82. Penthema lisarda michallati (The Yellow Kaiser)

Number: 82

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Satyriinae

Species: Penthema lisarda michallati (Janet, 1894)

Common name(s): The Yellow Kaiser

Photography location: Tam Dao foothills (Vinh Phuc Prov.)

Penthema lisarda is a large Satyrine butterfly found along the Himalayas and in Indochina. The race michallati is only known from N. Vietnam (elevated to species level by some authors: P. michallati). 

Other Penthema species in northern Vietnam include P. darlisa mimetica, which show Up and Un dark chocolate to almost black, with reduced white markings. It is replaced further south (from Quang Nam to Dong Nai Prov.) by P. darlisa annamitica.

 Penthema lisarda michallati feeding on rotten fruit, Tam Dao, 200m asl (July 2016) 

Same individual, underside

Penthema lisarda michallati, Tam Dao, 200m asl (August 2016)

Same individual, underside

Penthema lisarda michallati, upperside, voucher specimen from Tam Dao

Same specimen, underside