DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris iris (wingspan: males: 67-71mm; females: 79-88mm // forewing length: males: 35-37mm; females: larger) flies in
southwestern Mexico: Oaxaca.

Recent DNA barcoding results, as reported by Brechlin and Meister, 2011, indicate that Automeris iris hesselorum, which Lemaire treated as a synonym of A. iris iris, should be elevated as a distinct species, Automeris hesselorum, flying in Arizona: Santa Cruz; and northwestern Mexico: Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa and Nyarit.

The DNA results, as interpreted by Brechlin and Meister, 2011, also indicate that those specimens from northeastern Mexico: Tamaulipas and probably Nueva Leon are another distinct species, Automeris tamaulipasiana. If I am translating Brechlin and Meister correctly, I think Automeris tamaulipasiana corresponds to the "iris form ferruginea" which is from Mexico City, so Automeris tamaulipasiana would have a range as far to the southeast as at least Mexico City.

These three moths, iris, hesselorum and tamaulipasiana, are also distinct from Automeris occidentalis (previously synonymized with iris), which is reported from Guerrero, in western Mexico.

Lemaire, in his Hemileucinae, 2002, treated all of the above as forms of iris, rather than distinct species, and Lemaire indicates that Jalisco, San Luis Potosi, Michoacan, Morelos and Distrito Federal are also home to what he considered to be nominate iris. Those locations are not necessarily vaild for iris, and could apply to occidentalis and/or tamaulipasiana.

Kelly Price sends an image from Hidlago, Mexico, of what I considered to be Automeris iris iris, before publication of DNA results and interpretations by Brechlin and Meister. I think it is more likely A. tamaulipasiana.

There seems some consistent differences in appearance between most of the four species, but it is not clear if any are sympatric or where exactly the range of one species ends and another begins.

The following plate and notes will hopefully prove useful.

Automeris hesselorum: extreme southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico, probably as far south as Nyarit; fw ground colour almost uniform mousey-grey-brown with little contrast. Hw postmedian band/arc thinner than iris, submarginal band/arc also relatively thin, uneven along outer edge. Size of hw ocellus and proximity to post median band quite variable. Automeris occidentalis: Guerrero, Mexico; male fw length: 35-36mm; Fw outer margin seems least oblique in this species, reported as light grey in Entomo Satsphingia, but I think this lighter, yellowish specimen is occidentalis. Hw postmedian band quite thin; submarginal band also relatively thin with uneven outer edge. Automeris tamaulipasiana: Tamaulipas, Mexico, probably most of eastern Mexico south to Mexico City; male fw length: 34-35mm; male fw apex not pointed; fw ground colour more even reddish-brown with less contrast between basal/median/postmedian areas. Hw ocellus smaller than in iris; much more red hairs along inner margin and reddish scaling along hw costa than in other species; post median/submarginal arcs thicker than in two species above Automeris iris: Oaxaca, Mexico; male fw length: 35-37mm; male fw apex is slightly produced and pointed; very strong contrast between dark brown fw basal area and much lighter off-white median/post median areas with much speckling of small grey-brown scales. Hw ocellus large; post median/submarginal black arcs relatively thick, even.

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 iris larvae much protection.

Automeris iris iris male, Mexico,
courtesy/copyright Franz Ziereis.

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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Automeris iris iris male, 68mm, Oaxaca, Mexico,
on my home computer only.