DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa metescens (wingspan: males: 92mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: mm; females: mm) flies in
Colombia: Meta: Restrepo (probably Casanare and Arauca), at elevations from 910m, and from 420-800m in
Venezuela: Barinas: Barinitis; Carabobo: Bejuma; Aragua: Choroni; (probably western Apure, Cojedes, etc.) along the eastern slopes of the Cordillera Oriental, possibly at far east as Monagas, Venezuela.

Copaxa metescens male, Caripe, Monagas, Venezuela,
May 5, 2018, 800m, courtesy of Marcial Garcia, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

I have tentatively identified the moth directly above as Copaxa metescens, based on an expected continuation of that species along the eastern slopes of the Eastern Cordillera. It could also be Copaxa marona described from French Guiana, or an undescribed species, based on a break between the eastern cordillera and the Caripe Range.

Copaxa metescens is placed in the Decrescens Group.

Visit Copaxa decrescens Group Comparison Chart.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa metescens larvae feed upon ??

Specimens have thus far been taken in March in Colombia. There may be additional flight months. If my id is correct for the specimen from Caripe, Monagas, Venezuela, there is a May flight in Venezuela.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa metescens 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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