Charaxes berkeleyi

Charaxes berkeleyi is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.^[3]

Charaxes berkeleyi
Charaxes berkeleyi berkeleyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Charaxes
Species:	C. berkeleyi
Binomial name
Charaxes berkeleyi Van Someren & Jackson, 1957 [1][2]
Synonyms
Charaxes berkeleyi f. ngonga van Someren, 1969

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.^[4]

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^[5] (northern Tanzania)
• Charaxes berkeleyi masaba van Someren, 1969^[6] (Kenya: west to the area ranging from Kaptagat to the eastern slopes of Mount Elgon)