122. Charaxes aristogiton peridoneus (The Scarce Tawny Rajah)

Number: 122

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Charaxiinae

Species: Charaxes aristogiton peridoneus Fruhstorfer,1914

Common name(s): The Scarce Tawny Rajah

Photography locations: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.), Huu Lien N.R. (Lang Son Prov.)

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 6 Charaxes species in Vietnam viz. solon, bernardus, marmax, aristogiton, kahruba & harmodius.

Male specimen found at Cuc Phuong, in a disused building where many dragonflies become entrapped. So far I haven't had the chance to observe a living specimen!

 Female specimen from Huu Lien Nature Reserve, upperside
Bigger than male, HW with a weak tooth at vein 2 and a long spatulate tail at vein 4

Same specimen, underside

120. Charaxes bernardus hierax (The Common Tawny Rajah)

Number: 120

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Charaxiinae

Species: Charaxes bernardus hierax (C. & R. Felder, [1867])

Common name(s): The Common Tawny Rajah

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

The Charaxinae are a group of large, robust Nymphalids characterised by their rapid and powerful flight, falcate apexes, and a habit of feeding at dung and carrion. They are represented in Africa by Charaxes, Euxanthe and Palla; in the neotropics by Consul, Memphis, Prepona and Agrias; and in the Oriental and Australian regions by Polyura and Charaxes.

Monastyrskii & Devyatkin (2016) listed 6 Charaxes species in Vietnam viz. solon, bernardus, marmax, aristogiton, kahruba & harmodius.

A brief encounter in the forest of Cuc Phuong N.P.

 The smell, and possibly the color, of my motorbike were irresistible to this Charaxes bernardus

A dead specimen, found at Cuc Phuong N.P. also, showing a better view of the upperwings than the shot above

108. Polyura athamas athamas (The Common Nawab)

Number: 108

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Charaxiinae

Species: Polyura athamas athamas (Drury, 1773)

Common name(s): The Common Nawab

Photography location: Cuc Phuong N.P. (Ninh Binh Prov.)

The genus Polyura  is represented in Vietnam by 10 species – athamas, arja, moori, jalysus, delphis, narcaea, eudamippus, nepenthes, dolon and shreiber (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016).

Polyura athamas are medium-sized, heavy-bodies butterflies with rapid, strong and sometimes erratic flights. It has a habit of perching high on a spot in a tree, and keeps returning to the same perch after making swift flights in the vicinity to chase intruders away. The adults have also been observed to puddle on wet ground, carrion, faeces and tree sap.

Polyura athamas - my sweaty camera bag was a fine bait!

Mud-puddling with some Vindula erota (Cuc Phuong, May 2016)

An individual feeding on a serpent's carcass (Cuc Phuong, May 2016), showing a "weird" wing pattern

107. Polyura nepenthes nepenthes (The Shan Nawab)

Number: 107

Family: Nymphaliidae
Sub-Family: Charaxiinae

Species: Polyura nepenthes nepenthes (Grose-Smith, 1883)

Common name(s): The Shan Nawab

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

The genus Polyura  is represented in Vietnam by 10 species – athamas, arja, moori, jalysus, delphis, narcaea, eudamippus, nepenthes, dolon and shreiber (Monastyrskii & Devyatkin, 2016).

Polyura nepenthes is a species I have seen only one time. I managed to get a few record shots only from a distance of 2 meters. It flew away when I tried to get a closer look. I presume that it is not rare but spend most of its life in the forest canopy.

Polyura nepenthes puddling on wet ground, first slopes of Tam Dao (August 2015)
It's a shame that it's in such bad condition, because it's a very beautiful butterfly and this is the only time I've ever seen one

A glimpse of the underwing pattern