DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa madrediosiana (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 49-51mm; females: 63-65mm) flies in Peru: Madre de Dios; Cusco; Puno; Pasco (RB) and
Ecuador.

It has been taken at elevations from 500-1900m.

Copaxa madrediosiana male, Oxapampa, Pasco, Peru,
wingspan: 90mm, July 20, 2004, courtesy of Hubert Mayer,
tentative id by Ron Brechlin, July 6, 2012.

Copaxa madrediosiana or Copaxa vanschaycki or Copaxa satellita male,
Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Because of the placement of the inner column of three small hyaline cell spots, with the lowest one well below the cell, I favour either Copaxa vanschaycki or Copaxa madrediosiana for the brown specimen directly above. There is very little to distinguish between the two species, with C. madrediosiana being darker in the brown form, and the spots smaller in madrediosiana as per the image. There are other features of the speicmen, however, which suggest C. vanschaycki. I will place the image on both files.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect madrediosana would be on the wing every month of the year. Thus far specimens have been taken in January-February-March, July-August.

Copaxa satellita (female), Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
id by Ron Brechlin, July 6, 2012.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa madrediosiana 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:

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

The species name is indicative of location of specimen type material: Madre de Dios.

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