Automeris coresus
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, February, 2008
Updated as per personal communication with Christopher Prevett (La Pedrera, Rocha Department, Uruguay, December 31, 2012), January 4, 2012

Automeris coresus
(Boisduval, 1859) Io Coresus

Automeris coresus male, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

TAXONOMY:

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

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DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris coresus moth (wingspan: males: 88-102mm; females: 85-96mm) flies in
Uruguay: Montevideo; Cantlones; La Pedrera, Rocha Department (CP); and in
Argentina:Buenes Aires.

Automeris coresus male, La Pedrera, Rocha Department, Uruguay,
December 31, 2011, courtesy of Christopher Prevett.

Automeris coresus male (verso), La Pedrera, Rocha Department, Uruguay,
December 31, 2011, courtesy of Christopher Prevett.

Lemaire groups illustris, amoena, amoena rotunda and coresus as having abdomens that are usually orange, matching the basal area of the hindwings. The forewing postmedial line is preapical.

A. amoena generally has a larger, more rounded pupil with a lighter iris; A. amoena rotunda has a concave outer margin and a markedly concave postmedial line; A. coresus has a basic ground colour of ash-gray.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in November-December. There may only be a single brood of this very southern species. Larvae feed on Acer, Ligustrum, Platanus and Quercus. Natural hosts include a willow species.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious.

Urticating spines offer the Automeris coresus larvae much protection.

Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon.

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.

Acer
Ligustrum
Platanus orientalis.....
Quercus robur
Salix

Maple
Privet
Oriental sycamore
English oak
Willow

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