DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris huascari moth (wingspan: males: 60mm; females: ?? // forewing length: males mm; females: ) flies in
Ecuador: Morona Santiago: Macas; at elevations around 2940-3180m.

Forewing ground colour is almost uniform dark orangey-brown with an orange outer tracing of the subterminal line. The male pm line is almost straight with a strong inturn as it nears the inner margin. The female pm line is slightly convex, also with a strong inturn as it nears the inner margin and white inward tracing is vestigial at best in both genders. The male hindwing ground colour is almost uniform red with slight tint of orange between cell and median band. The female has much red in the basal median area, but a much stronger presence of yellow almost surrounding the ocellus.

As of 2013, the Automeris alticola Group consists of the following species:

alticarchensis Ecuador: Carchi
alticola Ecuador: Napo
winbrechlini Ecuador: Loja
caucensis western Colombia; ?? Ecuador ??
doelfi Ecuador: Pichincha; Imbabura
huascari Ecuador: Morona Santiago
iguaquensis eastern Colombia
iwanowitschi Ecuador: Sucumbios; Napo
napoensis eastern Ecuador
papallactensis Ecuador: Napo
sachai Ecuador: Carchi

Visit Automeris alticola Group Comparison Plate

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in February and April. There are probably additional flight months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males. Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.

Automeris huascari AT female, Morona Santiago, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae probably pupate in a very flimsy cocoon spun amongst leaf litter.

The species name, huascari, is honourific for Herrscher des Inkareiches, Huascar.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticiated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Eugena Malosma (=Rhus) laurina ........ Myrcia Protium heptaphyllum

Eugena Laurel Sumac Myrcia Incense Tree

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