DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris iwanowitschi moth (wingspan: males: 52mm; females: ?? // forewing length: males 31-33mm; females: ) flies in
Ecuador: Sucumbios: El Playon; at elevations around 3320m.

This species is very similar to A. napoensis, but iwanowitschi is very dark grey, almost black while napoensis is dark brown.

The forewing pm line of iwanowitschi is slightly concave, is inwardly lined with yellow-orange, and meets the inner margin slightly more removed from the anal angle than in napoensis whose pm line is inwardly lined with yellow-white.

The white pupils in iwanowitschi are smaller than in napoensis and the iwanowitschi hindwing has greyish-yellow outlining the outer half of the ocellus. In napoensis there is considerably more yellow with less grey in the mix, and there are some reddish hairs along the inner margin. In iwanowitschi there are no reddish hairs, only black ones.

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
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. 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 papallactensis=ivanowitshcvi AT female, 60mm, Papallacta, Napo, Ecuador,
November, 2011, 3010m, 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, iwanowitschi, is honourific for Iwan Iwanowitshi.

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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