Underwing identification of Charaxes bernardus and C. aristigiton

[DaveChiangMai]

Attached are three images of Charaxes sp (either bernardus or aristogiton), all taken at Chiang Dao.
Looking at images on the web there does not seem to be a consistent way of telling these two apart that I can see. However, according to Kimura Butterflies of Thailand the two are "easy" (his words not mine) to tell apart based on aristogiton having " zig-zag pattern to the design of the submarginal striae of the under hindwing. In bernardus these are almost straight".

I fail to see this feature on images I have. Can anyone throw more light on this?

Image 1.
24636

Image 2.
24637

Image 3.
24638

[atronox]

He's referring to the dark brown band about two-thirds from the base of the hindwing. In bernardus this band is straighter than in aristogiton although i wouldn't exactly call it "almost straight" but this seems only to apply for the Thai sspp. bernardus has a vast range and numrous sspp. which are all very variable.

So these all seem like aristogiton

[DaveChiangMai]

Ah, thanks for that clarification. As you say "straighter" doesn't mean "straight"! That helps.

[Psyche]

These two species are so similar on the underside that they have been much confused in the past.

I believed your Kimura statement should be in reverse, ie C. aristogiton have the 'straighter band'.


The band in question is the HW postdiscal bnad which [s the chestnut band situated to the inside of the white submarginal spots.
The outer margin of the band is often edged in black. It is very irregular in C. bernardus but fairly straight & regular in C. aristogiton.
Compare Female C. aristogiton peridoneus Vietnam .
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6w2ZKMs59nU/VzZqwWbMEMI/AAAAAAAAJq4/nRIYInnbuyoS3Is60OIHyd42MsNgdjbQgCLcB/s1600/7.jpg
with female C. bernardus hierax Thailand.
http://www.dnp.go.th/FOREMIC/Entomology/Web/Butterfly/nympha/08.png

Examples of C. aristogiton aristogiton males from India.
http://www.flutters.org/home/photogallery/plog-content/images/butterfliesbrnbspnbspnbspnymphalidae-the-brush-footed-br/subfamily-charaxinae-brnbspnbspnbsp-genus-charaxes--the-rajahs-/scarce_tawny_rajah_1_ayan_chakraborty_3.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/CharaxesAristogiton/CharaxesAristogiton_af923_AjayGaikwad.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2015/94_3357-653-54c33858b4a23-1.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/2016/137_11761-192-571a66ad1a3b9-2.jpg

Examples of C. bernardus hierax. India & Thailand. note highly irregular/undulating outer margin of HW postdiscal band.
https://ssl.c.photoshelter.com/img-get2/I0000_SzQep8GtuM/fit=1000x750/Charaxes-bernardus-hierax-Tawny-Rajah.jpg
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4164/34448203382_d9fe1659e9_b.jpg
http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/media_images/CharaxesBernardus/04CharaxesBernardus_HemantOgale_ag933.jpg
http://www.samuibutterflies.com/02_images/travels/nymphalinae/charaxesbernadushierax.f.pleistoanax.v.jpg

C. bernardus crepax from P. Malaysia. HW postdiscal band rather poorly defined.
https://wanderingbutterflyeffect.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/6a0100a801ee89000e01101826dc8a860f.jpg
http://m8.i.pbase.com/g1/25/686825/2/130066948.dPc5ZVA5.jpg


Your three pix are typical Charaxes bernardus hierax.

TL Seow: Cheers.

[DaveChiangMai]

Many thanks for the clarification. I am not surprised at this mix-up, as the English translations in Kimura are frequently ambiguous and garbled. Evidently never checked before publication by a native speaker. In this case the text was open to interpretation.

Many thanks.