DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris pomifera (wingspan: males: 70-82mm; females: 95-100mm) flies in
Peru: Puno (HT); Huanuco; Cusco; Madre de Dios; and Junin (PB-J);
Ecuador: Napo, Morona-Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe (LR) and possibly Pastaza; and
Bolivia: La Paz and Cochabamba on the eastern side of the Andes at elevations from 500m to 2000m.

Automeris pomifera male, 70mm, Amazonia Lodge, Madre de Dios, Peru,
May 16, 2012, 485m, courtesy of Jim Vargo, id by Bill Oehlke.

In the Entomo Satsphingia journal, Jahrgang 4 Heft 1 23.03.2011, Brechlin and Meister describe a new species, Automeris pomiferoides (HT Amazonas, Peru), which appears to be a species just slightly smaller than A. pomifera (HT Puno, Peru). B & M confirm Lemaire's description of true A. pomifera as lacking a white central spot in the forewing discal mark. B & M state that A. pomiferoides specimens exhibit the white spot, and it is a character that can be used to distinguish between the two very similar species.

The Kirby Wolfe images of adult male (top of page) and larva (bottom of page) would be true A. pomifera.

Some of the previous images supplied by others on this page might be A. pomiferoides, and I have moved some of them to that page. I do think that A. pomifera also has the white dot, but it is much smaller than in A. pomiferoides, and the darker discal mark in A. pomifera is also much smaller than in A. pomiferoides.

Despite the images that I have already moved from this page, I think there may be from two to four different species displayed here. It is hard to know if a white dot in the forewing cell becomes apparent with scale loss. The very extensive range for the images that are displayed here is also suggestive of a multi-species display.

This is a montane species, flying at generally higher altitude (500-2000m) compared to the lowland A. innoxia (400m and lower).

The pm line is broadly preapical and parallels the very slightly concave outermargin. The fw cell, which lacks a white dot in its center, is slightly darker brown than the surrounding areas which become lightest in the terminal area near the anal angle. The basal area, thorax and abdomen are dark brown.

The hindwing eyespot seems more distant from the smooth black median band in pomifera, whereas in innoxia the band is almost tangent to the eyespot. The reddish brown band of pomifera tends to butt (slight separation) the black band whereas in innoxia there is a thin yellow band separating these two characters.

This species seems, in the male, to have a slight lobe at the hindwing anal angle, produced along the line of the inner margin.

Automeris pomifera, eastern Ecuador, courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Automeris pomifera adults have been taken November-March and in August. Peter Bruce-Jones reports a June 13 flight in Shima, Junin, Peru.

In captivity larvae have been reared on Tilia and Malus. Kirby Wolfe reports success with Malus pumila and Tilia americana.

Automeris pomifera male, Shima, Junin, Peru,
June 13, 2010, 700m, courtesy of Peter Bruce-Jones.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males, which are considerably smaller than females, 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.

Automeris pomifera larva, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants from personal correspondence with Kirby Wolfe. 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.

Malus pumila Tilia americana.......

Apple American basswood/American linden

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