Copaxa ockendeni
Updated as per Entomo Satsphingia Jahrgang 3, Heft 3, 28.06.2010; January 18-23, 2012

Copaxa ockendeni
(Druce, 1906) Saturnia

Copaxa medea/ockendeni male, Peru, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
with features of both C. medea and C. ockendeni.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

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 ockendeni flies in
southeastern Peru: Cusco, Puno; and probably into
(Those specimens from southern Peru with larger forewing ocelli are C ockendeni); and
northwestern Bolivia: Haut Rio Songo at high elevation (2500-4000m) in open country.

Lines on the upper wing surfaces are very contrasting, distinguishing this species.
Copaxa ockendeni male, Peru, Pilhauta, Manu Road, c2000 metres September 2005 © Andrew Self.

Based on recent (2010) DNA barcode analysis, I am pretty sure the specimen to the right (above) from Cusco, and similar specimens from Puno, Peru, and from northwestern Bolivia would now be classified as the resurrected species Copaxa ockendeni. Note the larger forewing ocelli, the more irregular black line in the hindwing submargin and the black shading in the hindwing marginal areas.

The overall appearance of the forewing of male C. media is narrower, with a smaller ocellus, than the fuller wing with a larger ocellus in C. ockendeni. The outer hindwing, black submarginal ban also tends to be smoother/more even in medea, and the hindwing outer margin tends to have less of the blacker areas. I have seen images of moths that seem intermediate between those two descriptions.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa ockendeni larvae probably feed upon Monterey pine (Pinus radiata).

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect ockendeni would be on the wing every month of the year. However, at high altitude it may only fly in the warmer months.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa medea 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.

Pinus radiata.....

Monterey pine

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Visit Copaxa medea by Hubert Mayer to see additional images of this species.