DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris falco (wingspan: males: 72-86mm; females: larger) flies in tropical rain forests (350 - 600m - 1800m (LA)), and is endemic of the Andean forests of
southeastern Peru: Junin (PB-J), Madre de Dios, Puno; and
Bolivia: La Paz, Beni, probably Cochabamba. More recent records indicate it has also been taken in Bogota, Colombia.

The forewing is quite falcate; the discal spot is heavily accented with black scales and the hindwing eyespot has fragmented pupils, usually three or four.

Automeris liberia/falco (more likely liberia), Arani, Cochabamba, Bolivia,
April 2005, courtesy of Kelly Price.

I find the moth depicted above to be intermediate between Automeris liberia and Automeris falco. It does not have the more falcate forewings typical of falco, but the strong curve to the pm line and the relatively wide distance between the am and pm lines where they meet the inner margin is more suggestive of falco. The inward turn of the am line as it approaches the inner margin is also more suggestive of falco, but the upper portions of the am line do not match those of falco???

I feel the forewing am line is much more irregular in falco than in liberia.

Automeris falco male, Rio Shima, Junin, Peru,
mid May, 2014, 450m, courtesy of .

Automeris falco male, Rio Shima, Junin, Peru,
mid May, 2014, 450m, courtesy of .

Automeris falco male, Shima, Junin, Peru,
June 14, 2010, 700m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in September-October and December. A specimen has been taken in March in Peru. Peter Bruce-Jones reports a June 14, 2010, flight in Shima, Junin, Peru.

Larval hosts are unknown.

Automeris falco female, courtesy/copyright Frank Meister.

Automeris falco female, Shima, Junin, Peru,
June 13, 2010, 700m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones.

Automeris falco (more likely liberia) male, Coroico, La Paz, Bolivia,
January 19, 2006, 1800m, courtesy of Lars Andersen.

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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