Automeris tamsi
Updated as per Lemaire's Hemileucinae 2002, February, 2008

Automeris tamsi
Lemaire, 1966

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Hemileucinae, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Tribe: Hemileucini, Grote & Robinson, 1866
Genus: Automeris, Hubner, [1819]

MIDI MUSIC

"Someone to Watch Over Me"
copyright C. Odenkirk
ON.OFF
<bgsound src="watch.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Automeris tamsi (wingspan: males: 69mm; females: probably larger) flies in dry areas of
Colombia: Magdalena, (probably Cesar (WO?)); and
northwestern Venezuela: Zulia.

This rare species looks like a small jucunda with a very rounded forewing apex.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in August.

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.

Return to Main Index

Return to Automeris Genus