DISTRIBUTION:

The Copaxa simson moth (wingspan: males: ??; females: 155 mm) flies in tropical rain forests and humid savannas at elevations from 250 - 1600 m in
Panama and
Costa Rica: Cartago (KP), Guanacaste, Alajuela (IB) down into
Colombia: Boyaca (CL), Antioquia and Santander, and probably Norte de Santander;
Ecuador: Pichincha: Los Bancos, HK, Canar LTR, Manabi LTR;
Venezuela: Aragua, probably Apure, Barinas, Bolivar; and
Brazil: Para, Mato Grosso, probably Roraima and Amazonas.

This is a large and coppery coloured species.

Visit Copaxa simson male, Kiri Lodge, Orosi, Cartago, Costa Rica, May, courtesy of Leroy Simon.

Copaxa simson male, Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 27, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach.

Copaxa simson male (verso), Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador,
December 27, 2006, courtesy of Horst Kach.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Copaxa simson larvae feed upon Persea americana. Horst Kach reports them on Ceiba in Ecuador.

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect simson would be on the wing every month of the year in warmer, lower altitude regions within its range. Horst Kach reports a December-January flight in Los Bancos, Pichincha, Ecuador, at 870m.

Copaxa simson female copyright Kirby Wolfe

Copaxa simson female, Milpe, Pichincha, Ecuador,
January 9, 2008, 1100m, courtesy of Roger Ahlman,
id and digital repair to right fw apex by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa simson 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 simson, Tapanti, Cartago, Costa Rica, 155 mm, courtesy of Kelly Price.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Visit Copaxa simson females, eggs, first, second fourth and fifth instar larvae, Ecuador, courtesy of Horst Kach. Eggs are a dark chocolate brown with two thin, cream-coloured lines, girdling them logitudinally. They are somewhat flattened, slightly oval. Larvae feed on avocado foliage, and they feed gregariously in the early instars. Larvae spin porous cocoons, longitudinally affixed to branches and stems. Copaxa simson larva copyright Kirby Wolfe

Copaxa simson, sixth instar, courtesy of Franz Ziereis.

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.

Ceiba (HK) Persea americana (KW) .......

Ceiba Avocado

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