About Parantica melaneus (Cramer)
This species, Parantica melaneus (Cramer), has the following wing description. On the upperside, the forewing is black, and the hindwing is a very dark purplish brown, with faintly bluish white subhyaline markings. On the underside, the forewing is black, with its apex broadly suffused with bright chestnut-brown; the hindwing is bright chestnut-brown, with a patch on the costa, and part of the disc and termen that is much darker in most specimens. In overall form and the arrangement of subhyaline markings, this species exactly resembles Danaus tytia. However, Parantica melaneus has more clearly defined markings, is proportionately smaller, and its subterminal and terminal spots on the hindwing are generally very distinct. Antennae are black; the head and thorax are black and spotted with white; the abdomen is bright ochraceous. Wingspan ranges from 94 to 100 mm. The known range of Parantica melaneus includes the eastern Himalayas, Assam, Burma, and Tenasserim, and it extends into the Malayan subregion.
