DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris rostralis (wingspan: males: 74-79-92 (TD) mm; females: probably larger) flies in
west central Brazil: Rondonia, Maranhao, (probably Para and Mato Grosso (WO?)) and
Peru: Madre de Dios: Manu: Salvacion (TD); Puno: San Gavan (BW).

It has been taken at elevations from 150-1200m.

Lemaire groups hamata, balachowskyi, wayampi, rostralis, duchartrei, goodsoni, meridionalis, jucunda, tamsi, chacona, chacona rectilineata and rectilinea based on genitalia, with all having the yellow ring of the eyespot very narrowly surrounded with black as well as a suffusion of black scales on the inner side of the hindwing yellow postmedial band. These moths do not have ringed abdomens.

The moth is dark brown, greatly resembling an A. midea with squarish wings.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been taken in November-January and in July-August.

Larval hosts are unknown.

Automeris rostralis male, verso, Salvacion, Manu, Madre de Dios, Peru,
courtesy of Thibaud Decaens

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.

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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