Caterpillars of the
World - Peru
Bullseye moth
Automeris
liberia
CRAMER, 1780
Family -
SATURNIIDAE
subfamily -
HEMILEUCINAE
Tribe -
Automeris liberia, Manu cloudforest, 900m, Peru
Introduction
The genus
Automeris contains about 260 species.
Automeris liberia
occurs in Ecuador and Peru.
Habitats
This
species is found in rainforest and cloudforest habitats at
altitudes between about 400-1500m.
Lifecycle
The caterpillars
of all moths in the subfamily Hemileucinae have stinging spines.
One particular species Lonomia obliqua,
has
well camouflaged spiked
caterpillars which can be found clustered in groups of
up to 100 on the trunks of trees in Amazonia. There have been
many incidents where people have touched
or unwittingly rubbed against groups
of these larvae. The effects of a dose from multiple larvae can be
very dangerous, including massive intercranial
haemorrhaging and
kidney failure.
Lonomia larvae are a frequent
cause of death in southern Brazil - 354 people died between 1989
and 2005. The fatality rate is about 1.7% - roughly equivalent
to that of rattlesnake bites. Fortunately
Automeris larvae are non-lethal, but many can produce a
very painful sting.
The larvae of most species when fully grown are bright green,
marked laterally with dashes or stripes of red ( or orange ) and
white. Along the back and sides are rows of multi-branched
stinging spines, each like a miniature Xmas tree.
The larvae of most
Automeris species are polyphagous -
e.g. the known foodplants of Automeris io
include such unrelated pabula as Salix,
Quercus,
Hibiscus, Azalea,
Prunus,
Trifolium and Euterpe. When
young the larvae feed gregariously, but they gradually disperse
and become solitary by the final instar.
Automeris liberia is known to feed in the wild on
Salix, Quercus
and Gleditsia.
Adult
The numerous
Automeris species vary in pattern and
colouration. Some have yellowish forewings, but most are brown
marked with dark post median lines, and when at rest resemble dead
leaves. Others have greyish forewings mottled or marbled with
darker tones, and provide a convincing camouflage when they are at
rest on tree trunks. The hindwings are usually much brighter in
colour, being creamy or bright yellow in most species, marked with
red or orange. There is always a pair of prominent false
eyes, which vary in size from species to species.
If the moths are
disturbed they immediately drop to the ground and uncover their
hindwings to reveal the startling eye-spots. At the same time they
usually arch their abdomens, and twitch violently, thrusting the
hindwings and their eye-spots forward in a series of rhythmical
movements. The effect on humans is usually to recoil in shock, and
no doubt birds react in a similar manner, and in many cases are so
startled or scared that the moths escape being eaten.
Automeris liberia, Ecuador.
©
Steve Ife
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