DISTRIBUTION:

Pseudautomeris irene (wingspan: males: 70-92mm; females: 86-95mm) flies in
Surninam;
southern Nicaragua: Zelaya, Rio San Juan;
Costa Rica: San Jose (CL), Alajuela, Heredia, Limon (IB);
Panama: Darien: Cerro Chuquanti; Colon: Gamboa
Colombia: Valle, , northwestern Ecuador: Imbabura, Carchi (possibly), Esmeraldas and Pichincha; and
Venezuela: Bolivar, Aragua; and
French Guiana: Fleuve L'Oyapok, Camopi, Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, Saul, Camp Changement.

Pseudautomeris irene ssp., Henri Pittier National Park, Aragua, Venezuela,
January 12, 2006, courtesy of Phil Torres.

The male forewing has a square appearance and there is more white on body side of antemedial and postmedial lines as compared to other species.

The image sent by Phil Torres (above) seems a good match for the darker subspecies depicted (not named) by Lemaire.

Pseudautomeris irene males,
courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

There are at least three broods annually.

Larvae feed on Passiflora quadrangulare. Coffea, Saccharum officinarum, Carpotroche brasiliensis, Erythrina poepiggiana and Wisteria sinensis are also reported as hosts.

Pseudautomeris irene irene* male, Cerro Chucanti, Darien, Panama,
August 2012, courtesy of Albert Thurman.

* The Pseudautomeris irene irene specimen depicted in the 2010 Entomo-Satsphingia Journal shows a much less squarish forewing anal angle than depicted in the specimen, above, from Panama. The ESs image is much closer to those specimens in the digital image provided by Bernhard Wenczel. I also note that the Albert Thurman image, in addition to having a very squarish forewing anal angle, also has a quite concave forewing pm line. I think the Panamanian specimen might be an undescribed irene subspecies? It could also represent a slightly more southerly range for recently described Pseudautomeris rudloffi but even that species does not have such a squarish anal angle?? (Bill Oehlke)

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females extend a scent gland from the tip of the abdomen to call in the night-flying males. Most male activity occurs in the two hours before midnight.

Pseudautomeris irene irene courtesy of Dan Janzen.

Pseudautomeris irene irene female, courtesy of Thibaud Decaens.

Pseudautomeris irene irene female, Soberania NP, Gamboa, Colon, Panama,
70m, July 15, 2013, courtesy of Albert Thurman, id * by Bill Oehlke.

Pseudautomeris irene irene female (verso), Soberania NP, Gamboa, Colon, Panama,
70m, July 15, 2013, courtesy of Albert Thurman, id * by Bill Oehlke.

* The gold-yellow-whitish tracing of the forewing lines seems absent in the Gamboa, Colon, Panama specimen. Perhaps it is a species as yet undefiined, or maybe it is just a bit worn. Bill Oehlke

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Pseudautomeris irene final instar courtesy of Chris Conlan.

Pseudautomeris irene larva, copyright protected, by Thibaud Decaens

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.

Passiflora quadrangulare..... Coffea Carpotroche brasiliensis Erythrina poepiggiana Saccharum officinarum Wisteria sinensis

Passionflower Coffee Fruta-de-cachorro/Fruta-de-cutia Mountain immortelle Sugarcane Chinese wisteria

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Pseudautomeris irene male,
84mm, French Guiana,
on my home computer only.