DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris parachacona (wingspan: males: 68-80mm; females: 93-98mm // forewing length: males: 35-41mm ; females: 48-50mm) flies in
Bolivia: La Paz: North Yungas: Caranavi-Coroico, -16.2, -67.6, 2008-11-01; 2008-10-01;
Bolivia: La Paz: 100 km NE La Paz, -16.2, -67.6, 2009-11-01. (Mirror)

This species has been taken at elevations of 1000-1800m.

I believe the male specimen from Cochabamba at the top of this page represents an extension of the Automeris parachacona range into Cochabamba, Bolivia. The evenly concave forewing outer margin and the pointed apex of the male seem a better match for A. parachacona than for A. chacona cochabambae which is known from Cochabamba; and the hindwing ocellus of the male seems larger and more oval than the rounder, smaller ocellus described for A. chacona cochabambae.

Automeris parachacona, on average, tends to be slightly smaller than A. chacona cochabambae (mfwl: 37-45). The most obvious difference is the more produced and pointed forewing apex, making the outer margin seem more convex.

Possibly Automeris parachacona and Automeris chacona cochabambae are sympatric in some areas; and perhaps Automeris parachacona and the considerably larger Automeris chacona chacona are aslo sympatric in some areas.

It s interesting to me that the image of the female from Arani, Cochabamba, Bolivia, seems closer to the image of the female chacona cochabambae in Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002; and the image of the female in the pair from Chapare, Cochabamba, Bolivia, seems closer to the female parachacona in the Entomo Satsphingia journal.

Automeris chacona cochabambae pair, Chapare, Bolivia, T. Decaëns & G. Lecourt,
female is possibly A. parachacona due to larger hindwing eyespot and wider hindwing submarginal band, Bill Oehlke.

Automeris parachacona female, La Paz, Bolivia, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in North Yungas, Bolivia, in October-November (Mirror). There are probably additional flight months.

Host plants are as yet unknown.

Automeris parachacona male, 80mm, La Paz, Bolivia,
on my home computer only.

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 parachacona or Automeris chacona cochabambae female, Arani, Cochabamba, Bolivia,
April 2005, courtesy of Kelly Price, id by Bill Oehlke.

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

The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I am not aware of the source for Automeris, The species name, "parachacona", probably indicates a great similarity with Automeris chacona.