Charaxes solon, the black rajah,[ is a butterfly species found in tropical Asia. It belongs to the Charaxinae (rajahs and nawabs) in the brush-footed butterfly family (Nymphalidae).]
Description
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 fore wing. The hind wing has two similar-sized tails at veins 2 and 4. These tails are longer in the females and more pointed in the males.[ pp. 146-147]
Egg
Its egg is transparent yellow and spherical, with longitudinal ridges. It has a dark red, uneven band around its upper half.
Caterpillar
The caterpillar is dark green with irregular rows of yellow tubercles. The caterpillar is cylindrical and may have a round white blotch on the seventh segment. The head is curved out and has horns and spines. The pupa is short and dark green, with a lateral longitudinal line marbled with white.[ p.151]
Range
The butterfly is found in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It occurs in Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Indochina, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra, Sulawesi, and the Philippines (Palawan, Sulu Archipelago). In India, the butterfly occurs in South India, and the Himalayas from Kumaon division, Sikkim, into Bhutan, through Assam, and onto Myanmar. At least in South Asia, it is not rare.[ p.151]
Ecology
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.[Hamer, K.C.; Hill, J.K.; Benedick, S.; Mustaffa, N.; Chey, V.K. & Maryati, M. (2006): Diversity and ecology of carrion- and fruit-feeding butterflies in Bornean rain forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 22: 25–33. (HTML abstract)]
Gallery
File:An egg of Charaxes solon (Fabricius, 1793) – Black Rajah .jpg|Egg
File:Caterpillar of Charaxes solon (Fabricius, 1793) – Black Rajah .jpg|Caterpillar
File:Black Rajah ( Charaxes solon).jpg|Black rajah ( Charaxes solon) adult from Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh
File:Black Rajah (Charaxes solon) in Kawal WS, AP W IMG 1803.jpg|Adult in Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, India
File:Close wing position of Charaxes solon, Fabricius, 1793 – Black Rajah WLB.jpg|In Chandannagar, West Bengal, India
File:Charaxes solon at MNP.jpg|On Millettia pinnata at Mahim Nature Park in Mumbai, India
File:Charaxes solon - Black Rajah- Rama warrier.jpg|alt=Charaxes solon - black rajah - Upper side|Upper side
Further reading
