| Black Rajah | |
|---|---|
| Two views of same specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Tribe: | Charaxini |
| Genus: | Charaxes |
| Species: | C. solon |
| Binomial name | |
| Charaxes solon (Fabricius) 1793 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Black Rajah (Charaxes solon) is a butterfly species found in tropical Asia. It belongs to the Charaxinae (Rajahs and Nawabs) in the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae).
Contents |
The Black Rajah is a medium sized butterfly with a 70 to 80 mm wingspan. Above the butterfly is dark brownish-black with greenish or white discal bands across both the wings. The band is broken into spots towards the apex of the forewing. The hindwing has two similar-sized tails at veins 2 and 4. These tails are longer in the females and more pointed in the males.[1]
Its egg is transparent yellow and spherical in shape. It has longitudinal ridges. The egg has a dark red uneven band around its upper half. The caterpillar is dark green in colour with irregular rows of yellow tubercles. The caterpillar is cylindrical in shape and may have a round white blotch on the seventh segment. The head is outcurved and has horns and spines. The pupa is short, dark green and it has a lateral longitudinal line which is marbled white.[2]
The butterfly is found in South Asia and South East Asia. It occurs in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Indo China, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Philippines (Palawan, Sulu Archipelago). In India, the butterfly occurs in South India, and the Himalayas right from Kumaon, Sikkim, into Bhutan, through Assam and onto Myanmar. At least in South Asia, it is not rare.[3].
The Black Rajah is generally a low-elevation butterfly and can be found at altitudes up to 1950 m (6500 feet) ASL.
The caterpillars generally feed on Fabaceae, such as tamarind Tamarindus indica[2]. At least on Borneo but probably elsewhere too, adults do generally not visit carrion or old fruit to drink liquids[4].