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 pomiferoides (wingspan: males: 60-64mm; females: 88mm // forewing length: males: 31-33mm; females: 45mm) flies in
northern Peru: Amazonas; San Martin. It has been taken at elevations between 650-2600m.

This species is probably slightly smaller than Automeris pomifera (mfwl: 34-41mm), but that assessment is based on barcoding of only six specimens of A. pomiferoides.

The forewing ground colour of A. pomiferoides tends to be more reddish brown compared to the more yellowish brown of A. pomifera, and there is slightly less yellow in the hindwing median area of A. pomiferoides compared to A. pomifera.

The middle of the forewing am line is less deeply angled in A. pomiferoides, and Brechlin and Meister confirm that this species has a small white dot in the forewing cell that is missing in Automeris pomifera as also indicated by Lemaire in his Hemileucinae 2002.

Automeris innoxia more likely pomiferides male, French Guiana, courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Bill Oehlke.

Based on digital images that I have seen, I think that A. pomifera also has the small white dot in the forewing cell, but both the cell mark size and the white dot are much smaller in A. pomifera.

Horst Kach sends the following image from Loja, Ecuador, 2000m. I was at first pretty sure it is A. pomifera, and therefore indicated the stated range for A. pomifera could be extended through southeastern Ecuador: Loja and Zamora-Chinchipe and probably to northwestern Peru: possibly Cajamaroa, Amazonas and San Martin. I now (March 2012) think the specimen from Loja is more likely Automeris pomiferoides, largely based on size of forewing cell mark as well as reduced yellow in the hindwing.

Automeris pomifera/pomiferoides?? male, Loja, Ecuador, 2000m, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Automeris pomiferoides adults have been taken in June-July and October-November-December. Peter Bruce-Jones reports a possible June 13 flight in Shima, Junin, Peru, but I am not sure if the specimen depicted is pomifera or pomiferoides.

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

Automeris pomifera/pomiferoides 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.

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.

Malus pumila Tilia americana.......

Apple American basswood/American linden

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Return to Automeris Genus

Automeris pomiferoides male, 71mm, Amazonas, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Automeris innoxia more likely pomiferides male, French Guiana, courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Bill Oehlke.