The Patagonia Silk Moth

What: Automeris patagoniensis

Sex: Male

City: Patagonia, Arizona

County: Santa Cruz County

How: Attracted to 160W Mercury Vapor & 160 W Blacklight Fluroresent lights

When: July & August 2003

Who: Andrew Spicer, PhD & Joel Szymczyk

Comments: These moths are among the rarest moths in North America. The most recently described North American Saturniid, they were discovered in 1993. The moth on the left was captured by Dr. Spicer, the one on the right was captured by Joel Szymczyk. Both were donated to our collection and we in turn will be donating one to the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences. Our patagoniensis was captured in the same spot as the type specimen.The moth is as member of the Saturniid or Silk Moth Family.