Automeris louisiana
Ferguson & Brou, 1981

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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DISTRIBUTION:

This coastal salt marsh species (wingspan 60-88mm) flies in Mississippi (rare), Louisiana and Texas (rare).

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are three, possibly four, overlapping generations and moths are taken every month of the year in Louisiana. Moths fly in cordgrass regions and wild larvae have been found and successfully reared to maturity on that hostplant.

Vernon Brou writes, "I have fed them with the following: red maple, red oak, white oak, water oak, choke cherry, sweet gum, swamp gum, and their favorite wild cherry (Prunus serotina). Quite surprising as this species is a marsh grass feeder in its natural habitat."

Automeris louisiana male courtesy of Vernon A. Brou, Jr.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults eclose in the early evening and males are on the wing and readily taken at lights just after dark, suggesting that is when females start scenting. Sometimes the pair will only remain coupled for a short time, but often contact is retained for 20 hours. The species mates readily in captivity.

Automeris louisiana female courtesy of Vernon Brou.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

White eggs are deposited in clusters and early instar larvae are highly gregarious. Late instar larvae resemble ios but generally are brown (sometimes blue-green) with wider white and red lateral lines.

The larval images above are courtesy of Mike Van Buskirk.

Mike writes,

"Bill,

"Sixth instar larvae of Automeris louisiana, approximately (44) days after hatching from ova. Hostplant is Celtis laevigata. The blue-green cast on the dorsum is really attractive. Larvae grow faster and are somewhat larger (2.5") than typical Texas A. io. These larvae are from 1-3 days from becoming pre-pupal and spinning up.

"If these are useful for the website, you are most welcome to use them."

Cocoons are often found wrapped in blades of cordgrass 6-12 inches above plant base. This species should not be subjected to freezing temperatures.

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.

Acer rubrum Celtis Celtis laevigata Cercis canadensis Liquidambar styraciflua Prunus serotina Prunus virginiana Quercua alba Quercus falcata Quercus nigra Quercus virginiana Spartina alterniflora............ Salix babylonica

Red maple Hackberry Hackberry/Sugarberry Redbud Sweetgum Wild blackcherry Chokecherry White oak Southern red oak Water oak Live oak Cordgrass Weeping willow

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