DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris styx (wingspan: males: 47-58mm; females: 72-87mm) flies at low elevations in
Peru: Huanuco, Cusco;
Ecuador: Napo and possibly Pastaza and Morona-Santiago;
Bolivia: Beni, La Paz; and
French Guiana: Cayenne, Regina, Coralie, Belizon, Saul.

Automeris styx is unusual in that it is very dark, the males are diurnal, and the eggs are green.

The antennae and body, except for the grey anal tuft, are entirely black. The forewings are narrow, elongate and slightly falcate with an oblique outer margin. Overall colour is quite dark, but with a bit of a translucent appearance.

Automeris styx male, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in March, June-July-August, October and December.

Bernhard Wenczel reports he has reared them successfully on beech, oak and firethorn.

Kirby Wolfe reports success with Quercus species (oak).

Robinia pseudoacacia and Rosa have also been used with success. The native host is unknown.

Automeris styx female, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe,

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use their more highly developed antennae to seek out females who release an airbourne pheromone during the day.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Light green eggs are deposited in clusters of 6-40+ on hostplant twigs. Larvae have urticating spines and are gregarious, especially in the early instars.

Automeris styx larva, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

Automeris styx fifth instar, Ecuador, courtesy/copyright Leroy Simon.

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.

Fagus Quercus Pyracantha Robinia pseudoacacia....... Rosa

Beech Oak Firethorn False acacia Rose

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

I am not aware of the source for the genus name Automeris, but the species name styx is for the River Styx which, according to the ancient Greeks, separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. It was probably chosen for the very dark colour of this species.