DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa satellita (wingspan: males: 90-115mm; females: 97-122mm) flies in low to medium elevation Andean forests (400 - 2600 m) from
eastern Colombia: probably Putamayo;
eastern Ecuador: Sucumbios, Napo, Morona-Santiago, probably Pastaza;
* Peru: Amazonas (LR & TR), Huanuco, Pasco, Cusco, probably San Martin, Junin and Puno;
and Bolivia: Santa Cruz, maybe Cochabamba and La Paz;
to Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Parana (CM) and probably Sao Paulo;
and Argentina: Misiones. * In all likelihood those specimens previously thought to be satellita from Amazonas and San Martin, Peru, are probably C. vanschaycki; those specimens from Madre de Dios, Cusco, and Puno, Peru, are probably C. madrediosiana; and those specimens from Bahia to Santa Catarina, eastern Brazil, and northeastern Argentina are probably C. mielkeorum.

Satellita is larger than the nominate species (at one time considered a subspecies of multifenestrata), but is as varied in colouration: yellow, olive brown, dark brown. The populations from Argentina and southeastern Brazil (now mielkeorum) are a uniform dark brown. There is a varied number of multiple discal spots on each wing.

Copaxa satellita male, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador,
August 10, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Visit Copaxa satellita recto and verso of yellow male, brown male, female, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa satellita larvae feed upon Persea americana in Ecuador, according to Horst Kach.

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect satellita would be on the wing every month of the year.

Copaxa satellita female, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador,
August 12, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa satellita 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 satellita male, Ecuador, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
id by Ron Brechlin as satellita, July 5, 2012.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Copaxa satellita eggs, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador,
April 15, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Horst Kach sends these images of Copaxa satellita larvae feeding on Persea americana.

Larvae are from Misahualli, Napo, Ecuador, and have been reared on Persea americana.

Copaxa satellita first (yellow) and second instars, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador,
courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa satellita third instar, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa satellita fourth instar, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa satellita fifth instar, Misahualli (Napo), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

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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Copaxa satellita female, Ecuador,
on my home computer only.