Jump to content

Charaxes pondoensis

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charaxes pondoensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Charaxes
Species:
C. pondoensis
Binomial name
Charaxes pondoensis
Synonyms
  • Charaxes ethalion pondoensis van Someren, 1967

Charaxes pondoensis, the Pondo emperor, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa.[3]

The wingspan is 45–55 mm in males and 48–60 mm in females.

Biology

[edit]

The habitat is coastal scarp forest.

pondoensis flies year-round, with peaks October/November and March to May.[4]

Larvae feed on Milletia sutherlandi and Milletia grandis.[3][4]

Notes on the biology of pondoensis are given by Pringle et al (1994) [5]

Similar species

[edit]

Charaxes ethalion and Charaxes karkloof

Charaxes. pondoensis differs from Charaxes ethalion and Charaxes karkloof in the stronger contrast between the light and dark areas on the underside, especially in males; the underside is silvery grey, not brown as in the other two species. On the underside of the hindwing in area 4 there are two fine, black lines at the end of the cell – these meet on vein 4 immediately basad of the juncture between vein 4 and vein 3. In the nominate subspecies of Charaxes karkloof these two lines are always separated and meet vein 4 on either side of this juncture.[5]

Taxonomy

[edit]

Charaxes pondoensis is a member of the large species group Charaxes etheocles

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Coetzer, B.H. (2020) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Charaxes pondoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161322586A175066394. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161322586A175066394.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. ^ van Someren , V.G.L. 1967 Revisional notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Part IV. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Entomology) 18: 277-316.
  3. ^ a b "Charaxes Ochsenheimer, 1816" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  4. ^ a b Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  5. ^ a b Pringle et al , 1994. Pennington’s Butterflies of Southern Africa, 2nd edition
  • Van Someren V.G.L 1967 Revisional notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Part IV. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Entomology)277-316.[1] 285 plate 1
[edit]