<> 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.

Charaxes bernardus is 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 does not visit flowers but feeds readily on tree sap and rotten fruit. Males puddle for minerals on damp ground and on animal dung and urine.

It is multivoltine with several broods per annum. This species is 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: Charaxes bernardus crepax (S.Thailand, Malaysia), Charaxes bernardus hemana (Nepal), Charaxes bernardus hierax (India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Yunnan-China). There are many others listed, particularly amongst the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines, but it is uncertain how many of these are legitimate. Further taxonomic study is needed.

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

Habitat: Charaxes bernardus is found in rainforest, humid deciduous forest, and montane evergreen forest. It has been recorded at elevations up to around 1800m a.s.l.

Flight time: most of the year, depending on location Wingspan: 70-80mm

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 cubeba, Litsea glutinosa, Litsea populifolia, Phoebe chekiangensis (Lauraceae), Acronychia pedunculata (Rutaceae), Adenanthera pavonina, 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.