Larvae from MG Brasil

[timmsyrj]

Wow, Tenerife to Brasil, what a change, no Pieris cheiranthi on his balcony anymore, I bet you can't wait to get over there. I'm sure you'll have a bait trap out in the garden and a light sheet out.
Sorry I can't help with the I/D, but I imagine we'll be seeing a few fabulous garden inhabitants in the new year.

Rich

[trehopr1]

In my mind it certainly looks to be of the Automeris genus as you mentioned Jan. However, a species identification would require a specialized knowledge of that genus. Few people have had such exposure in breeding out various Automeris species so it's unlikely you will find anyone who can "peg" the species.
On the other hand, there is an entomologist named Daniel Jansen who has lived and worked in Costa Rica for many years. He has a home and lab there along with a small staff that have been breeding out many species (of all sorts) of Lepidoptera for many years. I am sure our fellow member jshuey can elaborate more on Jansen's activities and perhaps, on how he can be reached. Jshuey has collected Belize fairly extensively according to his posts so he has had to of heard of Jansen. Jansen would most likely be the man with the most educated answer in my opinion. Best of luck !

P.S. I remember well coming across one of these bristly beasts walking along a roadside in Bolivia in May 1989. Some local workers were chopping down the overgrown vegetation alongside the road and warned me in Spanish not to pick it up or I would be stung by it.

[trehopr1]

Wow, I've always known the genus Automeris to be a sizable one but, a quick look at Wikipedia states: as of 1996 there were 124 described species with many more awaiting names. Well, here we are down the road 20 years later and I'll bet we have at least another 20-30 species known.

I do find the forked and bristled "whiskers" at the tail end of the larva in the photograph most curious. Can anyone put forth a credible hypothesis as to why these much longer bristled whiskers exist from an evolutionary standpoint? What purpose might they serve the already well protected larva? 

[Deleted]

Looking forward to more pictures as well, your father is a lucky man.