Colotis celimene
species of insect
Colotis celimene, the lilac tip or magenta tip, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. The species was first described by Hippolyte Lucas in 1852. It is found in the Afrotropical realm.
Description
The wingspan is 37–40 mm. The adults fly year round, peaking from March to May.
Habitat and behavior
Adults are observed residing near tall trees and thorny vegetation. They hover up to approximately 4 metres above ground level.
The larvae feed on Boscia albitrunca and Capparis species.
Subspecies
The following subspecies are recognised:
C. c. celimene (H. Lucas, 1852) (Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi)
C. c.
The public source identifies “Colotis celimene” as species of insect. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Colotis, celimene and species.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Colotis celimene”, the useful work is to connect “species of insect” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Datasets, specimens, observations and peer-reviewed methods provide the appropriate test for the technical claims summarized here. The source revision retrieved here is dated Dec 7, 2025. The linked authority identifier is Q1848424. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1852.
A general summary may omit uncertainty, sample limits or methodological disagreement that is explicit in the technical record. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.
- Current terminology
- Classification context
- Finding cited technical literature
Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Colotis celimene”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Colotis celimene primary sources, Colotis celimene archive and Colotis research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Colotis celimene”?
- Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
- Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Colotis celimene” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.