Charaxes candiope (green-veined emperor, green-veined charaxes) is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Behavior

This butterfly is very territorial and is the most aggressive butterfly in existence.

Description

The wingspan is 45–55 mm in males and 50–60 mm in females. The basic colour of the upperside wings is tawny or orange tawny, with a basal area slightly paler or pale ocher yellow. The unscaled veins and the coastal edge of forewing are green. The hindwings have a submarginal black band with a series of tawny ochreous or whitish interstitial spots. The undersides of the forewings are clayish, slightly ochreous, while the hindwings are sepia colour. Forewings are rather falcade, while the hindwings have two small tails protruding from the lower edge. Flight period is from October to June.

Full description

A full description is given by Rothschild, W. And Jordan, K., 1900 Novitates Zoologicae Volume 7:287-524. page 364 et seq. (for terms see Novitates Zoologicae Volume 5:545-601 )

Life history

Larvae have large green bodies and heads decorated with horns. They feed on Croton sylvaticus, Croton gratissimus, and Croton megalocarpus.

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Subsaharan Africa.

Ecozone

Afrotropical ecozone

Taxonomy

Charaxes candiope group. The group members are

Charaxes candiope
Charaxes antamboulou like next
Charaxes cowani like last
Charaxes velox
Charaxes thomasius
^ Bernard Turlin, 2007 Schmetterlinge der Erde, Butterflies of the world Part 25 Nymphalidae XII, Charaxes II. Edited by Erich Bauer and Thomas Frankenbach Keltern : Goecke & Evers ; Canterbury : Hillside Books.ISBN 9781903237359

source - Wikipedia