I am not sure whether the specimen depicted above is C. schmiti or C. conlani. C. schmiti, with a male forewing length of 50-51mm, based on two specimens, is perhaps a bit smaller than C. conlani whose male forewing lengths check out at 55-60mm, based on eight specimens. There are additional notes below.

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

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DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa schmiti (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 50-51mm; females: unknown) flies in
northern Nicaragua: Jinotega: El Gobiado (HT) at an elevation of 1280m.

There is an almost uniform grey-brown form as well as the yellow form at top of this page.

Copaxa schmiti? or C. conlani? male (grey-brown form), Yukul, Maltagalpa, Nicaragua,
September 2000, 1225m, courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Apparently there is also an intermediate colour morph as evidenced by the specimen below from the same location. Its prime cell markings, however, seem a bit thinner than in the other two specimens. It will be interesting to see if the size differences and the character differences hold up when a greater number of specimens are available for study. Rearing results will also be interesting.

Copaxa schmiti? or C. conlani? male (yellow-brown form), Yukul, Maltagalpa, Nicaragua,
September 2000, 1225m, courtesy of Jean-Michel Maes,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

I suspect DNA analysis might be required to distinguish this species from the very similar, recently described Copaxa conlani, known so far from Costa Rica: San Jose and Cartago; and Panama: Chiriqui; at elevations from 750-2250m. Copaxa conlani also exhibits the two colour morphs.

The larger marking at the outer edge of the cell on all wings of conlani is larger than that of schmiti, and the size difference is apparent when specimens of both species are viewed simultaneously, but the size discrepancy would scarcely be noticeable if one only has one species to scrutinize. based on what I am seeing above, I do not think the supposed differences in size of the cell markings is a consistent character, unless both species are sympatric in Nicaragua, and both species are actually depicted above. Unfortunately I do not have wingspan measurements of any of these specimens. I will be posting these same images and comments to the conlani page.

Copaxa schmiti/conlani/multifenestrata male, Honduras, wingspan 100mm,
courtesy of Ronald Cave,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

I had initially placed the Ronald Cave specimen from Honduras on the multifenestrata page. I think, now, it is more likely schmiti (first choice) or conlani (second choice), but I cannot rule out Copaxa multifenestrata, but I think multifenestrata has a more produced apex and a more convex outer margin below the hollowed out region below the apex.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa schmiti larvae probably feed upon avocado (Persea americana).

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect schmiti would be on the wing every month of the year. Thus far they have only been reported in September.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa schmiti moths use highly developed antennae to locate females by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume. The female releases this scent into the air via an organ extended from the tip of the abdomen.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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 .......

Avocado

The species name is honourific for Schmit.

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