About Parantica melaneus swinhoei (Moore, 1883)
This butterfly subspecies is scientifically named Parantica melaneus swinhoei (Moore, 1883). On its upperside, the forewing is black, and the hindwing is a very dark purplish brown, marked with faintly bluish white subhyaline markings. On its underside, the forewing is black, with the apex broadly suffused with bright chestnut-brown; the hindwing is bright chestnut-brown, with a patch on the costa, plus part of the disc and termen that are much darker in most specimens. In overall wing shape and the arrangement of its subhyaline markings, this subspecies exactly resembles Danaus tytia. However, its markings are more clearly defined, it is proportionately smaller overall, and the subterminal and terminal spots on its hindwing are generally very distinct. Its antennae are black; its head and thorax are black and spotted with white; its abdomen is a bright ochraceous. Its wingspan ranges from 94 to 100 mm. Its distribution covers the eastern Himalayas, Assam, Burma, Tenasserim, and extends into the Malayan subregion.
