<> Charaxes bernardus (Fabricius, 1793) <>

the Tawny Rajah ผีเสื้อม้าแดงธรรมดา (ตาลหนามแดง)

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 400m a.s.l.

A common and widespread species. This species is polymorphic with several different forms. There are also many subspecies found throughout the region. Strong and rapid flight. It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. Usually found near streams.

Synonyms: Charaxes hipponax, Charaxes corax, Charaxes polyxena, Charaxes pleistoanax, Charaxes hierax, Charaxes watti, Charaxes agna, Charaxes harpax, Charaxes khasianus, Charaxes agna, Charaxes watti, Charaxes hierax, Charaxes polyxena

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Charaxinae - Charaxes - bernardus

Regional subspecies: there are many but include - bernardus (China), crepax (S.Thailand, Malaysia), hemana (Nepal), hierax (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China). Further taxonomic study is needed.

Regional Distribution: India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines

Habitat: rainforest and humid deciduous forest up to around 1800m a.s.l. Wingspan: 70-80mm

Flight time: most of the year, depending on location

Life History: egg 3 days instar 1 6 days instar 2 6 days instar 3 6 days instar 4 6 days instar 5 10 days pupa 12 days Total egg to adult 48-50 days. All times approximate.

Larval Hosts: Cinnamomum camphora, Cinnamomum parthenoxylon, Cinnamomum ssp., Litsea glutinosa, Litsea populifolia, Phoebe chekiangensis (Lauraceae), Acronychia pedunculata (Rutaceae), Adenanthera pavonina, Adenanthera ssp., Albizia lebbeck, Dalbergia latifolia, Falcataria falcata, Tamarindus indica, Tamarindus ssp. (Fabaceae), Aglaia elaeagnoidea, Aglaia lawii (Meliaceae), Miliusa tomentosa (Annonaceae), Triadica sebifera (Euphorbiaceae). Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources: Nectar - not known to visit flowers. Other - mud puddling, carrion, tree sap, animal dung, over-ripe fruit