Lexias aeropa, the orange-banded plane, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South-East Asia and Australia.

Lexias aeropa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Lexias
Species:
L. aeropa
Binomial name
Lexias aeropa
Synonyms
  • Papilio aeropa Linnaeus, 1758
  • Papilio aeropus Linnaeus, 1767
  • Papilio aeropus Linnaeus, 1764
  • Papilio nodrica Boisduval, 1832
  • Adolias (Lexias) aeropus ab. bicolorata Strand, 1913
  • Adolias (Lexias) aeropus ab. lutescentitincta Strand, 1913
  • Adolias (Lexias) aeropus ab. albinistica Strand, 1913
  • Euthalia aeropa choirilus Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia aeropa eporidorix Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia aeropa paisandrus Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia aeropa helvidius Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia aeropa eutychius Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia ergena Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia albifera Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia midia Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia mysolensis Talbot, 1932
  • Euthalia aeropa angustifascia Joicey & Noakes, 1915
  • Euthalia meforensis Talbot, 1932
  • Euthalia aeropa hegias Fruhstorfer, 1913
  • Euthalia aeropa orestias Fruhstorfer, 1913

Females have a wingspan of about 85 mm, making them larger than males with a wingspan of about 6 mm. The adults are dark brown with a broad orange band across each wing. The underside is similar, but paler and rather mottled.[2]

The larvae feed on Calophyllum species.

Subspecies

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The following subspecies are recognised:[1]

  • L. a. aeropa (southern Moluccas: Ambon, Ceram, Saparua)
  • L. a. angustifascia (Joicey & Noakes, 1915) (Biak, Yapen Islands)
  • L. a. choirilus (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Waigeu)
  • L. a. eporidorix (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (northern Moluccas: Bachan, Halmahera, Morotai)
  • L. a. eutychius (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Aru, Kai, West Irian to Papua, Karkar Island, Cape York)
  • L. a. hegias (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Bismarck Archipelago: New Britain, New Ireland)
  • L. a. helvidius (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Buru)
  • L. a. orestias (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Sula Islands: Taliabu, Mangoly, possibly Sanana)
  • L. a. paisandrus (Fruhstorfer, 1913) (Moluccas: Obi)

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lexias Boisduval, 1832" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ Lexias aeropa, Australian Insects