DISTRIBUTION:

The Automeris oaxacensis moth (wingspan: males: 51-80mm; females: 77-88mm) flies in western Mexico, and it is named for the specimen type locality, Oaxaca.

Mexico: Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Oaxaca.

Lemaire groups randa, excreta, tridens, molonyei, oaxacensis and andicola based on genitalia and orange, non-ringed abdomen, and usually diffuse yellow ring of eyespot, and yellow hw postmedial line usually without black scaling internally, except for molonyei.

Automeris oaxacensis (male) has a dark fw cell and a lighter terminal area on an otherwise almost uniform gray-brown forewing. Antemedial and postmedial lines are thin and dark.

The male forewing is without a median band, according to Lemaire, but John Kamps sends these images of A. oaxacensis from Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico, with the male showing a forewing dorsal median band. John assures me that the hindwing median band on the underside is tangent to the white cell dot. This character is a key determiner in separating oaxacensis from tridens where there is usually at least three mm of space between the white dot and the postmedian line/band.

Automeris oaxacensis male, San Gabriel, Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico,
June 13, 2010, 677m, courtesy of John Kamps.

Automeris oaxacensis female, San Gabriel, Mixtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico,
June 13, 2010, 677m, courtesy of John Kamps.

The following specimen was taken in Mexico, I believe before A. oaxacensis was described. Perhaps it is Automeris oaxacensis.

Automeris randa/excreta group, Mexico, courtesy of Dr. Manuel A. Balcazar Lara,
possibly Automeris oaxacensis

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in January, May-June, August-September, suggesting three flights. larvae feed on Robinia pseudoacacia in the lab.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen. Males use highly developed antennae to track the airbourne pheromone to locate the females.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in large clusters and larvae are highly gregarious. Urticating spines offer the Automeris oaxacensis larvae much protection. Automeris oaxacensis larva copyright Kirby Wolfe 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. Robinia pseudoacacia....... False acacia Return to Main Index Return to Automeris Genus