DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa marona (wingspan: males: 108mm; females: 115mm) flies in coastal French Guiana: Kaw; Coralie;
Guyana (RB, 2012); and
probably (WO?) Suriname.

Specimens reported from coastal French Guiana as Copaxa decrescens are now Copaxa marona; Ronald Brechlin & Frank Meister, Stat. rev., 2010. Copaxa decrescens is probably limited to southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northeastern Argentina.

The specimen type is from Saint-Jean-du-Maroni, French Guiana, Ronald Brechlin & Frank Meister, Stat. rev., 2010.

Copaxa marona male, Piste de Belizon,
French Guiana, February 7, 2005, courtesy of Alex Cahurel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

FGS reports a February flight in French Guiana.

Larvae feed upon avocado (Persea americana), Holly or Holm oak (Quercus ilex) and Sallow or Goat willow (Salix capraea).

Copaxa marona female, French Guiana,
courtesy of Jean-Yves Malmasson.

Copaxa marona female, French Guiana,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck

Copaxa marona female, Piste de Belizon,
French Guiana, February 7, 2005, courtesy of Alex Cahurel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Males use highly developed antennae to locate mates at night by tracking the airbourne pheromone plume. Males also have more falcate wings.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae are gregarious in early instars, often lining up side by side on the undersides of foliage.

Larvae are a basic green and somewhat resemble polyphemus, having brown heads.

Copaxa marona third or fourth?? instars, French Guiana,
courtesy of Jean-Yves Malmasson.

Copaxa marona fifth instar, French Guiana,
courtesy of Jean-Yves Malmasson.

Copaxa marona cocoon, French Guiana,
courtesy of Jean-Yves Malmasson.

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..... Quercus ilex Salix capraea

Avocado Holly oak/Holm oak Sallow/Goat willow

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Copaxa marona male, Kaw, French Guiana,
108mm, February 2000, on my home computer only.

Copaxa marona female, Piste Coralie, French Guiana,
115mm, on my home computer only.