InsectNet forum

Euphaedra lupercoides (uncommon endemic from RDC), one of the numerous gem in this genus

E. adonina spectacularis ( mimic with Charaxes fournierae) from RDC

to become crazy with determination

some males "campaspe", same locality in RDC

Euphaedra crawshayi male from Katanga

Pair of Euphaedra christyi. Verso. Uganda

Euphaedra neophron. Kenya,Tanzania & Malawi
Euphaedra zaddachii. Uganda. Recto & verso.

Euphaedra harpalyce. Pair. Cameroun
Euphaedra uganda.Pair. Uganda
Euphaedra imperialis. Cameroun

Euphaedra themis. Recto & verso. Female. Central African Republic
Euphaedra judith(?) Female. Central African Republic

A couple of Euphaedra species in my collection. The seller wasn't certain of the species, but I have identified them as adonina and dargeana. Can anyone confirm that these IDs are correct? -

A pretty genus of butterflies. Some species are very multicolored and thus --- especially attractive...

Was wondering if there is a particular reason or advantage to some of the species having white "tips" on their forewings ? I presume males are the ones with these "markers".

Wow, livingplanet3 those golden species are REALLY something !

Something you don't see very often, my series of Euphaedra francina. Females

And males. Not great specimens but very rare. Bottom males is, according to our late friend Danny an ab due to it's lack of orange.

Euphaedra christyi Uganda

Euphaedra zaddachi

livingplanet3 wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 6:13 pm A couple of Euphaedra species in my collection. The seller wasn't certain of the species, but I have identified them as adonina and dargeana. Can anyone confirm that these IDs are correct? -


Euphaedra adonina.jpg
Euphaedra dargeana.jpg

Think you are right!!

africaone wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 12:50 pm E. adonina spectacularis ( mimic with Charaxes fournierae) from RDC

Is adonina the mimic, or the model? I've not heard of any Charaxes species being toxic, so I assume that adonina is the model in this case? Has toxicity been noted in any Euphaedra species? Known Euphaedra host plants include the families Sapindaceae, Anacardiaceae, Rutaceae, Sterculiaceae, Annonaceae and Palmae, some species of which do contain poisonous compounds.

africaone wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 12:50 pm light spectacularis.jpg
E. adonina spectacularis ( mimic with Charaxes fournierae) from RDC

Hmmm

It seems that C. fournierae, along C. acraeoides and multiple species of Euphaedra, are perhaps all involved in a Müllerian mimicry ring that originated from Acraea spp., which are known to be distasteful to predators. As mentioned in another recent post, P. antimachus might possibly be part of this too.

It is worth noting that mimicry rings usually comprise examples of both Batesian and Müllerian mimicry.

For those who are uncertain, a Batesian mimic is a non-distasteful species pretending to be inedible, whereas a Müllerian mimic is a distasteful species which looks like another distasteful species to mutual advantage.

Adam.