I believe this moth now has full species status (elevated from subspecies of expandens), but I am not sure of spelling of brunneocaeca/brunnaeocaeca. I think brunneocaeca is correct.

Copaxa brunneocaeca male, San Isidro, Napo, Ecuador,
April 6, 2011, courtesy of Les Catchick, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

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 brunneocaeca (wingspan: males: 101mm; females: ) flies in medium to high altitude andean forests (1500 - 2200 m; possibly as low as 1100m?) from
Ecuador: Napo; Morona-Santiago to
Bolivia. There are several colour morphs.

There are many discal spots on the forewing but only a single spot on the hindwing. Basic ground colour is dark reddish brown.

I am not sure that I have idenitifed the following moth correctly, but I believe it is C. e. brunneocaeca, because of very dark brown colour, two or more hyaline spots on forewings, and a single hyaline spot on the hindwing. Images I have seen of Copaxa andensis, which has similar characters, show the andensis with lighter, basal, median and cell areas.

Copaxa brunnaeocaeca male, Wildsumaco Lodge, Napo, Ecuador,
April 6, 2011, courtesy of Tony Hoare, via Peter Bruce-Jones.

Copaxa brunneocaeca male, 101mm, Napo, Ecuador,
Entomo-Satsphingia image, on my home computer only.

Copaxa brunneocaeca male, Narupa, Napo, Ecuador,
1100m, courtesy of Jim McClarin, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa brunneocaeca larvae feed upon

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa brunneocaeca 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:

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.

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