DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris napoensis moth (wingspan: male: 53-55mm; female: probably larger) flies in eastern Ecuador in the provinces of Napo and maybe Pichincha.

Both the male and female on this page are from an area recognized by Claude Lemaire as home to A. napoenis. The male, from August 26, however, more closely resembles Lemaire's description of A. caucensis from western Ecuador. Lemaire indicates A. caucensis has much more red along the hindwing inner margin. Lemaire also indicates, and he is the original describer of both species, that the species may be synonymous, in which case the name A. caucensis would have precedence.

The abdomen is black with some brownish-yellow hairs. The abdomen is tipped with the same colour.

The forewing apex is not produced, and the outer margin is straight to slightly convex. Ground colour is blackish-brown with a darker pm area where the terminal line is indistinct. The pm line is black, the basal and median areas are a lighter brown. The cell mark is a diffuse black circle with a white central dot.

The basal-median area of the hindwing is orange with long reddish hairs along the inner margin. There are two broad black pm bands followed by dark brown. The pupil is small, split with a white streak and suffused with white. The iris is a dark greyish-brown.

This species has been recorded at altitudes from 2150 to 2500m.

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; Napo
napoensis eastern Ecuador
papallactensis Ecuador: Napo
sachai Ecuador: Carchi

Visit Automeris alticola Group Comparison Plate

Automeris napoensis/caucensis male, Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge
Napo Province, eastern Ecuador, 2100 m to 2300 m, August 26, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach

Automeris napoensis/caucensis male, Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge
Napo Province, eastern Ecuador, 2100 m to 2300 m, August 24, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach

Automeris napoensis/caucensis male (verso), Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge
Napo Province, eastern Ecuador, 2100 m to 2300 m, August 26, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth has been observed in February-March and August-September and early November (HK).

Larval hosts are unknown.

Automeris napoensis/caucensis female, Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge
Napo Province, eastern Ecuador, 2100 m to 2300 m, August-September, courtesy of Horst Kach

Visit Automeris napoensis males, Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador, 2100m, November 2, 2008, Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone into the night sky.

Automeris napoensis/caucensis female, Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge
Napo Province, eastern Ecuador, 2100 m to 2300 m, courtesy of Horst Kach

Automeris napoensis/caucensis female, Cosanga, San Isidro Bird Watching Lodge
Napo Province, eastern Ecuador, 2100 m to 2300 m, courtesy of Horst Kach

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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Return to Automeris Genus

Automeris doelfi / napoensis comparison plate, courtesy of Horst Kach.
Automeris doelfi male (top left); female (top right) western Ecuador, larger, more vibrant red on hindwings.
Automeris napoensis male (bottom left); female (bottom right) eastern Ecuador, smaller, duller red on hindwing.

Visit Automeris napoensis/doelfi/alticola comparison plate prepared by Horst Kach. Horst notes the great similarity between these moths from Ecuador and iguaquensis from eastern Columbia, labriquei from Peru and lachaumei from western Bolivia. Lachaumei is also very similar to rougeoti, margaritae and basalis, but Lemaire notes distinct genitalia for lachaumei.