DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa simoni (wingspan: males: mm; females: 96mm // forewing length: males: mm; females: 53mm) flies in
Ecuador: Morona-Santiago: Macas-Guamonte; and Napo: Guango, elevations of 2600-3100m.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa simoni larvae probably feed upon avocado (Persea americana). They have been reared in captivity on Shanchi (Coriaria thymifolia) and Avocado (Persea americana).

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect simoni would be on the wing every month of the year, but so far (2011) specimens have only been taken in March and June.

The forewing crescents of the female are relatively, short, thin and closer to linear as opposed to the more crescentric, thicker, longer shapes in other species of this group.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa simoni 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.

Copaxa simoni HT female, 96mm, Macas-Guamote, Morona Santiago, Ecuador,
June 10, 2010, 3100m, on my home computer only.

Copaxa hoehni HT female, 96mm, Guango, Napo, Ecuador,
October 4, 2011, 2600m, on my home computer only.

The female hoehni above is now recognized as the female of Copaxa simoni.

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.

Coriaria thymifolia Persea americana .......

Shanchi Avocado

The species name is honourific for Leroy Simon.

Return to Copaxa Index

Return to Main Saturniidae Index