DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris chacona cochabambae moth (wingspan: males: 71-83; females: 84-104mm) flies in humid Andean forest at 1500 - 2800 m in southern Bolivia.

The male of this species is lighter than the nominate subspecies, while the female is darker. Both sexes are generally smaller with the eyespots being smaller as well.

Automeris chacona cochabambae male, 84mm, Cochabamba, Bolivia,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing from October-April, suggesting at least two broods.

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

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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

Return to Main Index

Return to Automeris Genus

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I am not aware of the source for the genus name Automeris, but chacona is probably for the geography of the holotype specimen from Chaco, La Paz, Bolivia. The subspecies name would be for the holotype location in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

This website is designed and maintained by Bill Oehlke