DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris ovalina (wingspan: males: 52-60mm; females: 71-75mm) flies in South America along the coast of
southeastern Brazil: Minas Gerais: Itamonte (1800m CM); Parana; Santa Catarina; Rio Grande do Sul; (probably Sao Paulo (WO?)), at elevations from 300-920 - 1800m (CM); and into
Paraguay.

The male forewing apex is rounded, and the outer margin is slightly convex. The ground colour is light brown with pinkish grey suffusion in the outer portions of the median area. The dark brown, apical pm line runs straight to the approximate midpoint of the inner margin. The antemedial line and subterminal line are indistinct, and the cell marking is only slightly darker than its surroundings.

Automeris ovalina female, on my home computer only.

The female is similar to the male, but she is considerably larger and has a slightly produced forewing apex that comes to a point.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The moth is on the wing in May and June, and possibly at other times.

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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Automeris ovalina male, on my home computer only.