DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa rufinans rufstralica (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 50-60mm; females: 65mm) flies in
Honduras: Santa Barbara; Lempira; Cortez; Colon; Atlantida; Comayagua; Francisco Morazan;
Guatemala: Zacapa; El Peten; Peten; Alta Verapaz; Izabal;
Belize: Cayo;
Mexico: Chiapas; Quintana Roo;
Nicaragua: Jinotega; Nuevo Segovia; Matagalppa;
Costa Rica: Cartago; Limon; Alajuela; Guanacaste;
Panama: Chiriqui;
Colombia: Choco.

Specimens have been taken at elevations from 125-1950m.

Those specimens south of Mexico, previously classified as Copaxa rufinans are now treated as subspecies Copaxa rufinans rufstralica, Brechlin & Meister, 2016.

The HT and PT males depicted by Brechlin & Meister, 2016, have very small forewing and hindwing "ocelli/fenestrae", much smaller than those in the specimens provided by Terry Stoddard, more in line with the specimen below, provided by Dave Rolfe.

Copaxa rufinans male, aberration: no forewing ocelli,
Nueva X-Can, Quintana Roo, Mexico,
92mm, courtesy of Dave Rolfe.

Perhaps this is a very variable character, but it is not mentioned as such in Brechlin & Meister's description of the newer species. Dave regarded the specimen, above, as an aberration.

Copaxa rufinans rufstralica is placed in the Decrescens Group: Rufinans Subgroup.

Visit Copaxa decrescens Group Comparison Chart.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa rufinans rufstralica larvae feed upon ??

Specimens have thus far been taken in March, May-June-early July and August September. There may be additional flight months.

Copaxa rufinans rufstralica female, wingspan: 116mm; forewing length: 65mm, Mount Totumas Lodge,
Amistad National Park, Chiriqui, Panama, August 12, 2012, 1900m,
courtesy of Terry Stoddard, id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa rufinans rufstralica AT female, Colon, Honduras,
June 18, 2014, 1220m, on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa rufinans rufstralica probably use highly developed antennae to locate females shortly after dark by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume. The female releases this scent into the night air via an organ extended from the tip of the abdomen.

Males come to lights regularly, just shortly after dark, but females rarely appear at lights.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae probably spin porous cocoons, longitudinally affixed to branches and stems.

The species/subspecies name, metescens, is indicative of a very close relationship with Copaxa decrecens and a specimen type locale in Mete, Colombia.

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the anticipated foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Persea americana Brachyotum ledifolium.......

Avacado Brachyotum ledifolium

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