Lexias pardalis

 

<> Lexias pardalis  (Moore, 1878) <>

the Common Archduke     ผีเสื้ออ๊าชดุ๊คธรรมดา

 
 

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Lexias pardalis
Photo taken at Chiang Dao Nature Sanctuary, Chiang Mai. Thailand  ♂ 540m a.s.l.

Very common and distributed throughout most of the region. This species is forest-dependant and although it flies in open sunny areas within, or at the edges, of the forest it much prefers the shade and usually settles in the low vegetation. It is sexually dimorphic and the differences in the appearance of males and females are quite distinct. The female is also larger than the male and her colour and markings make her almost invisible when she settles in the undergrowth on the forest floor. The colours on both sexes are a little variable. Males sometimes exhibit hill-topping behaviour, chasing away other butterflies that encroach  on their territory, but this is not a regular trait.

Lexias pardalis is a very powerful flier and once disturbed takes off rapidly, gliding through the undergrowth before settling again. It is multivoltine and there are several broods per annum, varying with location. The larvae have a unique spiny appearance that allows them to blend in with their surroundings but, unlike some other larvae species that have hairs of spikes, they are perfectly safe to handle and are not poisonous. The adults are almost identical to another Lexias species, L.dirtea, but are easily distinguishable from that species as the apical clubs of their antennae are orange-yellow whereas those of L.dirtea are all black.

Synonyms and previously used names:   Symphaedra pardalis, Euthalia pardalis, Euthalia dirtea jadeitina

 

Taxonomy:  Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Nymphalidae - Limenitidinae - Lexias - pardalis

Regional subspecies:   L.p.borneensis (Indonesian & Malaysian Borneo), L.p.dirteana (S.Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore), L.p.eleanor (N.Vietnam, S.China), L.p.ellora (Philippines), L.p.jadeitina (NE.India, Myanmar, N.Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, SW.China), L.p.nephritica (Indonesia), L.p.tethys (Philippines). There are several other subspecies distributed amongst individual islands of Indonesia and the Philippines.

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

 

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♀  450m a.s.l.

Habitat:  Deciduous and evergreen forest and forest edges, up to around 1300m a.s.l. They are often seen near streams where both sexes can be seen to puddle in the mud near the waters edge.

Flight time:  All year round, depending on location.                                            Wingspan:  70-90mm

Life History:           egg   4 days        instar 1   3 days        instar 2    3 days        instar 3    4-5 days    instar 4    6-7 days     instar 5   8-9 days    pupa   10-11 days     Total egg to adult   38-42 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used.

Larval Hosts:  Tupistra clarkei (Asparagaceae), Cratoxylum cochinchinense, Cratoxylum formosum, Hypericum monogynum (Hypericaceae), Garcinia lateriflora (Clusiaceae)
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Adult Food Sources:  Nectar - Gerbera sp. (Asteraceae), Syzygium zeylanicum (Myrtaceae). There may be other nectar sources but this species is not a regular flower visitor.  Other - mud puddling, animal dung, carrion, over-ripe fruits (pineapple, mango, and guava are favourites)

Lexias pardalis
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand  ♂

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♂

Lexias pardalis
Phnom Kulen, Siem Reap, Cambodia  ♂

Lexias pardalis
Pak Ou, Luang Prabang Province, Laos 

Lexias pardalis aberration
A female aberration, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Syzygium zeylanicum
Syzygium zeylanicum, a nectar source

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♀

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♀

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♂

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♀

Lexias pardalis
Lamnamkok National Park, Chiang Rai, Thailand 

Lexias pardalis pupa
pupa

Lexias pardalis
Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand  ♂

Lexias pardalis
Close-up showing the red-coloured proboscis

Lexias pardalis
A female in flight, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Cratoxylum cochinchinense
Cratoxylum cochinchinense, a larval host

Tupistra clarkei
Tupistra clarkei, another larval host


Butterflies of Thailand and SE Asia  -  BugsAlive Species Information Sheet
© All images are the copyright of Tim Stratford

 

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               This page updated 6th March 2023