Two-tailed Pasha

Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus, 1767)

Status

Description

A distinctive large butterfly, which has two prominent tails on the hindwing. The upperside is a rich dark-brown with a wide yellow-brown margin, and a series of blue submarginal spots on the hindwing. The underside is a rich-brown, with white markings basally, a white band, and yellow-brown margins. Males and females are similar. The markings are unique within Europe, so can’t be confused for any other species. 

Habitat Requirements

Populations of this butterfly can often be found in in association with mature stands of its host tree, often along the coast, where onshore breezes may reduce the stature of these trees. This natural management of vegetation structure may aid the behavioural ecology of this butterfly, given that it is territorial and roosts in master trees, surveying its terrain, which is often comaparible to forest glades. Where it is found in land, the habitat is frequently hot, dry and the provides open glades.

Larval Foodplants

Arbutus andrachne, Strawberry Tree Arbutus unedo, Orange Citrus x sinensis - introduced, Nicotiana glauca.

Observations

Dan Danahar has observed this butterfly coming to a bait made from 90% mashed, rotten bananas and 10% Ouzo, on the Greek mainlain. However, attempts to replicate this behaviour in Corfu have never been successful.

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Two-tailed Pasha submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2023 27/05/2023 27/05/2023 0 days
2022 22/05/2022 17/10/2022 148 days
2021 29/05/2021 18/10/2021 142 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 1
2022 32
2021 28
Grand Total 62

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Two-tailed Pasha (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023 submitted online since 1st January 2023 to 8th June 2023.

Flight Times for the Two-tailed Pasha (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month based on all data submitted online since 1st January 2019 to 8th June 2023.

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Two-tailed Pasha
  • Family: Nymphalidae (Rafinesque, 1815)
  • Sub-family: Charaxinae (Doherty, 1886)
  • Tribe: Charaxini (Guen�e, 1865)
  • Genus: Charaxes (Ochsenheimer, 1816)
  • Species: jasius (Linnaeus, 1767)

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.