Comparison between Charana mandarinus Hewitson, 1863 ( Mandarin Blue ) and Charana jalindra Moore, 1883 ( Banded Royal )

Photo contributions:
1. Cooch Behar, West Bengal, India -- Vivek Sarkar
2. Cachar, Assam -- Rejaul Karim
3. Bokakhat, Assam -- Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi
4. Cooch Behar, West Bengal -- Vivek Sarkar
5. Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurdar, West Bengal -- Subhajit Mazumder
6. Amboli, Maharashtra -- Hemant Ogale
7. Amboli, Maharashtra -- Hemant Ogale
8. Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurdar, West Bengal -- Subhajit Mazumder

Dicussion participants: Vivek Sarkar, Ravi Bhambure, Hemant Ogale, Rejaul Karim, Parag Rangnekar, Kishen Das


ID keys - Mandarin Blue -- Charana mandarinus Hewitson, 1863
Under Forewing: Discal band is dark reddish brown. In old specimens the discal band will be pale reddish brown.
Under Hindwing: The black spot in the submarginal area closer to the apex has dark reddish brown border.
The border color matches that of the discal band. The tails near the second black spot close to the tornal area is around 12mm.

Banded Royal -- Charana jalindra Moore, 1883
Under Forewing: Discal band is chocolate brown. You can find variations in the chocolate brown color.
Under Hindwing: The black spot in the submarginal area will have golden yellow or orange border which distincts it clearly from the chocolate brown color of the discal band.
The tails near the second black spot close to the tornal area is around 6mm.

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Notes from Wynter Blyth
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Banded Royal ( Charana jalindra )
Size: 36-44mm
Status: South India - Very Rare. Northern India - Rare
Male: Above, shining deep violet-blue with black borders( 1mm to 3mm at apex FW ).
Female: Above, Dark Brown; UPH with row of marginal white spots which are obscure
in the northern race.
Male/Female: Below, White; outer margins broadly brown diffused with grey.
Broad dark brown outer discal band, tornal spots HW etc. No bars ends cells.
Two tails ( About6 mm ).
The northern form bears on the UPF a patch of paler scales at the end of the cell and
a large darker patch beyond.
Neither of these are present in the South Indian specimens that I have seen.

Host plant: Loranthus elasticus
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Mandarin Blue ( Charana mandarinus )
Size: 40 - 44mm
Status: Rare
Female: Above, black; dorsum and lower basal area heavily dusted greenish blue on FW.
HW greenish blue except for broad black costal and dorsal areas.
Female: above, dark brown, tornal area HW white with black spots.
Male/Female: below, yellowish cream; discal band reddish brown joined to paler
reddish brown marginal area. Tail at v.1b 12mm.; v.2, 6mm

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Cachar Mandarin Blue ( Charana cepheis )
Size: 45mm
Status: Very Rare
Refer Evans

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Notes from Evans

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H. 66 Charana - The Mandarin Blue ( Plate 29 )

1 (2) Male: above pale blue, black apex fills 1/2 of cell and the dark border
extends along the dorsum ; H costal border broad.
Female: above dark brown, tornal area H white with black spots. Below discal band
ferruginous brown, confluence with paler ferruginous brown marginal area;
marked as in H 65-21.
mandarinus, Hewitson ( 40-44). The Mandarin Blue, Sikkim-Burma, Andamans, Not Rare
2 (1). Female: above rich deep blue, much restricted. Female: tornal white area
UPH reduced. Below purple brown with no white submarginal line.
cepheis, DeN (45). The Cachar Mandarin Blue. Assam - Very Rare

(36-44). The Banded Royal

jalindra macarita
South India - Rare
Female: uph a white subtermial line in 1-2. Below discal band chocolate; H tornal green scales more prominent;
white diffused areas beyond band more extensive

jalindra indra, M. Orissa, Sikkim-Dawnas - Not Rare
Love above mostly orange. Female: uph no white spots. Below around color blish white, discal band ferruginous brown,
on F onl separated from the marginal ferruginous area by a narrow white line to v2;
H discal and marginal areas coalesced, no wavy discal line above tornus; tornal orange
very extensive

jalindra tarpina, Hewitson Andamans - Not Rare

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