Charaxes berkeleyi explained

Charaxes berkeleyi is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.^[1]

Description

Similar, externally, to Charaxes aubyni but the genitalia are distinctive. Compared to Charaxes aubyni the male forewing has bluer marginal spots are and the underside is darker; in the female the forewing has two rows of pale yellow to ochreous spots and a white, blue-bordered median band which is narrower than in Charaxes aubyni There are two female forms: a common form with brownish underside and yellowish spots on the upperside and form ngonga which has a whitish median band on upperside and a silvery grey underside with strongly contrasted black markings. ^[2]

Biology

The habitat consists of montane and riverine forests.

The larvae feed on Albizia gummifera, Scutia myrtina, Ochna holstii and Ochna insculpta.

Taxonomy

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

Subspecies

• Charaxes berkeleyi berkeleyi (central and southern Kenya, northern Tanzania)
• Charaxes berkeleyi marci Congdon & Collins, 1998^[3] (northern Tanzania)
• Charaxes berkeleyi masaba van Someren, 1969^[4] (Kenya: west to the area ranging from Kaptagat to the eastern slopes of Mount Elgon)

References

• Victor Gurney Logan Van Someren, 1966 Revisional notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Part III. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Entomology)45-101.https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/19523#page/77/mode/1up
• Van Someren, 1969 Revisional notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Part V. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Entomology)75-166.https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/19545#page/127/mode/1up Additional notes

External links

• African Charaxes/ Charaxes Africains Eric Vingerhoedt berkeleyi species page and images
• Charaxes berkleyi images at Charaxes page Consortium for the Barcode of Life subspecies and forms
• African Butterfly Database Range map via search

Notes and References

1. Web site: Afrotropical Butterflies: File H - Charaxinae - Tribe Charaxini . 2012-05-24 . 2013-11-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131109071734/http://atbutterflies.com/downloads/nymphalidae_charaxini.doc . dead .
2. Kielland, J. 1990 Butterflies of Tanzania. Hill House, Melbourne and London: 1-363
3. Congdon, C., & Collins, S. 1998. Kielland’s butterflies of Tanzania. Supplement. African Butterfly Research Institute & Union des Entomologistes Belges, Nairobi & Tervuren, 143 pp.
4. Van Someren, V.G.L. 1969. Revisional notes on African Charaxes (Lepidoptera:Nymphalidae). Part V. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) (Entomology) 23: 75-166.