Charaxes pondoensis
| Charaxes pondoensis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Charaxes |
| Species: | C. pondoensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Charaxes pondoensis van Someren, 1967[2]
| |
| Synonyms | |
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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]- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Charaxes Ochsenheimer, 1816" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ a b Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
- ^ 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