Copaxa expandens expandens
Updated from Polillas Saturnidas de Colombia, 1997, Angela R. Amarillo-S., January 2007
Updated as per Lemaire's Attacidae 1978, March 12, 2007
Updated as per "An update checklist for the Saturniidae of Ecuador. Part II: .... " in
SHILAP Revta. lepid 34 (135), 2006: 197-211 L. & T. Racheli, September 2007

Copaxa expandens expandens
Walker, 1855

Copaxa expandens (male), Venezuela, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

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:

The Copaxa expandens expandens moth (wingspan: males: 102-120mm; females: 117-120mm) flies in
northern Venezuela: Aragua, Federal district; and
eastern Ecuador: Napo at elevations of 1150-1600m.

Angela R. Amarillo reports it in
Colombia: Santander at 2325m. Range is probably much more extensive between those three sighting locations

There are many discal spots (usually three) on the forewings but only a single discal spot on the hindwings.

Copaxa expandens (male), Venezuela, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Copaxa expandens male, Merida, Venezuela,
on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa expandens expandens larvae feed upon Quercus and Salix. Kirby Wolfe has reared this species on Persea americana, Avocado, which may or may not be a natural host.

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

Copaxa expandens (female), Venezuela, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa expandens expandens 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.

Quercus.........
Persea americana.....
Salix

Oak
Avocado
Willow

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