DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris paralarra (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 50-55mm; females: ) flies in
Peru: Loreto: Pucacuro, 2008-07-01;
Peru: Madre de Dios: Malinosque, collected by R. Marx, 2006-01-15;
Peru: Cusco: Vallee de Quillabamba, collected by R. Marx, 2006-06-15.

It has been taken at elevations from 500-1850m.

Determining Automeris species is becoming more and more difficult as there are a considerable number of very similar species, even some that are sympatric.

As of the end of 2011 there are now twelve Automeris species in the Egeus Group. I am hoping that the following keys on the Egeus Group Comparison Chart will help me and others with determinations. Location, wingspan, elevation can all be very helpful in making more accurate determinations. In some cases DNA barcoding analysis might be required to reach an accurate identification.

Automeris paralarra??, male, courtesy/copyright of Rainer Plontke.

This attractive male shows the more rounded forewings and dark pm line, inwardly shaded with only a thin line of mauve scales. It also shows a surprising amount of white scaling on the hindwing pupil.

Automeris paralarra??, male at rest, courtesy/copyright of Rainer Plontke.

Automeris paralarra male, Loreto, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Automeris paralarra ? male, Shima, Junin, Peru,
June 14, 2010, 700m, might be A. boops, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones.

Peter Bruce-Jones sends the image above from Peru. Initially (before new species descriptions in 2011) I determined it as either Automeris larra or Automeris boops. Its elevation of 700m is a bit high for larra, but it is a bit low for boops. Geography, according to Lemaire's Hemileucinae, 2002 is a better match for boops, but the dark submarginal band is deeply notched as in Automeris larra.

I now feel the specimen is most likely Automeris paralarra due to deep notches on hind wing black submarginal band.

This species is considerably brighter brown and more reddish than Automeris larra. The hindwing ocellus is small and is surrounded by a bright creamy basal median area with red hairs along the inner margin.

The images supplied by Rainer Pontke were originally determined as Automeris larra before recent (2011) DNA barcoding analysis revealed some additional very similar species. I feel this specimen is more likely Automeris paralarra due to orangey-brown ground colour of the forewing. If the hindwing ocellus were larger, I would have interpreted it to be Automeris mixtus (Napo, Ecuador, to Peru) which was at one time synonymized with larra, but now is elevated to full species status. I coul dbe wrong and perhaps the images are of Automeris larrra.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in January, and in June-July. Moths probably also fly in other months.

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.

Rainer Plontke writes November 3, 2005, "Because of the beginning of autumn, I tried different plants. And, up to now, I have been successful with Rubus idaeus, in German "Himbeere". Announced was a rearing-time of three months. However, I think, I will be remarkably faster.

"Therefore I tried the Rubus-species; other Rubus will be green over the winter-time. Surprising this morning: the larvae have gone into the sixth instar! This is one more than usual!"

The images below are courtesy of Rainer Plontke.

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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