DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris grammocuscoensis (approximate wingspan: males: 46-51mm; females: 71mm // forewing length: males: 24-26mm; females: 35mm) flies in
Peru: Cusco: Valle de Quilabamba, collected by Rainer Marx, 2006-07-01;
Peru: Cusco: Manu Park: San Pedro, 1997-03-01;
Peru: Cusco: Vallee de Quillabamba, collected by R. Marx, 2006-06-15.

Jim Vargo sends the beautiful image at top of page from San Pedro, Cuzco, Peru.

On average this species is slightly smaller than Automeris grammodes (mfwl: 26-30mm). It also has a brighter ground colour (yellow with suffusion of reddish brown on forewings) and the hindwing ocelli are smaller as compared to A. grammodes.

Automeris grammocuscoensis HT male, 49mm, Valle de Quillabamba, Cusco, Peru,
1800m, on my home computer only.

Brechlin & Meister indicate the specimens (5 and 6 on Plate 63) depicted as A. grammodes in Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002 are actually A. grammoboliviana. On that same plate Item 7 is probably peggyae, and Item 8 is A. heppneri. I also suspect that Item 4 from western Canar, Ecuador, is A. unifasciatus, and Item 3 from Huanuco, Peru, might be grammodes, grammocuscoensis or grammocajamarcensis.

Visit Automeris grammodes Group Comparison Plate to see thumbnails of available species from the Automeris grammodes Group, with notes to hopefully help determine species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January or March and May (JV) June and July. Moths probably also fly in other months.

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 grammocuscoensis AT female, 71mm, Valle de Quillabamba, Cusco, Peru,
1800m, on my home computer only.

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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