DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa kitchingi (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 50-52mm; females: 53-57mm) flies in
north western Peru: Piura; Lambayecue; at elevations of 1000-1950m.

I believe the specimen at top of page from western Ecuador: southern Pichincha: Alluriquin, is also a male Copaxa kitchingi based on apex that is only slightly produced, and relatively small hyaline spots.

I had originally posted the image at the top of the page as Copaxa multifenestrata. Based on the many new Copaxa names put forward in the Entomo Satsphingia journals published in 2010-2011, I feel the specimen is a better match for Copaxa kitchingi, described from Piura in northwestern Peru.

I also received the following images from Kelly Price with no location given other than western Ecuador. top pne seems a pretty good match for the female of Copaxa satellita (HT Bogota, Colombia) while the lower one seems a pretty good match for the female of Copaxa madrediosiana (HT Madre de Dios, Peru) in the Entomo Satsphingia journal. Hence the lower one may be the female of C. kitchingi because of location. It is also dangerous to make assumptions about what is meant by western Ecuador, without a specific location.

Copaxa kitchingi female, Piura, Peru,
courtesy of Victor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa kitchingi female, Piura, Peru,
courtesy of Victor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa kitchingi fifth instar, Huancabamba, Piura, Peru,
courtesy of Victor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa multifenestrata female, western Ecuador, wingspan 93mm, courtesy of Kelly Price

Copaxa multifenestrata female, Los Bancos (Pichincha), Ecuador,
July 30, 2007, courtesy of Horst kach.

Copaxa multifenestrata third instars, Los Bancos (Pichincha), Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa multifenestrata, fourth instar, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa multifenestrata sixth instar, courtesy of Gary Saunders.

Copaxa multifenestrata female, courtesy of Gary Saunders.

Copaxa kitchingi fifth instars, Huancabamba, Piura, Peru,
courtesy of Victor Suter via Bernhard Wenczel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

Copaxa multifenestrata female, western Ecuador, wingspan 95mm, courtesy of Kelly Price

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

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

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa garciorum 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.

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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Copaxa kitchingi male, brown, Piura, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Copaxa kitchingi male, yellow-brown, Piura, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Copaxa kitchingi male, yellow, Piura, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Copaxa kitchingi female, Lambayeque, Peru,
on my home computer only.