DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris grammopiurensis (wingspan: males: 50-54mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 26-28; females: ) flies in
western Peru: Piura: Huancabamba, collected by Jose Boettger, 2004-01-01, 1100m.

The forewing cell mark is small and almost filled with an elongated white streak subparallel to the transverse line and the costa. The black hindwing ocellus is intermediate in size with a relatively large white pupil. There is a heavy bright brownish-orange suffusion of scales on the otherwise yellow ground colour of the forewing. There are some red hairs along the inner margin of the hindwing.

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. 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.

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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The species name come from great resemblance to A. grammodes combined with a type locality in Piura, Peru.

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Automeris grammopiurensis HT male