Automeris liberia
(Cramer, 1780) Phalaena Attacus Liberia

Photo courtesy of Bernhard Jost from Laurent Lecerf's website.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866 Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866 Genus: Automeris, Hubner, [1819]

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Automeris liberia, male, South America, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris liberia (wingspan: males: 66-91mm; females: 86-108mm) flies in
Venezuela: Delta Amacuro, Bolivar, Monagas, Miranda, Distrito Federal, Aragua, Barinas, Tachira;
Trinidad: St. George: Maracus Beach;
Guyana: Mazaruni-Potaro;
Surinam;
French Guiana: Camopi, Saint Georges, Regina, Cayenne, Coralie, Cacao, Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Saul;
Colombia: Cundinamarca;
Ecuador: Orellana, Napo, Pastaza, Tungurahua, Morona-Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe;
Peru: Loreto, Huanuco, Junin, Cusco, Madre de Dios, Amazonas (TLR);
Bolivia: La Paz, Cochabamba; and
Brazil: Para; Amazonas.

Automeris liberia male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
digital repair and tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris liberia male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris liberia male, Pasco, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

This species flies at elevations up to 1700m.

Automeris liberia, Arani, Cochabamba, Bolivia,
April 2005, courtesy of Kelly Price.

The abdomen is orange, ringed with black. The central pupil is large and is broken by a white dash. There are usually two additional, smaller pupils, sometimes just one. Sometimes none at all as in the image from Terry Stoddard, below.

Automeris liberia male, (67mm), Rio Tiputini, Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador,
September 2000, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard.

Automeris liberia male, (70mm), Rio Tiputini, Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador,
September 2000, 300m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard.

Visit Automeris liberia spread males and female from Coviriali, Junin, Peru, 662m, courtesy of Vladimir Izersky.

Visit Automeris liberia live males from Rio Shima, Junin, Peru, 450m, courtesy of John Christensen.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-April and October-November in French Guiana, with the appearance of two distinct flights in other countries as well: May-August and December in Venezuela, etc.

Vladimir Izersky has taken them in December-January-February in Junin, Peru. Philippe Brems reports a February 3, flight of Automeris liberia in Rio Venado Village, Satipo, Junin, Peru, at 1200m. John Christensen reports a mid May flight in Rio Shima, Junin, Peru. Terry Stoddard reports a September flight in Yasuni, Orellana, Ecuador.

Larvae eat Citrus, Gleditsia tricanthos, Pyrus malus and Robinia pseudoacacia. Arbutus unedo (madrone), Rubus fruticosus (bramble) and Quercus (Oak) are also reported as is Pyracantha.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky. Male Automeris liberia, French Guiana courtesy of Carlot Didier.

Automeris liberia female

Automeris liberia female, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Automeris liberia female, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Visit Automeris liberia female, Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador, October 1, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in clusters of 6-40 on hostplant stems and branches. Like all automeris larvae, caterpillars are gregarious and have urticating spines. Image courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

Larvae become chunkier and less gregarious as they develop. Image courtesy of Chris Conlan.

Some larvae have white rather than yellow lateral line and greatly resemble A. io. Photos (fifth instar and pupa) courtesy of Bernhard Jost.

Cutting away part of the cocoon to inspect pupa does no harm, but usually the only reason for such inspection is to determine sex via antennae outline.

Automeris liberia copyright Kirby Wolfe

Larval Food Plants

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.

Arbutus unedo Citrus Gleditsia tricanthos Pyracantha Pyrus malus Quercus Robinia pseudoacacia..... Rubus fruticosus

Madrone Citrus Honey locust Firethorn Apple Oak Black locust/False acacia Bramble

Automeris liberia, Ecuador, courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

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