DISTRIBUTION:

The Copaxa sophronia moth (wingspan: males 105mm; females: ??) flies in Guatemala: Alta Verapaz, Quetzaltenango, probably Izabal and throughout most of Guatemala; and probably in southern Mexico at elevations from 1500-2000m. It is confirmed for the state of Chiapas in Mexico.

In July of 2006, Eduardo Marabuto confirms it from Honduras: (probably Cortes) with the image below.

Sophronia is a large species with squarish wings compared to other Copaxa species. The medium sized discal spots (single on each wing) are broadly ringed with yellow, and the hindwings are elongated with wavy postmedial lines. All specimens on this page and in Lemaire's book seem to have (on an otherwise concolourus wing) a slightly convex, darker median band, extending from the costa to just outside the discal spot to meet the pm line about halfway between the discal spot and the inner angle.

Copaxa sophronia male (red) copyright Kirby Wolfe

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa sophronia larvae feed upon avocado in the lab.

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

Copaxa sophronia female copyright Kirby Wolfe

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa sophronia 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.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Kirby Wolfe has reared this species on Persea americana, Avocado, which may or may not be a natural host.

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

Copaxa sophronia larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

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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Some of the early describers/namers chose genus and species names indicating some character of the insect, but more often, they simply chose names from Greek or Roman mythology or history.

Those species names which end in "ensis" indicate a specimen locale, and those which end in "i", pronounced "eye", honour a contempory friend/collector/etc.

The genus name "Copaxa" is from an unknown source.

The species name "sophronia" probably comes from the Latin word "flavin", meaning yellow.