DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris naranja moth (wingspan: males: 58-67mm; females: 58-79mm), flies in
southeastern Brazil: Pernambuco, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, probably Rio de Janeiro (WO?), Sao Paulo, Parana (CM), Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul; in
Argentina: Entre Rios, Misiones: Osununo, Buenos Aires, and probably Corrientes; in
Paraguay: (Guaira, Paraguari (CL)), (Alto Paraguay, Presidente Hayes, Concepcion, San Pedro, Canindeyu,Cordillera, Caaguazu, Alto Parana, Caazapa (UD)), Itapua (PS), and (probably Asuncion, Central, Amambay: La Niņa (SR), Neembucu and Misiones (WO?); and in
Uruguay: Florida, Rivera and Montevideo.

Automeris naranja, Entre Rios, Argentina, courtesy of Daniel Rojas Lanus.
Note unusual shape of hindwing eyespots.

This moth had formerly been classified as aurantiaca Weymer, 1907.

Oz Rittner (OR) sends an email indicating Automeris naranja flies in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. He writes, "I have photos from San Miguel del Monte (about 100 km south to B.A. capital). So you can add B.A province to the distribution list."

This specimen, from Entre Rios, Argentina, courtesy of Daniel Rojas Lanus, is much smaller and has a more normal shape to hindwing eyespot. Note forewing tips and convex outer margin. The postmedian line is thin and faint and the antemedian line is almost non-existent.

Lemaire has recently equated aurantiaca, lineatus and subspecies naranja pernambucensis with A. naranja

The female has a golden brown thorax and a black abdomen that is generously decorated with dark orange hairs, especially near the abdominal tip. Her forewing is almost uniform brown with a slightly produced apical tip. The pm line is slightly darker than the ground colour, but it is accentuated by an inner course of lighter scaling running slightly preapical to about the midpoint of the inner margin. The cell marking is slightly darker than its surroundings. The am line is indiscernible. There is a dusting of lighter scales in the lower outer third of the marginal area.

The female's hindwing is much like that of the male. There is a thin white streak on a fairly large pupil that is greatly suffused with white scales. The iris is dark and is completely surrounded by orange. Long dark brownish-grey hairs cover most of the inner margin and most of the basal area. The pm line is thin, dark, distinct and slightly undulate. It is outwardly traced by a thin, diffuse line of light scales, a wide band of brown scales, a wide band of lighter brown-biege scales with a rosy hue and a slightly darker brownish margin.

Automeris naranja male, 67mm, Eldorado, Misiones, Argentina,
January 25, 2015, 228m. courtesy of Nigel Venters.

Automeris naranja male (verso), 67mm, Eldorado, Misiones, Argentina,
January 25, 2015, 228m. courtesy of Nigel Venters.

Automeris naranja male, Misiones, Argentina,
July 26, 2010 or October 2010, courtesy of Luis Cesar Tejo.

Automeris naranja male, Tacuapi lodge, Salto Encantado, Misiones, Argentina,
August 8, 2013, courtesy of Luis Cesar Tejo.

Automeris naranja male, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris naranja female, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been reported on the wing in Paraguay in February (SR) and in Argentina in March (EB.

Larvae accept many foods in captivity: Syringa vulgaris, Salix, Prunus, Quercus, etc.. Native hostplants are Feijoa sellowiana and Lonicera species.

Jurgen Vanhoudt of Belgium reports rearing success on Crataegus.

Automeris naranja male, Osununu, Misiones, Argentina,
March 2009, courtesy of Ezequiel Osvaldo Nunez Bustos.

Moths are on the wing in August and from September-December, and February-March.

Automeris naranja male, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Automeris naranja female, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris naranja female, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris naranja female, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

Automeris naranja fifth instar, Misiones, Argentina, courtesy of Reinhard Foerster.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females are much larger than males and have less developed antennae. Females tend to be a little paler in color.

Automeris naranja, female, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Typical of the genus, eggs are laid in large groups, spiny larvae are gregarious, and cocoons are often spun up after larvae leave the host plant. Larval image courtesy of Leroy Simon. See the series of beautiful larval images sent to me by Robert Thompson at Automeris naranja larvae.

Automeris naranja pupae, courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

Automeris naranja cocoons, approximately 3 cm long,
courtesy of Jurgen Vanhoudt.

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.

Crataegus (JV) Feijoa sellowiana Ligustrum Lonicera Prunus Quercus Salix Syringa vulgaris......

Hawthorn Pineapple guava Privet Honeysuckle Cherry Oak Willow Common lilac

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Automeris naranja, male, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.

Automeris naranja, male, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel.