Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius), Amalfi, Italy

[moloch]

I am currently on a holiday on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. This is a gorgeous part of the world with a scenic coastline and rugged mountains. The Amalfi region has an excellent network of trails and I walk these daily while my wife and daughter shop. I will have a big post of Italian butterflies before long but I wanted to start with a new favourite species, the Two-tailed Pasha (Charaxes jasius). This species is big and I saw it two years ago when I visited this area. At that time (October), I never saw one at close range. They always were flying high up and usually out over valleys. On this this trip (September), they seem more common. I found an area where three of these lovely butterflies patrol from about 11am until roughly 3pm each day. The habitat is mostly live oak forest with occasional dead trees where the Pashas stand guard. They are a pugnacious species that chase any other large butterfly that flies by. They will also fly at me if I approach within 2-3m of them when they are perched. They flap noisily in front of me and the zip off to another perch.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha11_zps79dc72b3.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha3_zps796500bf.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha4_zpsfd2f75cd.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha12_zpsb80a6044.jpg

... open wing
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPashaCharaxesjasius2_zps94e0f24b.jpg

Pashas seem to be alert butterflies. I see them turn their head and then look at me when I approach.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha10_zpsf54154d4.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPashaCharaxesjasius1_zpsbc6c7b37.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha13_zpsfa1dc2b2.jpg

[moloch]

On one occasion, I sat on a rock wall near a dead tree where one of the Pashas often perched. All at once, it dropped to the stone wall and landed a few meters from me. I was able to crawl fairly close to it although the sun angle was not great for photos.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha9_zpsf1b17932.jpg

Here are a couple of habitat shots of the area where I walked and saw the Pashas. The hills are limestone and the trees are not tall.http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/amalfi18a_zpsee97f9d7.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/amalfi17_zps672d4232.jpg

I will have more shots of Italy in another post, but here are three from the Amalfi area. This would be one of the most spectacular places on the planet. The habitat and the buildings are just amazing and so scenic.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/amalfi6a_zpsabe8033c.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/amalfi3a_zps10fd0038.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/amalfi2a_zpsd71ef141.jpg

[Peacock Royal]

Very nice European Charaxes species - can we find this in Asia ? The last shot is excellent.
Hope I can go around the world to shoot when I retire - just like you.

[Elbowed Pierrot]

Beautiful coloration, David

[bluefin]

Beautiful pattern and coloration.
I believe Charaxes Jasius can be found in quite a few south american countries as well. :)

Looking forward to see more pictures from your trip soon, David. :cheers:

[moloch]

Thanks, all.

Federick, I am not yet retired although I plan to do so in a few years. Much of my travel this past year was for work.

I think the best area for Charaxes would be in Africa. I have a field guide to South Africa and Charaxes seem to be diverse there. Many species are colourful like the Two-tailed Pasha in Italy. I would love to head there sometime to see a few of those beauties.

Here are a couple of additional shots of my "friends" today. They seem to have become adjusted to my flashing camera and are letting me approach more closely than they did earlier in the week. They are superb butterflies!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha15a_zpse13859ba.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha14_zpsde3dc591.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha17_zps7ecb3b92.jpg


Also, one that was feeding on figs that had burst open on a tree:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/moloch05/Italy%202013/Amalfi/Two-tailedPasha6_zps89035a35.jpg

[Painted Jezebel]

I believe Charaxes Jasius can be found in quite a few south american countries as well. :)


I can find no records of any Charaxes being found outside the African-Asian region except for the European C. jasius. Can you give me any reference, they must be newly arrived accidents as they were not there before 2000.

[bluefin]

Les, you are right. I meant it to be Africa, oops :embrass:

[Painted Jezebel]

Les, you are right. I meant it to be Africa, oops

Thank goodness for that. I thought I was going loopy! :)