Biology of Automeris jucunda (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae, Hemileucinae) with taxonomic notes on A. hamata subgroup

Abstract

A female of Automeris jucunda (Cramer, 1779) was collected during a field expedition to Otanche, Colombia. The rearing of this species was conducted in captivity, in situ and in the laboratory, on different food plants as the larvae revealed to be polyphagous. In Colombia, the larval phase lasted six weeks on Schizolobium parahyba S. F. Blake, 1919 (Fabaceae), a natural host plant of A. jucunda. Instead, in the laboratory the larval phase lasted more than eight weeks on Rubus fruticosus Linnaeus, 1753 (Rosaceae), a replacement food plant for this species. The gregarious larvae developed between five to six instars and can also cause erucism. The immature stages of A. jucunda are described together with food plants. Furthermore, short taxonomic notes on the A. hamata subgroup, which includes A. jucunda, are provided.