Iris eyed silkmoth
Automeris iris (Walker, 1865)
Family: Saturniidae
Subfamily: Hemileucinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing is gray-brown with a pink tint and a darker wing base. Brown median line is distinct. Upperside of hindwing is orange with a gray-brown margin and a large eyespot circled in gray and black.
Wing Span: 2 7/8 - 3 1/2 inches (7.4 - 9 cm).
Life History: Females deposit eggs in groups of 6-40. Young caterpillars feed together. Some caterpillars in captivity spun cocoons in leaf litter, but some pupated in the litter without spinning a cocoon.
Flight: One brood from mid-July to early August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Oaks (Quercus).
Adult Food: Adults do not feed.
Habitat: Oak woodlands in low mountains.
Range: Southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico, south into Mexico.
Conservation: Populations should be inventoried and monitored.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 verified sightings
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: BAMONA
Region:
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Sep 06, 2010
Observation date: Sep 18, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce Walsh)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Aug 01, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Sep 19, 2001
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Brock)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 27, 1991
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James P. Tuttle)
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (The Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 28, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Chihuahua, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004