DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa bella (wingspan: males: 78-83mm; females: 97mm // forewing length: males: 43-47mm; females: 54mm) flies in Peru: Pasco: Oxapampa, San Martin, Puno, Junin Province: Satipo, Calabaza; Huanuco (ESS); ?? Cusco ??.

Recent DNA barcoding has revealed that one of the paratypes designated as Copaxa bella from Cusco, Peru, is a distinct species = Copaxa anikae. I doubt that the two species are sympatric, so bella is probably replaced by anikae in Cusco.

In the male, the forewing is quite falcate with a rounded apical tip. Ground colour varies from dark-brown to orange-brown with a lighter area near the tornus. The yellow band around the hyaline spot is much more prevalent in this species than in the very similar but smaller C. lunula, where it is practically nonexistent.

The hindwing is reddish-orange and the am and pm lines meet just above the crescent.

On the underside of the forewing there is a distinctive yellow bar.

The female is much larger than the male and of a lighter, pale yellowish-brown with some rosy scales in the hw basal area.

I believe in the true Copaxa bella male, the forewing is slightly less elongated, and the ground colour is darker; in the true Copaxa bella female, the forewing crescent is larger and the pm line is less scalloped and more diffuse.

Compared to the female anikae, the bella female has a forewing pm line that is more s-shaped compared to the more linear, crenulate pm line of anikae.

Copaxa bella female, Huanuco, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Copaxa bella female (verso), 97mm, Huanuco, Peru,
on my home computer only.

Visit Copaxa sapatoza Group Comparison Chart.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa bella larvae feed upon Avacado (Persea americana) in the lab.

There appear to be many broods with adults taken in April-May-June-July and September and November.

Copaxa bella female, Peru, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Copaxa bella female, courtesy of Bernhard Wenczel,
id by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa bella males use highly developed antennae to locate females around noon, and about an hour and a half thereafter, 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:

Copaxa bella larva, Peru, courtesy of Kirby Wolfe.

Note forward angled, flat, wide, pointed spines.

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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Kirby Wolfe writes, "I am grateful to B. Wenczel, S. Naumann and W. A. Nassig for suggesting the name bella, referring to the beauty of this species."

Copaxa bella dark male, publication image

Copaxa bella male, publication image

Copaxa bella female, publication image