Copaxa flavina flavina
Updated as per Lemaire's Attacidae 1978, March 12, 2007

Copaxa flavina flavina
Draudt, 1929

Copaxa flavina flavina male, Paraguay, courtesy of Ulf Drechsel

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

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Copaxa flavina male, Itapua Department, Paraguay, August 2006, courtesy of Paul Smith.

DISTRIBUTION:

The Copaxa flavina flavina moth flies in southeastern Brazil: Sao Paulo, Parana, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul; northern Argentina: Misiones; and in Paraguay: Concepcion, San Pedro, Canindeyu, Alta Parana, Cordillera, Guaira, Parguari, Itapua, and probably Caaguazu and Caazapa.

This species looks much like canella, but flavina males have less falcate wings which are less pronounced at the apex. Flavina females are always pure yellow with black and red shadings.

Copaxa flavina flavina male courtesy of Ken Thorne.

Copaxa flavina flavina male, Brazil,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Carlos Mielke.

Copaxa flavina flavina female, Brazil,
courtesy of Eric van Schayck, id by Carlos Mielke.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Kirby Wolfe has reared this species on Persea americana, Avocado, which may or may not be a natural host.

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa flavina flavina 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.

Copaxa flavina flavina female courtesy of Ken Thorne.

Copaxa flavina flavina female, courtesy of Gerrit Tuinstra.

Kirby Wolfe and I both think?? the above moth is Copaxa flavina flavina.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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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