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 (4 in).

Description

L. pardalis and L. dirtea are also among the most colourful Archdukes. Sexual dichromatism 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.

Life cycle

Caterpillars 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 flowers 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.

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 pardalis and Lexias dirtea.

Species

Lexias acutipenna Chou & Li, 1994.
Lexias aegle Doherty, 1891.
Lexias aeropa Linnaeus, 1758.
Lexias aeetes Hewitson, 1861.
Lexias albopunctata Crowley, 1895.
Lexias bangkana Hagen, 1892.
Lexias canescens Butler, 1869].
Lexias cyanipardus Butler, 1869.
Lexias damalis Erichson, 1834.
Lexias dirtea Fabricius, 1793.
Lexias elna van de Poll, 1895.
Lexias hikarugenzi Tsukada & Nishiyama, 1980.
Lexias immaculata Snellen, 1890.
Lexias panopus C. & R. Felder, 1861.
Lexias pardalis Moore, 1878.
Lexias perdix Butler, 1884.
Lexias satrapes C. & R. Felder, 1861.

Lexias aeropa.


Lexias satrapes.


Lexias aeetes.


Lexias pardalis (male).


Lexias pardalis (male).


Lexias pardalis (male).


Lexias pardalis (male).


Lexias dirtea (male).


Lexias dirtea (female).


Lexias canescens (female).


Lexias dirtea javana (female).


Lexias dirtea khasiana (male).


Lexias dirtea khasiana (female).


Lexias cyanipardus (male).


Lexias cyanipardus.


Lexias cyanipardus (female).


Lexias albopunctata (male).


Lexias albopunctata.


Lexias albopunctata (female).


Lexias albopunctata.


Lexias satrapes (male).


source - Wikipedia