Copaxa rufotincta
koh-PAX-uhMroo-foh-TINK-tuh
Rothschild, 1895

Copaxa litensis or rufotincta?? male, northwest Ecuador, nr Lita (Esmeraldas Province),
forewing length 48mm, courtesy of Horst Kach, id by Kirby Wolfe as litensis.

Copaxa rufotincta male, Chiriboga, Guajalita Reserve, nr. Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 14, 1998, courtesy of Hubert Mayer, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke.
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 rufotincta (forewing length: males: ) flies in
Panama; and possibly at least as far south as western Ecuador: Esmeraldas; maybe Pichincha (HM).

On July 5, 2012, Ron Brechlin writes, "The 'litensis'-specimens by Horst Kaech are (nearest) rufotincta."

This comment refers to the recto and verso images from Esmeraldas, Ecuador, which Kirby Wolfe had tentatively identified as C. litensis.

Copaxa litensis or rufotincta?? (very questionable as rufotincta; I think not) male (verso), northwest Ecuador, near Lita,
forewing length 48mm, courtesy of Horst Kach, id by Kirby Wolfe as litensis.

Copaxa rufotincta male, Panama,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa rufa larvae feed upon avocado (Persea americana).

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa rufotincta 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 rufotincta female, ??, Manabi, Esmeraldas, Ecuador,
courtesy of Horst Kaech, via Ron Brechlin.

Copaxa rufotincta ?? female, Macquipucuna Reserve, Pichincha, Ecuador,
courtesy of Deb Lievens, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Copaxa rufotincta (very questionable as rufotincta; I think not) fifth instar, on my home computer only.

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

Eucalyptus gunnii Liquidambar styraciflua ....... Persea americana

Cider Gum (AM) Sweetgum (AM) Avocado

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