DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris doelfi (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 33-35mm; females: 37-38mm) flies in
Ecuador: Pichincha Province, Palulaliua volcan, 2400 m., ca. 0.02ºN, 78.29ºW;
Imbabura: Intag, 2700m.

As of 2013, the Automeris alticola Group consists of the following species:

alticarchensis Ecuador: Carchi
alticola Ecuador: Napo
winbrechlini Ecuador: Loja
caucensis western Colombia; ?? Ecuador ??
doelfi Ecuador: Pichincha; Imbabura
huascari Ecuador: Morona Santiago
iguaquensis eastern Colombia
iwanowitschi Ecuador: Sucumbios; Napo
napoensis eastern Ecuador
papallactensis Ecuador: Napo
sachai Ecuador: Carchi

Visit Automeris alticola Group Comparison Plate

Automeris doelficaucensis male, Pululahua, Pichincha, Ecuador,
October 5, 2010, 2400m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris doelfi male, Intag, Imbabura, Ecuador,
November 29, 2008, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris doelfi male (verso), Intag, Imbabura, Ecuador,
November 29, 2008, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in October-November-December. There are probably additional flight months.

Horst Kaech writes, "Hostplants for A. doelfi are grasses and bamboo; I use a wild Lirio (Iriaceae)."

Automeris caucensis female, Via Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 4, 2008, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris doelfi female, Via Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 4, 2008, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris doelfi female, Via Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 4, 2008, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris doelfi female (verso), Via Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 4, 2008, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

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 caucensis eggs, December 6, 2008,
Chiriboga, Pichincha, Ecuador, 2700m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris caucensis first instars, January 18, 2008,
Intag, Imbabura, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

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.

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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 Automeris. The species name, "doelfi" is honorific for Doelf.