DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris iris moth (wingspan: males: 56-71mm; females: 79-88mm) flies in Arizona: Santa Cruz; and Mexico: Sonora, Chihuahua, Nyarit, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Michoacan, Morelos, Distrito Federal, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Hidalgo (KP).

Automeris iris iris male, Guerrero, Mexico,
July, 1468m, wingspan approximately 60-65mm, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Automeris iris iris male, Hidalgo, Mexico,
wingspan approximately 60mm, courtesy of Kelly Price.

Visit Automeris iris hesselorum for additional images. Lemaire equates A. i. hesselorum with the nominate subspecies.

This relatively small species is common in Mexico. The forewing is distinct* with a broadly preapical, dark, almost straight pm line whose distance from the straigth outer margin is slightly greater near the costa than it is near the anal angle. The am line is also dark and quite irregular with the typical inward turn at the cubitus. The basal area is slightly darker that the rest of the grey-brown concolorous forewing, the cell being marked by a few dark dots and a thin slightly darker striga at its center. Markings in the subterminal/submarginal area are indistinct, consisting usually of only diffuse darker spots between veins.

The thorax is dull grey-brown, often with some yellowish hairs. The abdomen is a dull carmen-brown.

The hindwing inner margin has a broad, strong distribution of carmen hairs. The basal median area is yellowish-orange, and the marginal area is concolorous with the forewing.

* Automeris daudiana is similar, but generally larger.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in April-May-June-July-August.

Larvae feed on Robinia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious. Urticating spines offer the Automeris celata larvae much protection. Photo courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris iris first instars, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris iris second instars, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris iris fourth instars, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Automeris iris fifth instar, Arizona, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Listed below are the primary and alternate food plants listed in Stephen E. Stone's Foodplants of World Saturniidae. 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.

Robinia.....

Locust

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