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Species Automeris cecrops - Cecrops eyed Silkmoth - Hodges#7748

Caterpillar Salad - Automeris cecrops Caterpillar Salad - Automeris cecrops Larva - Automeris cecrops Zephyr Eyed Silkmoth alternate colouration - Automeris cecrops Automeris cecrops pamina - Automeris cecrops moth - Automeris cecrops Maybe an Io Moth? - Automeris cecrops Cecrops eyed Silkmoth caterpillar - Automeris cecrops
Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Bombycoidea (Silkworm, Sphinx, and Royal Moths)
Family Saturniidae (Giant Silkworm and Royal Moths)
Subfamily Hemileucinae (Buck and Io Moths)
Tribe Hemileucini
Genus Automeris
Species cecrops (Cecrops eyed Silkmoth - Hodges#7748)
Hodges Number
7748
Numbers
According to All-Leps, there are 2 subspecies in our area:
Automeris cecrops cecrops and Automeris cecrops pamina
Size
Adult wingspan: 8 - 10.6 cm
Identification
In adults, the line running from the tip of the front wing to the middle of the hind margin will separate it from A. io, which has a line or division in the pattern that is parallel to the outer margin instead, not extending from the tip of the wing.
Young larvae of A. io (mostly found on Willow) usually have a less contrasting pattern of slightly more parallel stripes. Older larvae of A. cecrops (usually found on Oak) have a gray-green (almost bluish) contrasted with black stripes, and are deep red-brown/black below; while older larvae of A. io are usually yellowish to bright green with a reddish & white stripe along each side, not deep red-brown/black below.

A. zephyria occurs a bit further east and probably never in the same places (??). The adults differ primarily in the brighter and more contrasting color pattern. The young larvae are very similar and best distinguished by where found (east of the Rio Grande). Older larvae of A. zephyria have a slightly different pattern, and are a bright yellow-green instead of dull gray-green.
Range
Mostly in mountains from central Arizona to north central New Mexico, and south into Mexico. Not known from east of the Rio Grande, where it is replaced by closely related A. zephyria.
Food
Larvae: Fendler ceanothus (Ceanothus fendleri), catclaw mimosa (Mimosa biuncifera), mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus parvifolius), and oaks (Quercus).
Adults do not feed.

Additional wild host plant observations in Jemez Mountains, New Mexico by David J. Ferguson:
Salix interior (= exigua); Rosa sp., Robinia neomexicana, Ceanothus fendleri, Populus tremuloides; Prunus virginiana; Cercocarpus montanus & ledifolius; however, primarily on Oaks - Quercus gambelii, grisea, & untulata/pungens. [Q. undulata & Q. pungens are not well differentiated in New Mexico, plants will key out to both.]

The larvae will accept many other woody dicot species as food when being reared.
Internet References
Butterflies and Moths of North America - maps, photos and more information.

Moth Photographers Group - pinned photos.