Scientific name Charaxes etesipe | Genus Charaxes Rank Species | |
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Similar Charaxes protoclea, Charaxes tiridates, Charaxes castor, Charaxes boueti, Charaxes eupale | ||
charaxes etesipe in flight
Charaxes etesipe, the savannah charaxes or scarce forest emperor, is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.
Contents
Description
The wingspan is 35–38 millimetres (1.4–1.5 in) for male. The females are larger, reaching 37–45 millimetres (1.5–1.8 in).
The uppersides of the forewings are blackish blue with a greenish tint. The outer margin are generally denticulate (tooth like), with a series of white discal spots. In the hindwings of both sexes there are short tails and a complete series of large pale blue patches. The undersides of the wings are variegated with cream and drab colours.
Adults are on wing from August to October and from March to June. There are two generations per year.
The larvae of subspecies tavetensis feed on Afzelia quanzensis, Dalbergia nitidula, Securidaca longipeduncularis and Margaritaria discoidea. Other subspecies have been recorded on Entada and Afzelia quanzensis.
Distribution
This species can be found in tropical east and west Africa and in Madagascar.
Taxonomy
Charaxes etesipe is a member of the species group Charaxes etesipe
The clade members are: