Charaxes varanes

Pearl Emperor
Charaxes varanes - Malawi
Underside
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Charaxes
Species: C. varanes
Binomial name
Charaxes varanes
(Cramer, 1764)
Synonyms
  • Papilio varanes Cramer, 1777
  • Palla vologeses Mabille, 1876
  • Charaxes nigrescens Butler, 1896
  • Charaxes varanes brachycauda Le Cerf, 1923
  • Charaxes varanes vologeses ab. minor Storace, 1948
  • Charaxes varanes vologeses ab. antinorii Storace, 1948

The Pearl Emperor, Karkloof Emperor, or Pearl Charaxes (Charaxes varanes) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, found in Africa from Saudi Arabia to South Africa.[1]

The wingspan is 65–70 mm in males and 70–90 mm in females. Flight period is year-round.[2]

Larvae feed on Allophylus spp. and Cardiospermum halicacabum.[1][2]

Description

The upper side of the body and roughly the inner half of the wings is white, sharply delineated on the forewings parallel to the length of the body, and diffusely delineated parallel to the margin of the hind wing. Outside the white area of the upper side, the wings are orange to brown, with a pattern of lighter and darker flecks. The underside of the body and wings mimic a dead leaf. A slightly diffuse but clear, sepia brown straight line divides the under wing in a zone next to the body and a zone near the wings’ edges. The inner zone is mostly light beige with three parallel, curved, interrupted, grey brown wavy lines, circling the wings’ attachment to the body. A triangle based on the front of the forewing and bordering the division line has the dark grayish brown color of the outer zone. The outer zone of the underside of the hind wing has a line of clear eyespots while the forewing has vager markings. The outer spur on the hind wing is well developed. Male and female are alike.[3] A full description is given by Rothschild, W and Jordan, K..[4]

Behaviour

The Pearl Emperor is a large, actively, fast and high flying butterfly. It is the most common Charaxes in the Gambia, where it is present throughout the year in various habitats. They are usually observed as single individuals flying fast and high. They mostly rest with closed wings, although males may sit high with slightly opened wings.[3]

Taxonomy

Charaxes varanes group. Type species of subgenus Stonehamia (Hadrodontes) The group members are

Charaxes varanes vologeses

Subspecies

Listed alphabetically.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Charaxes varanes, funet.fi
  2. 1 2 Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town:Struik Publishers.
  3. 1 2 Penney, David (2009). Field Guide to Butterflies of the Gambia, West Africa. Siri Scientific Press. p. 80. ISBN 0955863627.
  4. ↑ Rothschild, W. and Jordan, K. (1900). Novitates Zoologicae 7:287-524. page 354; for terms see Volume 5:545-601

External links

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