DISTRIBUTION:

Copaxa winbrechlini (wingspan: males: mm; females: mm // forewing length: males: 38-45mm; females: 60mm) flies in
Ecuador: Esmeraldas; Pichincha; at elevations of 717-1000m-(1600m JMG).

Possibly it also flies in Imbabura (AK/JMG, Ecuador, although id of this male is only tentative. It seems to have very small cell marks.

Copaxa winbrechlini male, Otavalo, Imbabura, Ecuador,
August 24, 2012, courtesy of Andreas Kay at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/6800920022/;
March 16, 2013, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Copaxa winbrechlini male, Otavalo, Imbabura, Ecuador,
August 24, 2012, courtesy of Andreas Kay at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andreaskay/6800920022/;
March 16, 2013, tentative id by Bill Oehlke

Copaxa winbrechlini male, Los Cedros, Imbabura, Ecuador,
1600m, November 18, 2013, courtesy of Jean Marc Gayman,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke

This species is quite similar to Copaxa apollinairei which tends to be larger (mfl: 44-47mm) and flies in eastern Colombia and Venezuela.

The male C. winbrechlini has less reddish or orangey-brown scaling in the lower half of the basal and median areas compared to the more contrasting reddish-orange to dark brown of Copaxa appolinairei. The hyaline cell spots of winbrechlini also tend to be larger, and the produced, pointed apex of winbrechlini projects more abruptly from the straight, non-oblique outer margin, while there is a smoother transition in the slightly oblique outer margin of apollinairei.

The female of C. winbrechlini is quite similar to Copaxa decrescens, but the ocelli of winbrechlini are considerably smaller, especially in the hind wing. The female also tends to be dark red-brown with a brighter abdomen and smaller antennae.

Copaxa decrescens, ?? winbrechlini ??, female copyright Kirby Wolfe

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

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

Most of the Copaxa brood continuously so I suspect winbrechlini would be on the wing every month of the year, but so far (2011) specimens have only been taken in November (JMG)-December-January and March.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Male Copaxa winbrechlini 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

The species name is honourific for Winfried Brechlin.

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