Automeris banus
Common NameAutomeris banus
Scientific NameAutomeris banus
FamilySaturniidae
SubfamilyHemileucinae
Wingspan (mm)80
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, black, white
HabitatTropical and subtropical rainforests, cloud forests
Geographic RangeCentral America and northern South America (e.g., Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil)
Host PlantsQuercus, Ficus, various broadleaf trees and shrubs
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions, with multiple broods
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are typically spiny and gregarious, feeding on host plants before pupating in a cocoon, often in leaf litter or underground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its cryptic brown forewings contrasting sharply with the bright orange hindwings, which prominently display large, black, white-centered eyespots when disturbed or in flight.
Description
A medium-sized moth with dull, cryptic brown forewings that conceal vibrant orange hindwings, each bearing a large, striking black eyespot with a white crescent and black pupil.
