DISTRIBUTION:

Formerly treated as a subspecies of belti, this moth has been elevated to full species status.

Automeris zaruma (wingspan: males: 58-88mm; females: 72-119mm) flies in
western Ecuador: Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Canar, Guayas and El Oro;
Colombia: Antioquia, Choco, Valle del Cauca, Nariono and possibly Cauca; and
Venezuela.

This subspecies is slightly smaller and darker than the nominate subspecies.

Automeris zaruma, male, Ecuador,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris zaruma, male, Los Bancos, Pichincha Province, Ecuador,
ex ova, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris zaruma, male (verso), Los Bancos, Pichincha Province, Ecuador,
ex ova, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing from January until November.

Natural larval hosts are unknown.

Bernhard Wenczel reports he has reared them successfully on willow.

Automeris zaruma female, Ecuador, courtesy of Hubert Mayer copyright.

Automeris zaruma female, Ecuador, courtesy of Eric van Schayck copyright.

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 zaruma male by Viktor Suter, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

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 zaruma larva copyright Kirby Wolfe.

Automeris zaruma larva courtesy/copyright Uwe Kauz.

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.

Salix........

Willow

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