Charaxes viola is widespread in tropical Africa. The picta ssp is found primarily in central Africa.

With the exception of Charaxes anticlea which is orange and black, most of the species in this group have males with blue spots or markings on a dark background. Contained in this group is a large number of smaller species whose males have a very dark dorsal side marked only with a few light spots along the trailing edge of the rear wing. These are very difficult to identify and care should be given to the underside to help separate these species. Females in this sub-group usually are quite unique with white or pale blue spots and bands on the dorsal side. Charaxes in the Charaxes etheocles group are as follows:
Charaxes etheocles
Charaxes anticlea
Charaxes baumanni
Charaxes opinatus
Charaxes thysi
Charaxes hildebrandti
Charaxes blanda
Charaxes kheili
Charaxes northcotti
Charaxes guderiana
Charaxes pembanus
Charaxes usambarae
Charaxes contrarius
Charaxes petersi
Charaxes marieps
Charaxes karkloof
Charaxes martini
Charaxes gallagheri
Charaxes alpinus
Charaxes nyikensis
Charaxes maccleeryi
Charaxes grahamei
Charaxes aubyni
Charaxes chepalungu
Charaxes virilis
Charaxes fulgurata
Charaxes berkeleyi
Charaxes baileyi
Charaxes manica
Charaxes chittyi D'Abrera raises this to full species status
Charaxes fione Not in the Smart list. Belongs here probably.
Charaxes margaretae Not in Smart list. This is a newer species.
Charaxes pseudophaeus
Charaxes chintechi
Charaxes protomanica
Charaxes ethalion
Charaxes pondoensis
Charaxes viola
Charaxes phaeus
Charaxes vansoni
Charaxes variata
Charaxes loandae
Charaxes brainei
Charaxes cedreatis
Charaxes mafuga

Charaxes chittyi and Charaxes fione could be placed in the Charaxes tiridates group.

Charaxes genus is a large genus of fast flying strong bodied butterflies found from Africa (with an extension into Europe) east through Madagascar and Indonesia, north into Malaysia and further north, and east through Indonesia into New Guinea. Because of the large number of African butterflies in this genus, the Paul Smart method of organizing the African species into smaller groups has been used.

Nymphs (Nymphalidae Family to Nymphalinae subfamily) contains many brightly colored medium-sized butterflies. Usually strong fliers, they are found throughout the world. Their front pair of legs are generally much reduced in size and give them the appearance of having only four legs. At one time the Morphos, Amathusids, Brassolids, and Satyrids were considered subfamilies of this large complex, but for convenience they have been recently separated into full families on their own.

Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera) are a group of insects with four large wings. They go through various life cycles including eggs, caterpillar (larvae), pupae, and adult. Most butterflies and moths feed as adults, but primarily do most of their growing in the larval or caterpillar stage. Also, most species are restricted to feeding as caterpillars upon a unique set of plants. In this pairing of insects to plants, there arises a unique plant population control system. When one plant species becomes too common, specific pests to that species also become more common and thus prevent the further spreading of that particular plant species.

Although most people think of the Lepidoptera as two different groups: butterflies and moths, technically, the concept is not valid.

Some families, such as Silk Moths (Saturnidae) and Hawk Moths (Sphingidae), are clearly moths. Other families, such as Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae), are clearly butterflies, However, several families exhibit characteristics that appear to be neither moths nor butterflies. For example: the Castnia Moths of South America are frequently placed in the Skipper Family (Hesperidae). The Sunset Moths (Uranidae) have long narrow antennae and fly during the day.

The Saturnidae (Silk Moths) and Papilionidae (Swallowtails) are two Lepidoptera families that have been very carefully researched as to species and subspecies. The current thinking is that if the male genitalia are alike, then the two specimens belong to the same species. As an amateur, your editor disagrees with this premise. If the genitalia are different, then no doubt two species are involved. However, if the genitalia are alike, it only proves that the genitalia are alike.

Consider Papilio multicaudata which is found in southern Canada at higher altitudes. Papilio multicaudata is found south through the Rocky Mountains as far south as Mexico City, and recently as far south as Guatemala. With different food plants, different soil types, different climates, and different seasonal patterns, it is hard to believe that this complex is all one species.

Consider capturing 100 living individuals at any life stage in Guatemala and then carrying them north to southern Canada. Would these individuals survive through several generations. If they would not survive, then this author would conclude that two different species are involved!

In the Saturnidae consider Eacles imperialis subspecies pini. This life form feeds on pines. Is not this sufficient to justify a full species status?

Note: Numerous museums and biologists have loaned specimens to be photographed for this project.



Insects (Class Insecta) are the most successful animals on Earth if success is measured by the number of species or the total number of living organisms. This class contains more than a million species, of which North America has approximately 100,000. (Recent estimates place the number of worldwide species at four to six million.)

Insects have an exoskeleton. The body is divided into three parts. The foremost part, the head, usually bears two antennae. The middle part, the thorax, has six legs and usually four wings. The last part, the abdomen, is used for breathing and reproduction.

Although different taxonomists divide the insects differently, about thirty-five different orders are included in most of the systems.

The following abbreviated list identifies some common orders of the many different orders of insects discussed herein:

Odonata: - Dragon and Damsel Flies
Orthoptera: - Grasshoppers and Mantids
Homoptera: - Cicadas and Misc. Hoppers
Diptera: - Flies and Mosquitoes
Hymenoptera: - Ants, Wasps, and Bees
Lepidoptera: - Butterflies and Moths
Coleoptera: - Beetles


Jointed Legged Animals (Phylum Arthropoda) make up the largest phylum. There are probably more than one million different species of arthropods known to science. It is also the most successful animal phylum in terms of the total number of living organisms.

Butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, various insects, spiders, and crabs are well-known arthropods.

The phylum is usually broken into the following five main classes:
Arachnida: - Spiders and Scorpions
Crustacea: - Crabs and Crayfish
Chilopoda: - Centipedes
Diplopoda: - Millipedes
Insecta: - Insects

There are several other "rare" classes in the arthropods that should be mentioned. A more formal list is as follows:

Sub Phylum Chelicerata
C. Arachnida: - Spiders and scorpions
C. Pycnogonida: - Sea spiders (500 species)
C. Merostomata: - Mostly fossil species

Sub Phylum Mandibulata
C. Crustacea: - Crabs and crayfish

Myriapod Group
C. Chilopoda: - Centipedes
C. Diplopoda: - Millipedes
C. Pauropoda: - Tiny millipede-like
C. Symphyla: - Garden centipedes

Insect Group
C. Insecta: - Insects

The above list does not include some extinct classes of Arthropods such as the Trilobites.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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