DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris latenigra (wingspan: males: 62-72mm; females: 92mm) flies in
Bolivia: La Paz (LA) in humid Andean forests at elevations of 810 (LA)-1500-2200 m.

This species is darker than A. harrisorum, and males have pink hairs on the tarsi.

The yellow around the hindwing eyespot also seems greatly reduced.

Automeris latenigra?? male, Taipiplaya, La Paz, Bolivia,
January 2007, 810m, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

The moth depicted immediately above seems a pretty good match for latenigra, however, it was taken at considerably lower elevation than is stated as typical for latenigra, and the hindwing pm line is very scallopped in the specimen above. I could not find a perfect match for this specimen, even among the recently (2010-2012) species.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in January, March-April and November, suggesting three broods.

Larval hosts are unknown.

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

Listed below are primary food plant(s) 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.

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