Automeris pallidior
Draudt, 1929

Automeris pallidior male (45054), Costa Rica,
63mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

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

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DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris pallidior (wingspan: males: 53-63mm; females: 60-75mm) flies in
Costa Rica: San Jose (CL), Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Limon, Puntarenas;
Mexico: Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas;
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz, Quezaltenango, Retalhuleu, Escuintla, Zacapa;
Honduras: Atlantida, Cortés, Francisco Morazán and Santa Bárbara (RC), probably Yoro;
El Salvador: Ahuachapan (RC);
and Nicaragua: Jinotega, Matagalpa, Managua and Zelata (CL), Granada (RC).

It has been recorded at elevations from 300m to 1520m.

Recent (2011) DNA barcode analysis has resulted in descriptions of similar new species A. jinotegana from Jinotega, Nicaragua; A. managuana from Managua, Nicaragua; A. stumpei from Limon, Costa Rica. Images of set specimens of all of the above seem to have reduced or no pink in the hindwing post median area, and pink scaling between the hindwing costa and the vein tangent to the top of the ocellus is also greatly reduced or absent.

DNA barcoding may prove necessary to distinguish between some of these species. The forewing cell marking also seems reduced to a thin, arced tube in pallidior, and there is usually a prominent, more elongated white streak in the hindwing ocellus of pallidior as compared to other similar species.

Automeris pallidior male ?, Honduras, 59mm, courtesy of Ronald D. Cave.

The id of the above specimen is tentative. The forewing cell marking is larger than in most other A. pallidior specimens, and the specimen lacks a distinct white streak in the hindwing ocellus.

This species is paler/duller and smaller than similar species with black abdomens and pinkish hindwings (montezuma, celata, escalantei, pallidior).

Forewing ground colour is dull brown or grey with a purplish tinge. The darker brown pm line is broadly preapical, almost straight, curving outward slightly near the costa and inner margin. The am line is almost straight but angles toward the body at both the costa and inner margin. The cell markings are narrow and weak. There is no marginal band in the males of this species.

The hindwing pm line is black and relatively wide, followed by a pale band, another black band with an irregular outer edge and then a grey border. The median area between the eyespot and the median band is a pale rose or pink.

Automeris pallidior faded male, Sierra Agalta National Park, Olancho, Honduras,
59mm, June 7, 1994, 1100m, courtesy of Robert Lehman, tentative id by Bill Oehlke,
Due to hindwing orangey tint and enlarged forewing cell mark might be A. celata or A. paracelata.

I believe that all specimens depicted below have been confirmed by DNA barcoding to be Automeris pallidior from Costa Rica. You can see that there is some variability.

Automeris pallidior male (3), Costa Rica,
60mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (4), Costa Rica,
59mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (45125), Costa Rica,
58mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (48026), Costa Rica,
62mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (48213), Costa Rica,
courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (46284), Costa Rica,
63mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (46625), Costa Rica,
63mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (3) (verso), Costa Rica,
60mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Automeris pallidior male (4) (verso), Costa Rica,
59mm, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in May, June, July, August, September, October Larvae feed on Paullinia cururu and Cordia

Automeris pallidior female, courtesy of Dan Janzen.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males (above) 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 early instars when the entire batch may cluster on the underside of a single leaf.

Automeris pallidior sixth instar, Mexico, courtesy of Chris Conlan.

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.

Cordia Fagus Paullinia cururu Prunus laurocerasus Quercus Rhus laurina Rhus typhica Salix Schinus terebintifolius .......

Trompillo Beech Guarana Kirschlorbeer Oak Laurel sumac Staghorn sumac Willow Peppertree

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