Automeris basalis
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, November 3, 2005
Updated as per personal communication with Carlos Mielke (Parana), April 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Fernando Penco (MIsiones, Argentina), May 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Chris Conlan (Bamboo), January 2009
Updated as per personal communication with Larry Valentine (Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, January, February 2010), January 2010; February 2, 2013
Updated as per personal communication with Larry Valentine (Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, February 23, 2011, 925m), February 23, 2011

Automeris basalis
(Walker, 1855) Hyperchiria

Automeris basalis males, wingspan 59-60 mm, Rio Sapucaí, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
Flight times: October, courtesy of Eurides Furtado. copyright

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Automeris, Hubner, [1819]

MIDI MUSIC

"Someone to Watch Over Me"
copyright C. Odenkirk
ON.OFF
<bgsound src="watch.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris basalis moth (wingspan: males: 54-70mm; females: 69-84mm) flies in
southeastern Paraguay: Canindeyu, AltoParana, Guaira, and (probably/possibly Caaguazu, Caazapa and Misiones and (Itapua: confirmed by Paul Smith, early March 2008); and
southeastern Brazil: Minas Gerais; Rio de Janeiro; Sao Paulo; Parana; Santa Catarina, at elevations from 300-1200m. I suspect it is also present in Misiones in northeastern Argentina (confirmed by Fernando Penco, May 2008).

Automeris basalis male, Paraguay, courtesy/copyright Ulf Drechsel.

Automeris basalis male, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Fernando Penco.

Note red hairs on tarsi (legs/feet) and bright carmen abdomen which help to determine males of this species.

Automeris basalis male, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 13, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

Visit Automeris basalis male (recto and verso), Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil, January 11-22, 2010, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing January-February-March, June, August-September-October.

Larvae have been reared on Robinia pseudoacacia.

Automeris basalis male, Paraguay, courtersy of Chris Conlan.

Automeris basalis female, Paraguay, courtersy of Chris Conlan.

Automeris basalis female, Itanhandu, Minas Gerais, Brazil,
February 22, 2011, 925m, courtesy of Larry Valentine.

Automeris basalis final instar, Paraguay, courtersy of Chris Conlan.

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.

Automeris basalis, Itapua, Paraguay,
November 15, 2007, courtesy Paul Smith and Fauna Paraguay.

Automeris basalis, Itapua, Paraguay,
November 30, 2007, courtesy Paul Smith and Fauna Paraguay.

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......
Bamboo (CC)

False acacia
Bamboo

Return to Main Index

Return to Automeris Genus