Taxonomy
Common name :
Empereur calédonien
Red List Status -
Description
Wingspan: 70mm to over 90mm in females.
Behaviour: Imagos have powerful flight and are attracted by rotting fruit or fermented sap exsuding from injured tree trunks.
Males survey their territory, they hilltop on hight trees, head down, wings folded or open, alternately.
A very belligerent species, the males often clash violently with each other.
Spectacular courtship often on the ground: the male performs a dance above the female, repeating various figures; she opens her wings in the roof to signify her acceptance, both fly away towards a nearby tree and hug each other before disappearing in the foliage. (Jacques LAMY, personal observations)
Several annual generations, uncommon and localized.
Habitat: mainly dry forests, savannahs or gallery forests at low and medium altitude, or on islands in humid forests on limestone (Julien Barrault “Faune des forêt secs de NC”). Occurs occasionally in urbanized areas.
Host plants: Rhamnaceae, especially Dallachya vitiensis. The very discreet caterpillar weaves a silky carpet on which it clings (Julien Barrault, op. cit.)
THIS MAGNIFICENT SPECIES, PARTICULARLY REPRESENTATIVE OF SCLEROPHYTE FORESTS, DESERVES TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF PROTECTED SPECIES IN NEW CALEDONIA, ESPECIALLY AS ITS HABITAT IS ALSO VERY IN DANGER.
Distribution:
Grande Terre and Loyalty Islands