DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa orientalis orientalis (wingspan: males: 110-135mm;; females: 112mm // forewing length: males: 60-74mm; females: 60-67mm) flies in high altitude cloud forests and sub-paramo vegetation (3000 - 4200 m) in
eastern and western Ecuador: western Napo (HK), western Imbabura (HK), Cotopaxi (CL) and Pichincha (CL) and possibly in the Ecuadorian provinces of western Sucumbios and Carchi, and in
Colombia: Caldas (TD), Cundinamarca (ARA), Monte Tolima (CL), Nariono (ARA) and probably in other southerly Colombian departments at high altitudes.

Copaxa orientalis orientalis is placed in the Sapatoza Group.

Visit Copaxa sapatoza Group Comparison Chart.

This species is larger than C. semioculata. The tip of the forewing apex is usually blunt, especially in the female, instead of rounded.

This moth has been elevated to full species status as Copaxa orientalis. It was at one time treated as a subspecies of C. semioculata.

Copaxa orientalis male, Papallacta, Napo Province, Ecuador,
(3570 m ) 7/2/06, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa orientalis orientalis male, Napo Province, Ecuador,
on my home computer only

Copaxa orientalis male (verso), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa orientalis larvae feed upon Brachyotum ledifolium.

Horst Kach reports them "on the wing every month but especially in the wet season from September until May. Females are rare!!"

Visit Copaxa orientalis female, Papallacta, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Visit Copaxa orientalis males, Papallacta, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Visit Copaxa orientalis female (recto and verso), Cerro Blanco, Imbabura, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa orientalis 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.

Males come to lights regularly, just shortly after dark, but females rarely appear at lights.

Copaxa orientalis, Caldas, Colombia, T. Decaëns & D. Bonilla

Copaxa orientalis, female, Colombia, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Copaxa orientalis orientalis female, Napo Province, Ecuador,
on my home computer only

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larvae spin porous cocoons, longitudinally affixed to branches and stems.

Copaxa orientalis first instar larvae, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa orientalis fifth instar larvae, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa orientalis, larva, Colombia, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

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 Brachyotum ledifolium.......

Avacado Brachyotum ledifolium

Copaxa orientalis, eastern Ecuador, courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

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