About Lexias pardalis
Lexias pardalis, commonly known as the archduke butterfly, has a wingspan that reaches 80–90 millimetres, or 3.1–3.5 inches. This species displays strong sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females have very different wing patterns and colors. On males, the upper side of the wings is black with shimmering greenish-blue margins, a feature that is most prominent on the hindwings. Females are larger than males, and their upper wing surface has a cryptic dark brown base color. Females have several rows of yellow spots across their wings, plus a pale green pattern on their lower hindwings; the yellow spotted pattern extends across the thorax and abdomen. On the underside of the wings, males have a brownish base with whitish spots. In females, the underside of the forewings is dark brown, and the underside of the hindwings is pale bluish green; both pairs of female wings have whitish spots. In both sexes of Lexias pardalis, the apical portion (the club) of the antennae is yellow-orange. This distinguishes it from the very similar species Lexias dirtea, which has black antenna clubs. This species occurs in the Indomalayan realm. It prefers paths, clearings, and the edges of primary forests, and is easily spotted in sunny areas where it rests on the forest floor.
