Automeris micheneri

Automeris micheneri
Lemaire, 1966

Automeris micheneri, male, Peru, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

TAXONOMY:

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

MIDI MUSIC

"Someone to Watch Over Me"
copyright C. Odenkirk
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DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris micheneri (wingspan: males: 85-110mm; females: 115mm) flies in
northern and north central Peru: San Martin, Amazonas, Huanuco, Junin, at moderate to high elevations (1800-3080m).

This species looks like a large A. abdominalis.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in January-February and October-November.

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


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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