DISTRIBUTION: Copaxa andorientalis (wingspan: males: mm; females: 102mm // forewing length: males: 49-56mm; females: 52-60mm) flies in northeastern Peru: Cajamarca (eastern); and eastern Ecuador: Napo, Morona-Santiago, Zamora-Chinchipe. Copaxa andorientalis male (right), Eastern Ecuador, Cosanga, 2200 m, October - February, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Ron Brechlin sent me a personal email, July 5, 2012, in which he writes, "The E Andean sister species [of andensis] from NE Peru ([East] Cajamarca dept.) and E Ecuador (e.g. those ones reported by HK as andensis from Napo [but also from MS and Zamora-Ch.]) is recently [ESS 5-2] described as C. andorientalis by Brechlin & Meister, 2012.

Copaxa andorientalis 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.

Copaxa andorientalis AT female, Napo, Ecuador,
102mm, on my home computer only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa andorientalis larvae probably feed upon avocado (Persea americana).

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect andorientalis would be on the wing every month of the year. Horst Kach reports them on the wing from October to February in eastern Ecuador. Roger Ahlman reports a March flight in San Isidro, Cosanga, Napo, Ecuador. The holotype from Colombia was taken in December.

Copaxa andorientalis female, Cosanga (Napo Province), Ecuador,
January 22, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa andorientalis female (verso), Cosanga (Napo Province), Ecuador,
January 22, 2007, courtesy of Horst Kach.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa andorientalis 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 andorientalis second instar, Cosanga (Napo Province), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa andorientalis third instar, Cosanga (Napo Province), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa andorientalis fourth instar, Cosanga (Napo Province), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Not sure what the following larvae are?? depends upon location origin.

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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