Butterflies of
Africa
Shining Red
Charaxes
Charaxes zingha
STOLL, 1780
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
CHARAXINAE
Tribe - CHARAXINI
Charaxes zingha,
Bunso, Ghana
Introduction
The Charaxinae are a
group of robust, medium to large Nymphalids characterised by having a rapid and
powerful flight, stout bodies, triangular forewings, and a habit of feeding
at dung and carrion.
They
are represented in the neotropics by genera including
Consul, Memphis, Prepona
and Agrias;
in the Oriental and Australian regions by
Polyura
and Charaxes,
and in Africa by Charaxes, Palla
and Euxanthe.
The
genus Charaxes
contains 179 African species, one of which,
C. jasius,
extends it's range as far north as the Mediterranean coast of Europe. Most are
forest-dwellers, but several are adapted to savannah or
Acacia scrub habitats.
Charaxes
zingha is found from Senegal to Angola, Congo and Uganda.
Charaxes zingha,
Bunso, Ghana
Habitats
This is primarily a rainforest species, but is also known from certain coastal
scrubland habitats.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplant is
Hugonia ( Linaceae ).
Adult behaviour
This magnificent species is usually seen singly late in the
morning, when the butterflies migrate to forested hilltops. They
circle around the treetops, and are a fabulous sight, with the
sunlight glinting from their fiery orange-red uppersides.
The
males perch on foliage, usually several metres above the ground,
and dash out to investigate any large fast flying butterfly. If
the latter turns out to be a different species to their own it is
ignored and the zingha then returns
to it's original perch. If the intercepted butterfly turns out to
be another zingha male, a fight
breaks out, with the butterflies chasing and charging at each
other until one or the other gives up and leaves the vicinity.
Charaxes zingha,
Bunso, Ghana
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