The Archduke, Lexias dirtea, is a species of butterfly of the family Nymphalidae.

Description

Lexias dirtea has a wingspan of about 80–100 millimetres (3.1–3.9 in). In this species sexual dichromatism is extreme. In males the uppersides of the wings are mainly velvety black, with metallic blue-green on the margins, while in the females the uppersides of the wings are mainly brownish, covered by several rows of yellowish-whitish spots.

Distribution

This species can be found in India, Burma, Northern Thailand, Southern China, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Borneo and the Philippines.

Habitat

It lives primarily in virgin swamp forests.

Subspecies

Lexias dirtea dirtea (North-East India, Naga Hills)
Lexias dirtea khasiana (North-East India, Assam, Burma, Yunnan)
Lexias dirtea toonchai (Northern Thailand)
Lexias dirtea agosthena Southern China (Kwangtung), Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam
Lexias dirtea merguia (Southern Myanmar, Tenasserim, Southern Thailand, Malaysia)
Lexias dirtea montana (Sumatra)
Lexias dirtea inimitabilis (Siberut, Mentawei Island)
Lexias dirtea insulanus (Bangka, Lingga, Singkep)
Lexias dirtea javana (Western Java)
Lexias dirtea aquilus (Anambas group)
Lexias dirtea baliaris (Natuna Island)
Lexias dirtea chalcedonides (Borneo)
Lexias dirtea annae (Bawean)
Lexias dirtea palawana (Philippines, Palawan)
??Lexias dirtea iwasakii
Lexias dirtea bontouxi (Southern Yunnan)

source - Wikipedia