Copaxa denda
koh-PAX-uhMDEN-duhMDEN-duh
Druce, 1894

Copaxa denda dendoidea male courtesy of Leroy Simon.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, 1837 Genus: Copaxa, Walker, 1855

DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa denda denda (wingspan: males: approx 80-90mm; females: ??) flies in Mexico: Veracruz, and is possibly limited to that state, based on 2016 Entomo-Satsphingia.

In 2016, Brechlin and Meister describe Copaxa denda dendoidea from many southern Mexican states except for Veracruz, the specimen type locale for C. denda denda.

I had previously included the following locations for denda, but these locations, except for Veracruz, apply to the recently described Copaxa denda dendoidea.

Mexico: Puebla, Veracruz, Chiapas, Hidalgo (KP); and
Honduras (EvS); and
probably in Guatemala.

Males of subspecies dendoidea are slightly darker than nominate denda, and the forewing apex is much more produced and tapering in dendoidea compared to the shorter projection and more rounded appearance of the apex in nominate denda.

Copaxa denda denda male, 80mm, Veracruz, Mexico,
on my home computer only.

Copaxa denda dendoidea male, 1450m, 90mm, Hidalgo, Mexico, courtesy of Kelly Price.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa denda larvae feed upon avocado (Persea americana).

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect denda would be on the wing every month of the year.

Copaxa denda dendoidea male, Honduras, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa denda moths 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.

Copaxa denda dendoidea female (copyright protected) courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Copaxa denda dendoidea, courtesy of Leroy Simon. Larvae spin silken cocoons and remind me very much of Antheraea larvae while in the final instar.

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

Persea americana.....

Avocado

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Copaxa denda denda male,
on my home computer only.