Lexias pardalis

Lexias pardalis
	Male – Dorsal view
	Female – Dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Lexias
Species:	L. pardalis
Binomial name
	Lexias pardalis; Moore, 1878
Synonyms
	Symphaedra pardalis Moore, 1878 ;

The Common Archduke (Lexias pardalis) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.

Description

Lexias pardalis has a wingspan reaching about 80–90 millimetres (3.1–3.5 in). This species exhibits a strong sexual dimorphism, with very different pattern and colour. The upperside of the wings of the male are black with shimmering greenish blue margins, especially in the hind wings. The uppersides of the criptic wings of the larger females are dark brown with several rows of yellow spots, a pale green pattern on the lower wings. The wing pattern of yellow spots continue across the thorax and the abdomen.

The undersides in the males are brownish with whitish spots, while in the female the forewings are dark brown and the hindwings are pale bluish green, with whitish spots in both wings. The apical portion of the antennae are yellow-orange in both sexes, while in the very similar species Lexias dirtea the clubs are black. Larvae feed on Cratoxylum formosum and Cratoxylum cochinchinense, while adults mainly feed on rotting fruits, especially in the genus Garcinia, but also on nectar of flowers. Caterpillars of the last instars are pale green and have many spines radiating from the body. Also the chrisalis are pale green.

Distribution

This species can be found in the Indomalaya ecozone.^[2]

Habitat

Lexias pardalis prefer paths, clearings and edges of primary forests and they are easily sighted in sunny areas standing on the forest floor.

Gallery

Lexias pardalis – Ventral view.
Male of Lexias pardalis - Dorsal view.
Male of Lexias pardalis - Dorsal view.
Male of Lexias pardalis - Ventral view - Sumatra, Indonesia.
Male of Lexias pardalis - Dorsal view - Sumatra, Indonesia.

Subspecies

Lexias pardalis pardalis (Hainan)
Lexias pardalis jadeitina (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (NE. India, Burma – N. Thailand, S.Yunnan)
Lexias pardalis eleanor (Fruhstorfer, 1898) (S.China, Laos, Vietnam)
Lexias pardalis nephritica (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Sumatra)
Lexias pardalis nasiensis Tsukada, 1991 (Nias)
Lexias pardalis gigantea (Fruhstorfer, 1898) (Nias)
Lexias pardalis pallidulus Tsukada, 1991 (Musala Island)
Lexias pardalis dirteana (Corbet, 1941) (Singapore)
Lexias pardalis ritsemae (Fruhstorfer, 1906) (Bangka)
Lexias pardalis silawa (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Belitung)
Lexias pardalis nigricans Hanafusa, 1989 (Karimata)
Lexias pardalis borneensis Tsukada, 1991 (Borneo, Natuna, Laut)
Lexias pardalis cavarna (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Philippines, Balabac)
Lexias pardalis tethys Tsukada, 1991 (Philippines, Palawan)
Lexias pardalis ellora (Fruhstorfer, 1898) (Philippines, Mindoro)
Lexias pardalis saifuli Hanafusa, 1992 ^[2]