Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus, 1767)


Charaxes jasius: Adult (e.l. Mallorca) [S] Charaxes jasius: Lower side [S] Charaxes jasius: Macro [S] Charaxes jasius: Quite fresh egg on Arbutus andrachne (Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: A few days old egg (red ring already visible, Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: A few days old egg (red ring already visible, Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: A few days old egg (red ring already visible, Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: A few days old egg (red ring already visible, Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: The eggs are distally flatened. [N] Charaxes jasius: Egg prior to hatching (dark head and fork visible) [S] Charaxes jasius: Ovum and L1 (Photo Mario Peluso) Charaxes jasius: Empty egg which probably fell victim to a predator, e.g. ant. Hatched larvae feed the egg shell ... (Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: L1-larva, on the left side the former egg place (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L1-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L1-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L1-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L2-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L2-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L3-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L3-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: L3-larva (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: Larva in penultimate instar (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: Larva in penultimate instar (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: Larva in last instar (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: Larva in last instar (e.o. Rhodes 2013) [S] Charaxes jasius: Larva in last instar (Mallorca) [N] Charaxes jasius: Larva (Mallorca) [M] Charaxes jasius: Larva lateral (Mallorca) [N] Charaxes jasius: Head [M] Charaxes jasius: Seat pad of an already pupated larva (Mallorca) [N] Charaxes jasius: Larval feeding damage on Arbutus unedo (Mallorca) [N] Charaxes jasius: Prepupa (e.l. Mallorca) [S] Charaxes jasius: Pupa (e.l. Mallorca) [S] Charaxes jasius: Pupa prior to emergence [S] Charaxes jasius: Egg at Arbutus andrachne in the understory of a pine forest in Rhodes (September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: Arbutus andrachne with an egg in the understory of a pine forest (Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: Habitat with Arbutus andrachne on Rhodes (September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: Habitat with Arbutus andrachne on Rhodes (September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: Habitat  with Arbutus andrachne on Rhodes (September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: Habitat with Arbutus unedo (Rhodes, September 2013) [N] Charaxes jasius: Habitat in Mallorca [N] Charaxes jasius: Habitat in Mallorca [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillars live mostly on strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo and in the eastern Mediterranean A. andrachne). I observed the eggs on both species in Rhodes. Occasionally, also other plants used as for example Osyris quadripartita in Andalusia. In literature larval records are mentioned even from Nicotiana.

Habitat:
Charaxes jasius is typical for the coastal tree maquis and very sparse forests or bushy slopes with pine, Erica and Arbutus. But it inhabits also other locations of the strawberry tree and is seen occasionally far away suitable habitats (good flier). I observed the eggs especially in open pine forests in Rhodes in September 2013, but partly at quite shady places.

Life cycle:
Charaxes jasius flies in two generations. The caterpillar overwinters open on a leaf on a webbed seat pad, and is almost always feeding active. In late March 2008 caterpillars were mature in Mallorca and most obviously aready pupated. Pupation takes place apparently mostly in some distance from the host bush because I found no pupa despite of numerous feeding scars and the caterpillars go through several hours of intensive crawling prior to pupation in breeding.

The adults fly from mid- or late April to June, those of the following generation from August to October. According to this, the summer larvae that produce the late summer butterflies, should be found around June and July, probably still in early August. I observed many eggs and butterflies on Rhodes in late September 2013. The eggs are deposited mostly on the upper leaf surface, but occasionally also on the lower side, especially if the leafs are more vertical.
The adults like to suck on carrion, dung and fruits.

Endangerment factors:
Charaxes jasius lost already massive habitat area due to the overuse of Mediterranean coastal areas for settlements and mass tourism. It is still most common in the southeast, e.g. the southeast Aegean islands such as Rhodes and also in Southern Italy.

Remarks:
The overall distribution ranges from equatorial Africa across Southern Europe to Western Asia. In Europe, almost all coastal areas of the Mediterranean are inhabited, with the exception of the northernmost parts (northern Adriatic area). In Portugal, Charaxes jasius is found on the Atlantic coast. In Southern Spain, also some inland populations have been reported.