Copaxa ignescens
Updated from Polillas Saturnidas de Colombia, 1997, Angela R. Amarillo-S., January 2007
Updated as per personal communication with Andreas Kay at http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/6800920022/; March 16, 2013

Copaxa ignescens
Lemaire, 1978

Copaxa ignescens male courtesy of Kirby Wolfe. (wing restoration by Bill Oehlke)

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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DISTRIBUTION:

The Copaxa ignescens moth flies in
western Colombia: Valle del Cauca and Nariono, and probably Cauca at elevations of 1365-2200m.

It might also fly in northwestern Ecuador, and this seems to be confirmed by Andreas Kay with the following image:

Copaxa ignescens male, Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador,
January 29, 2013, courtesy of Andreas Kay at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/6800920022/,
id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa ignescens male, Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador,
January 29, 2013, courtesy of Andreas Kay at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/6800920022/,
id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa ignescens ??, male, Colombia, 98mm, courtesy of Dave Rolfe.

Lemaire indicates that Copaxa ignescens and Copaxa decrescens have indistinguishable wing patterns and shapes. He adds that ignescens is without any olive brown area except on the prothorax.

For that reason, without more specific collection data, the identification as ignescens is unsure. The moth pictured may be ignescens. It might also be decrescens. Copaxa ignescens flies at higher elevations than decrescens and seems to have a much more limited range.

Copaxa ignescens male, Ecuador,
tentative id, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa ignescens larvae feed upon avocado (Persea americana).

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa ignescens 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:

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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