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Archduke (butterfly)
Encyclopedia
The Archdukes are a genus
(Lexias) of tropical forest
-dwelling butterflies
that are common throughout Southeast Asia
and Australasia
. Members of the brush-footed butterfly family
Nymphalidae, the genus is represented by about 17 species
. Two very similar and coexisting genera are Tanaecia (the Viscounts and Earls) and Euthalia
(the Barons and Counts), the latter previously including some Lexias species. The largest species reach a wingspan of ca. 10 cm.
is however extreme, with the two sexes appearing entirely different. The males' dorsal wing surfaces are a dramatic combination of velvety black forewings and metallic blue-green to violet covering the margins of the forewings and hindwings. The females' dorsal wing surfaces are a drab brown, with small yellowish white spots. Both sexes have drab ventral wings, presumably as a means of camouflage
. The dramatic colours of the males are thought to play a role in intraspecies communication, both by signalling to other males when defending territory, and by attracting females.
Lexias pardalis
and Lexias dirtea
, two commonly farmed species, are nearly identical and often confused, but they can be distinguished by their differing antennae: the dorsal surface of L. pardalis antennae tips are yellow-orange, whereas they are black in L. dirtea.
s of the genus are protected from predators by their long spinous bristles. Archduke chrysalids are pale green and angular in shape; they may be up to 30 mm in length. Calophyllum
trees are host to the caterpillars of Southeast Asian Archdukes.
The observed readiness of Southeast Asian species to feed on both decaying fruit
(of Garcinia
tree species) and the nectar of flower
s suggests that these species inhabit the forest periphery. Because both types of food are common in this habitat
, the Southeast Asian Archdukes have not become specialised in feeding on one or the other, as is usual in butterflies. Archdukes are found primarily in virgin forests and are attracted to sunlit areas such as clearings and paths.
and Lexias dirtea
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
(Lexias) of tropical forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
-dwelling butterflies
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
that are common throughout Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
. Members of the brush-footed butterfly family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Nymphalidae, the genus is represented by about 17 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
. Two very similar and coexisting genera are Tanaecia (the Viscounts and Earls) and Euthalia
Euthalia
Euthalia is a genus of brush-footed butterflies. They are commonly called barons or dukes.-Selected species:* Common Baron, Euthalia aconthea...
(the Barons and Counts), the latter previously including some Lexias species. The largest species reach a wingspan of ca. 10 cm.
Description
L. pardalis and L. dirtea are also among the most colourful Archdukes. Sexual dichromatismSexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
is however extreme, with the two sexes appearing entirely different. The males' dorsal wing surfaces are a dramatic combination of velvety black forewings and metallic blue-green to violet covering the margins of the forewings and hindwings. The females' dorsal wing surfaces are a drab brown, with small yellowish white spots. Both sexes have drab ventral wings, presumably as a means of camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
. The dramatic colours of the males are thought to play a role in intraspecies communication, both by signalling to other males when defending territory, and by attracting females.
Lexias pardalis
Lexias pardalis
The Common Archduke is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.-Description:Lexias pardalis has a wingspan reaching about . 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...
and Lexias dirtea
Lexias dirtea
The Archduke, Lexias dirtea, is a species of butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in India, Burma, Northern Thailand, Southern China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines.-Subspecies:...
, two commonly farmed species, are nearly identical and often confused, but they can be distinguished by their differing antennae: the dorsal surface of L. pardalis antennae tips are yellow-orange, whereas they are black in L. dirtea.
Life cycle
CaterpillarCaterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s of the genus are protected from predators by their long spinous bristles. Archduke chrysalids are pale green and angular in shape; they may be up to 30 mm in length. Calophyllum
Calophyllum
Calophyllum is a flowering plant genus of around 180-200 species of tropical evergreen trees in the family Calophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words καλος , meaning "beautiful", and φυλλον , meaning "leaf." Its members are native to Australasia, Madagascar, Eastern Africa,...
trees are host to the caterpillars of Southeast Asian Archdukes.
The observed readiness of Southeast Asian species to feed on both decaying fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
(of Garcinia
Garcinia
Garcinia is a plant genus of the family Clusiaceae native to Asia, Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia. The number of species is highly disputed, with various sources recognizing between 50 and about 300 taxa as specifically valid...
tree species) and the nectar of flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s suggests that these species inhabit the forest periphery. Because both types of food are common in this habitat
Habitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
, the Southeast Asian Archdukes have not become specialised in feeding on one or the other, as is usual in butterflies. Archdukes are found primarily in virgin forests and are attracted to sunlit areas such as clearings and paths.
Butterfly farming
Several Archduke species are raised in large numbers on butterfly farms for the specimen collecting market and for live sale to butterfly conservatories. The most commonly farmed species are Lexias pardalisLexias pardalis
The Common Archduke is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.-Description:Lexias pardalis has a wingspan reaching about . 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...
and Lexias dirtea
Lexias dirtea
The Archduke, Lexias dirtea, is a species of butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in India, Burma, Northern Thailand, Southern China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines.-Subspecies:...
.