Copaxa koenigi
Lemaire, 1974

Copaxa koenigi male 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:

Copaxa koenigi (wingspan: males: 95mm; females: forewing length: males: 54mm; females: ) flies on the eastern slopes of the Andes in
Peru: Junin: Calabaza; Puno; Cusco: Rio Pilcap, 2800m, and Madre de Dios at elevations of 600-1100m-2000m (Calabaza)- 2800m (Rio Pilcap). Racheli and Racheli indicate it has also been found in
Ecuador: Morona-Santiago (rare), and in Pastaza, Ecuador, if my id below is correct.

Copaxa koenigi male, Cabanas Piatua, Santa Clara, Pastaza, Ecuador,
October 2007, courtesy of Alex Cahurel,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

This species greatly resembles decrescens, but tends to have larger semi-circular discal spots. Males tend to have considerable orange scaling in the forewing cell. Ground colour is brown with contrasting lilac borders.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa koenigi larvae probably will feed upon avocada.

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect koenigi would be on the wing every month of the year. Specimens have been recorded in May (Calabaza, Junin), July-August and December (TS).

Copaxa koenigi male, 95mm, fwl: 54mm, Pampa Hermosa Resort, Junin, Peru,
December 8, 2008, 1200m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard, id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa koenigi 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.

Copaxa koenigi male, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Copaxa koenigi female, Peru,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Copaxa koenigi female, Calabaza, Junin, Peru,
May 1999, 2000m, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel;
Some new Satumiidae species from Peru, Stefan Naumann, Ulrich Brosch, & Bernhard Wenczel
[with contributions by Frank Meister and Ronald Brechlin].

Copaxa koenigi male, San Gavan, Puno, Peru,
August 2002, 700m, courtesy of Stefan Naumann;
Some new Satumiidae species from Peru, Stefan Naumann, Ulrich Brosch, & Bernhard Wenczel
[with contributions by Frank Meister and Ronald Brechlin],
significant digital repairby Bill Oehlke, apices missing from original image.

In some areas Copaxa koenigi and Copaxa wolfei are sympatric, but the ocelli are larger in koenigi than in wolfei, and possibly?? the forewing apex is less produced and less falcate in koenigi.

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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