DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa andescens (wingspan: males: 92-101mm; females: 103mm; // forewing length: males: 53-57mm; females: 59mm) flies in
eastern Ecuador: Napo;
eastern Peru: Junin; and
Bolivia: Santa Cruz; Cochabamba; La Paz.

This name is a replacement for decrescens in the afore-mentioned countries, with decrescens now limited to southeastern Brazil (Ron Brechlin, July 2012).

Copaxa andescens male, 92mm, fwl: 53mm, Pampa Hermosa Resort, Junin, Peru,
April, 2011, 1200m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa andescens male, Santa Cruz, Bolivia,
January 4, 2010, 1000m, courtesy of Jason Weigner;
tentative id by Ron Brechlin.

Copaxa andescens HT male, 97mm, Cochabamba, Bolivia,
as per Entomo Satsphingia, Jahrgang 5 Heft 2 2012; on my home computer only.

Copaxa andescens/wolfei ?? male, reared on avocado,
Junin/Pasco, Peru, 750m, courtesy of Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel

Copaxa andescens/wolfei ?? male, reared on avocado,
Junin/Pasco, Peru, 750m, courtesy of Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel

The size of the hyaline cell spots on all wings of the specimen from Santa Cruz, Bolivia, suggests that it is different from the specimens from Ecuador and Peru.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect andescens would be on the wing every month of the year. Thus far this species has only been observed on the wing in September-October-November.

Copaxa andescens female, 103mm, fwl: 59mm, Pampa Hermosa Resort, Junin, Peru,
December 8, 1200m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa andescens female, La Paz, Bolivia,
ESs Journal, on my home computer only.

Copaxa andescens/wolfei ?? female, reared on avocado,
Junin/Pasco, Peru, 750m, courtesy of Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa andescens 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:

Copaxa andescens/wolfei final instar, reared on avocado,
Junin/Pasco, Peru, 750m, courtesy of Viktor Suter and Bernhard Wenczel

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

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The species name, andescens, is a replacement name for those specimens on the eastern slopes of the Andes, formerly identified as decrescens.