DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa litensis flies in
northwestern Ecuador: Esmeraldas, Imbabura ?, and Carchi LTR; and is very similar to but smaller than Copaxa multifenestrata. The apex of the forewing is decidely more falcate in litensis.

On July 5, 2012, Ron Brechlin writes, "The "litensis"-specimens by Horst Kaech are (nearest) rufotincta.

Copaxa litensis or rufotincta?? male, northwest Ecuador, near Lita (Esmeraldas Province),
forewing length 48mm, courtesy of Horst Kach, id by Kirby Wolfe.

Copaxa litensis or rufotincta?? male (verso), northwest Ecuador, near Lita,
forewing length 48mm, courtesy of Horst Kach, id by Kirby Wolfe.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

In the laboratory Copaxa litensis larvae feed upon Persea americana.

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect litensis would be on the wing every month of the year. Wolfe and Conlan discovered the new species on April 30, 2000 as adult moths at an elevation of 800 m on the road from Salinas to San Lorenzo in the Carchi Province. Females readily oviposited in paper bags.

Copaxa litensis female copyright protected courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa litensis moths use highly developed antennae to locate females around midday by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume. The female releases this scent into the air via an organ extended from the tip of the abdomen.

Copaxa litensis call and mate after dark.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Copaxa litensis larva copyright protected courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Copaxa litensis larvae are quite different from those of C. multifenestrata.

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.

Persea americana.........

Avocado

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