DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris peggyae (wingspan: males: 52-58mm; females: 62-65mm // forewing length: males: 26-30mm; females: 32-34mm) flies in
Peru: Junin: Calabaza. 1998-04-09;
Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, 2004-04-18;
Peru: Pasco, -10.5667, -75.3833, 2002-06-15;
Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, La Suiza, collected by H. Mayer, 2004-06-20.

It is taken at elevations from 1700-3000m.

This species is the same size as A. grammodes and a bit larger than A. grammocuscoensis. Automeris peggyae tends to have a darker ground colour, more uniform orange, and larger hindwing ocelli.

Brechlin & Meister indicate the specimens (5 and 6 on Plate 63) depicted as A. grammodes in Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002 are actually A. grammoboliviana. On that same plate Item 7 is probably peggyae, and Item 8 is A. heppneri. I also suspect that Item 4 from western Canar, Ecuador, is A. unifasciatus, and Item 3 from Huanuco, Peru, might be grammodes, grammocuscoensis or grammocajamarcensis.

Visit Automeris grammodes Group Comparison Plate to see thumbnails of available species from the Automeris grammodes Group, with notes to hopefully help determine species.

Automeris peggyae male, Oxapampa, Paco, Peru, 2000m,
July 2004, courtesy of Hubert Mayer,
id updated by Bill Oehlke, February 29, 2012.

Automeris peggyae HT male, 56mm, Oxapampa La Suiza, Pasco, Peru,
June 15, 2006, 2150m, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April, June, October. There may also be flights 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.

Automeris peggyae female, Peru, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel,
id updated by Bill Oehlke.

Automeris peggyae AT female, 65mm, Oxapampa La Suiza, Pasco, Peru,
July 18, 2004, 1810m, on my home computer only.

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.

Automeris peggyae courtesy of Viktor Suter, via Bernhard Wenczel.

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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The species name is honourific for Peggy Ackerman, a friend one of the authors, Ron Brechlin. Return to Main Index

Return to Automeris Genus