SALAMIS PARHASSUS

Salamis parhassus (Salamis parhassus)

Phylum — arthropoda
Class — insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family — nymphalidae

Genus – protogoniomorpha

Appearance

The caterpillars are black with dark red transverse stripes and long branched black spines.

This is a large butterfly with a wingspan of about 100 mm. The upper surface of the wings is greenish-white, with a mother-of-pearl sheen. When seen in flight the butterfly is stunningly beautiful, with flashes of pink, purple, yellow and green reflecting back as the angle of the wings changes in relation to the sunlight.

Habitat

Salamis parhassus is found throughout the forested regions of sub-Saharan Africa, from Senegal to South Africa and Madagascar.

Behavior

The butterflies are usually found singly, or in two's and three's.

Males perch on the lower foliage of trees, or at the top of tall bushes, usually with their wings held slightly apart. They swoop down to intercept and chase other passing butterflies, indulging in a spectacular aerial battle, with their shimmering mother-of-pearl iridescence glinting in the sunshine.

Both sexes go to roost in late afternoon, in a head-downward posture, hanging beneath the leaves of bushes. In this situation the leaf-like underside, complete with fake "midrib" and "mould spots", provides them with excellent camouflage.

Salamis parhassus demonstrates daily activity. The flight is heavy. The flight period of the adults is year round, peaking in summer and autumn.

Diet

The larval foodplants include Brilliantaisia, Isoglossa, Mimulopsis, Paulowilhelmia, Asystasia and Justicia (Acanthaceae).

Butterflies feed on nectar.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 70 x 70 x 90 cm. Females lay eggs one at a time on the young shoots of the forage plant. Eggs are white and round. The incubation period is 5 days. It is better to keep the caterpillars in terrariums of 6-8 pieces, placing a pot with a forage plant in it. The caterpillar develops for 23-32 days. The temperature for keeping is 22-25 °C and humidity is 60-70%. The pupa is dark brown, with spines. The butterfly leaves the cocoon after 13-17 days.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary. Daylight time is 12 hours. You can feed butterflies with honey syrup diluted with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 10.