appearance between banus, banumediata and argentifera. I do not know if there is an overlap in their ranges, nor do I know where one range ends and the other begins. DNA analysis may be required to distinguish beteeen them. I can see more differences (shape of am line; proximity of pm line to apex; size of hindwing ocellus; shape of pupil and amount of white suffusion thereon) between the four males on this page from Nicaragua than I can see between the images of banus banus, banus banumediata, and argentina in the journal.

Automeris banus banumediata silvery-grey male, Bartola, Rio San Juan, Nicaragua,
June 2002, courtesy of Olivier, via Jean-Michel Maes, id by Bill Oehlke

Automeris banus banumediata tan male, Cerro Saslaya, Zelaya, Nicaragua,
May, 950m, courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes, id by Bill Oehlke

Automeris banus banumediata tan male, Sulum, Zelaya, Nicaragua,
courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes, id by Bill Oehlke

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

A specimen has been taken in Costa Rica, May 15, 1999. Specimens have been taken in Nicaragua in April-May and in September.

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 banus banumediata female, Santa Maura, Jinotega, Nicaragua,
April 16, 2000, 1215m, courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes, id by Bill Oehlke

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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Automeris banus banumediata male, brown form, 91mm, Jinotega, Nicaragua,
on my home computer only.

Automeris banus banumediata male, orange form, 89mm, Jinotega, Nicaragua,
on my home computer only.

Automeris banus banumediata female, 105mm, Cartago, Costa Rica,
on my home computer only.