Lexias canescens

Lexias canescens, the yellow archduke, is a species of butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It was first described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1869.

Lexias canescens
1868 illustration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nymphalidae
Genus:
Lexias
Species:
L. canescens
Binomial name
Lexias canescens
(Butler, [1869])[1]
Synonyms
  • Symphaedra canescens

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[2]

  • Lexias c. leopardina (Fruhstorfer, 1913)
  • Lexias c. ornatus Tsukada, 1991
  • Lexias c. pardalina (Staudinger, 1886)
  • Lexias c. tigrina (Fruhstorfer, 1913)
  • Lexias c. civetta (Fruhstorfer, 1913)

Distribution and habitat

This species is present in Southeast Asia (Borneo, Peninsular Malaya, Singapore, Sumatra, Bangka Island, Sulu Islands, Belitung).[2] These butterflies inhabit tropical forests among undergrowth and on shaded trails.

Description

Lexias canescens has a wingspan of about 10 cm (3.9 in). These butterflies have dark brown and whitish or yellow-spotted upper surface of the wings, which is an efficient camouflage against predators. Caterpillars are pale green with long spinous bristles.

The male of Lexias canescens pardalina is rather similar to a small female of Lexias pardalis but the underside of its hindwings shows a yellow-washed color.[3]

Biology

Adults can be found year-round, with a peak from June to September.[4] They mainly feed on organic matter and rotting fruit.

Bibliography
  • Khew Sin Khoon. A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Singapore.
  • Beccaloni, G.W., Scoble, M.J., Robinson, G.S. & Pitkin, B. (Editors). (2003) The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex).
  • Yokochi, T. 1995: Two new subspecies of Lexias canescens Butler from Indonesia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Futao 19: 8–9.
  • Casteleyn, 2004, Butterflies of the World: Nymphalidae VIII, Lexias
  • Yutaka Inayoshi - Butterflies in Indo-China

References
  1. "Lexias canescens (Butler, 1869)". BioLib.cz. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. Savela, Markku. "Lexias canescens (Butler, [1869])". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  3. Lin, Liew Nyok (July 11, 2014). "The Yellow Archduke, Lexias canescens pardalina (Staudinger)". Butterflies of Raub. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  4. Lexias canescens. iNaturalist. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
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