DISTRIBUTION: Automeris gabriellae (wingspan: males: 65-75mm; females: 90mm) flies in Amazonian tropical rain forests at elevations of 1000 - 1500 m in Peru: Loreto, Cusco, Puno; Ecuador: Orellana: Yasuni (350m) and Napo; Bolivia: La Paz and western Brazil: Amazonas. Males are very dark with falcate forewings. Automeris gabriellae male courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

Based on recent (2011) DNA barcoding analysis, the range of Automeris gabriellae may be limited to Puno, Peru (HT), and LaPaz, Bolivia. Specimens from Junin, Peru are more likely Automeris junogabriellae while those further north in Bagua Chica, Montenegro, Amazonas, Peru are more likely Automeris montegabriellae or Automeris amagabriellae.

It is also possible that the species are distinct, though highly similar in appearance and sympatric. Another possibility is that there is only a single species, and the new determinations are more reflective of variation within a species rather than a series of closely related species.

The images sent to me by Horst Kach from Ecuador, based on location and images in the Entomo Satsphingia journals seem closest to Automeris amagabriellae.

Visible external differences between the four species seem miniscule and are of nature that would normally be within the confines of variability for a single species. I would not be surprised if the bar has been set too low with regard to DNA barcoding differences allowing for new species designations aong this group. Here is a summary of what appears to be indicated by ESs Journal:

A. gabriellae (HT, Puno, Peru); also confirmed for La Paz, Bolivia. The journals do not offer any correction to Lemaire's image from Cusco, Peru. Male forewing length is given in journals as 35-38mm
A. junogabriellae (HT, Satipo, Junin, Peru) without a confirmed presence in any other departments in Peru. Male forewing length is given in journals as 35-36mm, based on six specimens. The forewing apex is narrower and more sharply pointed, the forewing cell mark is moderately large, and the hindwing ocellus is large and round, compared to other members in the group.
A. montegabriellae (HT, Bagua Chica, Montenegro, Amazonas, Peru) without a confirmed presence in any other departments in Peru. Male forewing length is given in journals as 36-37mm, based on three specimens. The forewing apex is most produced in this species, and the forewing cell mark is smaller than in other species.
A. amagabriellae (HT, Montenegro, Amazonas, Peru), sympatric with A. montegabriellae, and only a single specimen recorded. The hindwing ocellus is larger than in A. montegabriellae, and it might?? be slightly smaller with a male forewing length of 35mm.

DNA barcoding will probably be necessary to distinguish between these four species with any degree of accuracy.

I do note, however, that there is an image of an A. gabriellae male from LaPaz, Bolivia. The underside is shown, revealing a solid black circle surrounding a solid white pupil on the forewing underside, and a postmedial line removed from the white pupil in the cell.

In the verso image, provided by Horst Kach, of the male from Ecuador, the solid black circle in the forewing cell has a possibly significant rectangular extension that meets the lower edge of the costa. On the hindwing, the postmedian line is tangent to the white cell circle.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in July, September and November-December. Horst Kach reports a December 5, 2004, flight in Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador.

Kirby Wolfe has successfully reared them on Robinia pseudoacacia.

Automeris gabriellae male (more likely A. amagabriellae or A. montegabriellae),
Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador, December 5, 2004, 350m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Automeris gabriellae male (verso) (more likely A. amagabriellae or A. montegabriellae),
Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador, December 5, 2004, 350m, 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.

Automeris gabriellae male, possibly A. junogabriellae), courtesy of Berhard Wenczel.

Automeris gabriellae female, possibly A. junogabriellae), courtesy of Berhard Wenczel.

Automeris gabriellae female courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Bernhard's and Kirby's images of the female are markedly different from Lemaire's image, indicating a rare error in Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002.

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.

Fagus silvatica and Pyrocantha coccinea serve as larval hosts.

Larvae pass through six to seven instars.

Automeris gabriellae seventh instar, possibly A. junogabriellae), courtesy of Berhnhard Wenczel.

Automeris gabriellae sixth instar, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae and/or from personal communication. 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 silvatica Pyrocantha coccinea Robinia pseudoacacia ........

Beech Firethorn False Acacia

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Automeris gabriellae male, 70mm, LaPaz, Bolivia,
on my home computer only.