DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris denticulata (wingspan: males: 74(TS)-83-88mm; females: 112-115mm) flies in
Brazil: Amazonas, and in
Venezuela: Barinas, Tachira;
Ecuador: Orellana, Napo, Morona-Santiago and possibly in Pastaza;
Peru: Loreto, San Martin, Huanuco, Junin, Madre de Dios, Puno; and
Bolivia: La Paz.

This species is usually encountered at lower elevations from 300m(TS) to 900m.

Vladimir Izersky confirms a February flight in Coviriali, Junin, Peru, at 662m, and a January flight in Rio Venado, Junin, Peru, at 1050m.

Visit Automeris denticulata, female, Rio Venado, Junin, Peru, January 3, 2009, 1050m, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

Visit Automeris denticulata males and females, Rio Shima, Junin, Peru, May 15, 2014, 450m, courtesy of John Christensen.

Automeris denticulata male, Rio Upano, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Terry Stoddard reports an October flight in Orellana, Ecuador.

Automeris denticulata male, 74mm, Rio Tiputini, Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador,
October 2001, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-February, July, October-December in Ecuador.

In Europe, Bernhard Wenczel reports Fagus silvatica and Quercus are used with great success.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.

Photo of female courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

Automeris denticulata female, courtesy of Viktor Suter.

Automeris denticulata female, Rio Upano, Morona-Santiago, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris denticulata female, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Early instar larvae are quite gregarious and have urticating spines. Denticulatus deviate from the usual green colouration of other Automeris species. Visit Automeris denticulata male, female, eggs, larvae, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon. Visit Automeris denticulata first instar on Salix babylonica (weeping willow), Ecuador, courtesy of Steve Ife.

In the final instar larvae are extremely well protected with a complete body cover of urticating spines. The light-speckled, brownish purple dorsal colouration offers excellent camouflage in conjunction with similarly coloured host plant stems.

Pupation is in a rather flimsy cocoon. Larva fastens itself via silk pad to inside of cocoon and then moults one final time 3-4 days after spinning. Larval and pupal images courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

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

Fagus sylvatica....... Quercus

European beech Oak

Automeris denticulata, larva, courtesy of Viktor Suter, via Bernhard Wenczel.

Return to Main Index

Return to Automeris Genus