DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris elenensis (wingspan: male: 78-86mm; female: probably larger // forewing length: males: 38-43mm; females: ??) flies in
southeastern Venezuela: Bolivar, bordering Brazil, and it is probably endemic to the Sierra de Lema at elevations near 1350m.

This species is slightly larger than both arminia and innoxia, and males have forewings less falcate than arminia but more so than innoxia, and elenesis have no white dot in the hw eyespot as do arminia, innoxia, schwartzi, and the recetly described pomiferoides.

Examinations of ventral surfaces might be helpful in determining fresh specimens: arminia: dull grey; innoxia: lighter grey with orange tint; elenensis: light grey with yellow tint.

As of December 2012, there are six representatives in the Automeris arminia subgroup. Based on the many digital images I have received, I think the ranges indicated by Lemaire, Hemileucinae, 2002, may be more extensive than indicated. I am now attempting to organize the images into the best appearance-matches, regardless of geographic location.

Group members with a white dot in the forewing cell.

Automeris arminia Pm line, with light inward tracing, slightly concave in upper third apex greatly produced Small cell, usually darker than surrounding area, often outlined in black GC often darker, more grey brown M: 65-86mm; F: 84-94mm 105-480m; Guiano-Amazonian sympatric with innoxia

Automeris innoxia Pm line, with light inward tracing and broadly preapical, subparallel to slightly concave outer margin Gc lighter brown than pomiferoides, cell smaller than in pomiferoides Apex less produced compared to similar species. M: 74-90mm; F: 98-102mm 105m: Guiano_Amazonian sympatric with arminia

Automeris pomiferoides Pm line, devoid of light tracing and less preapical, very straight except for slight outturn near inner margin Gc deeper reddish brown, and fw cell larger than in similar species Hw ocellus larger than in similar species. M: 60-64mm; F: 88mm 600-2600m; Peru: San Martin; Amazonas

Automeris schwartzi Very dark, straight, broadly preapical pm line median area much lighter than basal or subterminal areas long hairs in hw basal area light brown as opposed to red in other species small hw ocellus hw median area more orange than yellow M: 67-85mm; F: 96mm Colombia: Caqueta; ? Ama; ? Put Ecuador: Orellana; Napo Peru: Loreto

Group members without a white dot in the forewing cell.

Automeris pomifera larger than pomiferoides M: 70-82mm; F: 95-100mm 500-2000m east Andean slopes Ecuador: Na; M-S; ZC; Pa Peru: Pu; Hu; Cu; MdD; Ju Bolivia: LP; Coch

Automeris elensis am line almost straight, little angulation at cubitus, slight inturn near inner margin M: 78-86mm; southeastern Venezuela: Bolivar, bordering Brazil, probably endemic to Sierra de Lema, 1350m

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth has been observed in June and July.

Automeris elenesis male (83mm), Venezuela,
on my home computer only.

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

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.

The species name, "elenensis", is probably indicative of a specimen type location along the road from Eldorado to Santa Elena, Venezuela.

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