DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris fabiani (wingspan: males: 77mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 38; females: 59mm) flies in
Ecuador: Napo: Rio Hollin, 2008-01-05 (1350m); Sucumbios: Lumbaqui (600m)
Peru: Amazonas: Montenegro (900m), collected by R. Marx, 2007-01-12.

This recently (2011) described species belongs to the Belti Group which includes moths whose forewing has a pre-apical postmedian line, and whose hindwing has a yellow median area with pinkish hairs in the basal area and part way down along the inner margin. The body is also pink and is without dark rings.

More specifically A. fabiani has a forewing with a relatively small, but darker grey, subtriangular cell mark, orientated perpendicular to the costa. There is a small white dot in the center of the cell.

The forewing ground colour is a lighter, brighter brown as compared to other members in the group. The straight postmedian line, with slight outward turns near the costa and inner margin, is only very slightly pre-apical, and is very close to the outer margin in its entire course. There is a strong inward tracing of the thin, dark pm line with a wider, prominant light beige-yellow line. The darker brown submarginal band is in strong contrast to the rest of the forewing.

The hindwing postmedian line is black, thin and slightly undulating, outwardly traced by a narrow band, concolourous with the ground colour, and then a relatively wide, darker brown submarginal band, irregular on its outer edge.

The hindwing ocellus has a very small black pupil, hosting a tiny white dot. The iris is brown, lighter than in other members of the group. The yellow median area has a pinkish tint, different from the clear and usually bright yellow of other group members.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January. There may be additional flight months.

Automeris fabiani female, Amazonas, Peru,
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.

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