Copaxa andensis
Updated from Polillas Saturnidas de Colombia, 1997, Angela R. Amarillo-S., January 2007
Updated as per Lemaire's Attacidae 1978, March 12, 2007
Updated as per "An update checklist for the Saturniidae of Ecuador. Part II: .... " in
SHILAP Revta. lepid 34 (135), 2006: 197-211 L. & T. Racheli, September 2007
Updated as per Entomo Satsphingia Yahrgang 3 Heft 3 28.06.2010 (only in Colombia and Ecuador); March 11, 2012
Updated as per Entomo Satsphingia Yahrgang 5 Heft 2 (Peru, Ecuador), via personal communication with Ron Brechlin; July 5, 2012

Copaxa andensis
koh-PAX-uhMan-DEN-sihs
Lemaire, 1971

Copaxa andensis male copyright Kirby Wolfe

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

MIDI MUSIC

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copyright C. Odenkirk
MIDI CITY
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DISTRIBUTION:

The Copaxa andensis (wingspan: males: 88-110mm; females: 100-115mm) flies in Colombia: Antioquia and Valle de Cauca, probably Cauca and Nariono;
Ecuador: Pichincha.

DNA barcoding results have shown those specimens from Peru and Bolivia to be closely related but distinct species:
Peru: Amazonas and elsewhere and
Bolivia: LaPaz; Cochabamba and elswehere; at elevations of 1400-2200m.

There are many discal spots on the forewing, but only a single spot on the hindwing.

Copaxa andensis female, San Isidro, Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador,
March 1, 2011, 2000m, courtesy of Roger Ahlman,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke, might be something new,
note pointed apices and large internal hyaline spot.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa andensis larvae feed upon avocado (Persea americana).

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa andensis 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:

Copaxa andensis?? larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

Copaxa andensis?? larva copyright Bernhard Wenczel

Visit Copaxa andensis?? fourth and fifth instar larvae, Ecuador, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

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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