DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa australoescalantei (wingspan: males: 86mm; females: 115mm // forewing length: males: 51-55mm; females: 55mm) flies in
Guatemala: Zacapa La Union, 1991-10-10;
Nicaragua: Jinotega, 2007-05-18; Nicaragua: Nueva Segovia: El Horno 11 km from Dipilto, 2007-05-19
Costa Rica: Alejuela: Parque Nacional del Volcan Arenal: Cerro Chato, 10.26, -84.41; 2008-09-01.

It may also fly in Panama, based on an image provided by Terry Stoddard.

I (Bill Oehlke) am not sure if any of the specimens on this page are C. australoescalantei. The Entomo-Satsphingia image shows a yellow male with a single, relatively large, forewing hyaline spot and an apex that is moderately produced, probably more so than any examples on this page, and quite pointed.

The journal description of c. australoescalantei indicates nine male specimens were examined, providing the forewing lengths indicated above, suggesting that, on average, C. australoescalantei males (51-55mm) are slightly smaller than the twelve C. escalantei males (54-58mm) that were examined.

Copaxa australoescalantei male, ws: 87mm; fwl: 50mm, Rio Indio Lodge, Cocle, Panama,
August 19, 2012, 575m, courtesy of Terry Stoddard,
tentative id and slight digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Possibly all of the specimens depicted on the Copaxa escalantei page, except those listed from Mexico, should be under the new designation of Copaxa australoescalantei, with C. escalantei limited to a more northerly range in Mexico and Belize. I am not sure where escalantei "transitions" to australoescalantei, but Global Mirror indicates australoescalantei from Guatemala, Nicaragua and Cost Rica. I will have to check with Kirby Wolfe, regarding origin location of his escalantei. DNA barcoding might be required to distinguish between the two species.

Copaxa australoescalantei male (brown form), Costa Rica: San Jose: Puriscal: Santa Rosa,
540m, April 7, 2006, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

Please visit Copaxa escalantei page for images.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

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

Copaxa australoescalantei female, Costa Rica: San Jose: Puriscal: Santa Rosa,
540m, April 7, 2006, copyright protected, Kirby Wolfe.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa australoescalantei 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 australoescalantei female 115mm, Tapanti, Cartago, Costa Rica, 1160m,
courtesy of Kelly Price,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa australoescalantei?? female, Honduras,
courtesy of Rhett A. Butler, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

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.

Persea americana .......

Avocado

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