Very interesting to read about these various experiences, perspectives and comments - a lot of useful information in this thread, for anyone considering a collecting trip to the tropics. I myself have only ever traveled outside the US twice; both trips were to Australia, lasted around 6 weeks each t...

Uncertain, but it may be a nymph of the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) - https://bugguide.net/node/view/1254066 Over the years, I've used bait stations (large roach) to control this species, with considerable success. In my case, they seem to be more of a seasonal, intermittent problem, ...

Over the past few weeks, apart from various nymphalids and pierids, I've also been seeing P. polyxenes, P. glaucus, P. cresphontes, and B. philenor in North TX. We've been having a somewhat wetter spring here than usual, and rather mild weather with no significant, sudden changes in temperature.

While on the subject of Charaxes endemic to Madagascar, we should of course make mention of the rather large and spectacular species, C. andranodorus - https://wobam.co.uk/app/uploads/2021/02/12034160.jpg Source: https://wobam.co.uk/product/charaxes-andranodorus-madagascar/ https://wobam.co.uk/app/u...

Some other nymphalid genera also have it:

Athyma selenophora -


Adelpha eulalia -

About two years ago I managed to get some male specimens of Polyura posidonius from Tibet for the first time. It is a small (for the genus) but beautiful species. Probably not that rare but always considered a bit of a "holy grail". By me at least... I have not seen a female... Beautiful ...

D. plexippus has become naturalized across the Pacific, in every place where its host plant (milkweed) has also become naturalized. Monarchs reached Australia by the 1870s, and can now be found across much of the continent's southeast, along the entire east coast, and north into PNG.

Does anyone have any info on the structure and possible function of a flipper-like outgrowth on the dorsal side of Limenitis lorquini chrysalis? It is present in other Limenitis species as well... As both the larvae and chrysalides are bird dropping mimics, perhaps this projection serves to give a ...

There is a species of moth which has evolved the cryptic forewing coloration of underwing moths (Catocala) along with the "flash coloration" aspect of the hindwings. It is commonly known as the Locust Underwing (Euparthenos nubilis) as its larval host is black locust AND it is the only me...

Euxanthe spp. (which are also Charaxinae) have larvae with similarly elaborate head capsules - Euxanthe wakefieldi: https://i.imgur.com/IfEXP2Z.jpeg https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/46178152/large.jpeg And here is the caterpillar of Charaxes bernardus: https://live.staticflickr....

While on the topic of Charaxes/Polyura - the larvae of these butterflies are known as dragon-headed caterpillars ; here are some nice photos of the larva of P. hebe - https://64.media.tumblr.com/d6bcfc35a805e4fbf3f4070f78b638b5/b21a0af304f6d6be-e1/s1280x1920/e297a672b8ee0bac219a95299d1ecb6cfc25af39....

Another beautiful, rare Charaxes - C. mafuga from Uganda. The females, especially, can have quite variable coloration. In darker females like the one below, the blue sheen is really only apparent with the right lighting and angle. Photo from web - not a species in my own collection, unfortunately! -...

I saw that recently, an A1- jolybouyeri female was sold online by a German entomological supplier for around USD $3,230!

They also sold an A1 male for approx. USD $1,480.

Are they breeding Polyura dehaani or all wild caught? It seems that some years ago, someone must have captive-reared a number of dehanii - my pair seems far too perfect to have ever flown. Agree with that livingplanet. I think that it has not been bred for a while now as I rarely see them offered t...

daveuk wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 1:11 pm I can't get used to Polyura as Charaxes. Getting old..
Here is a new photo of my male Polyura clitarchus upper & underside & an upperside male Polyura dehanii sultan from Sumatra...

Very nice!

Annarobertson1947 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 20, 2024 12:38 am Are they breeding Polyura dehaani or all wild caught?

It seems that some years ago, someone must have captive-reared a number of dehanii - my pair seems far too perfect to have ever flown.

That's a superb pair of a truly stunning Charaxes. C. fournierae has long been on my "top 10" list of butterflies that I hope to eventually acquire; time (and price) will tell!

A short video on Charaxes jasius, the only Charaxes species found in Europe -


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_MsLjeAsb8

Charaxes (subgenus Polyura) dehanii is another nice species that I only rather recently acquired. As is the case with many Charaxes, the verso is even more strikingly patterned than the recto - https://i.pinimg.com/originals/37/fa/7e/37fa7e5d8d64c53200b04d6f2d33dc05.jpg C. (Polyura) clitarchus (ende...

A short video of Lexias pardalis, taken in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia; one of my favorite nymphalid species from tropical Asia -


Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8_3IgOq10I