Rapala manea subsp. schistacea, (Moore, 1879)

4. R. manea schistacea ( Moore, 1879) View in CoL Figs 1d View FIGURE 1 , 5 View FIGURE 5

Deudorix manea schistacea Moore, 1879: 140 View in CoL

Type Locality: Kolkata ( India)

Common Name: Slate Flash

Material Examined : NEPAL. Gandaki Province. Kaski. Rupatal, 24.v. 1986, 675 m, leg. C.P. Smith ( ANHM, 1♂). Gorkha. Koplang Khola, 6.iv. 1970, 645 m, leg. C.P. Smith ( ANHM, 1♂); Bagmati Province. Bhaktapur. Suryabinayak, 23.iv. 1986, 1590 m, leg. C.P. Smith ( ANHM, 1♀). INDIA. Meghalaya. Khasi Hills, leg. Le Moult, MGCL 1201225 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-87 ( MGCL, 1♂) ( Fig. 5a View FIGURE 5 ); same data, MGCL 1201224 , Genitalic Vial KW-24-105 ( MGCL, 1♀) ( Fig. 5b View FIGURE 5 ) .

Wingspan: 30–33 mm ( Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Diagnosis ( Figs 5a, 5b View FIGURE 5 ): Rapala manea can be distinguished from its congeners by its broad postdiscal bands, which are edged in white more strongly on the outer margin, and its ventral coloration, which varies from slate gray to yellowish or purplish. It can be differentiated from the similar-looking R. scintilla by the blue iridescence present on both the dorsal fore- and hindwings of males, as well as by its ventral side, which lacks a greenish tinge and often features more prominent submarginal spots on the hindwing. In contrast, R. scintilla males have a blue iridescence only on the dorsal hindwings, a ventral side with a greenish tinge, and less distinct submarginal spots. Identification often requires viewing the dorsal side of the male wings. Rapala varuna may occasionally appear similar but can be distinguished by its wider bands, a cell-end bar that is connected to or very close to the postdiscal band on the ventral hindwing, and a postdiscal spot 7 on the ventral hindwing that is not smaller than spot 6. Males are iridescent blue on both wings dorsally while females are dull purplish blue.

Male Genitalia ( Figs 5c–5e View FIGURE 5 ): Aedeagus vesica with a slight longitudinal central cleft and serrated distal margin on either side; valvae short and slender with blunt apices, wider bases and narrowed apices; cleft between the valvae about 1/3rd the length of the valval plate.

Female Genitalia ( Fig. 5f View FIGURE 5 ): Anterior apophysis moderately long; ductus bursae slender and elongated, lateral margins about straight, distal end wide, triangular, and arrow shaped; corpus bursae round and bulbous without any visible signum.

Biology: This species is among the most polyphagous butterflies known. The larvae are known to feed on the flowers or young leaves of Senegalia caesia (L.) Maslin, Seigler & Ebinger, S. megaladena (Desv.) Maslin, Seigler & Ebinger , S. pennata (L.) Maslin, S. torta (Roxb.) Maslin, Seigler & Ebinger , Antidesma acidum Retz. , A. ghaesembilla Gaertn. , Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, Combretum indicum (L.) De Filipps, Sorbaria sorbifolia (L.) A.Braun,and Ziziphus Mill.spp. ( Wynter-Blyth 1957); Averrhoa bilimbi L., Clerodendrum infortunatum L., Lantana camara L., Mimosa diplotricha C.Wright , Saraca asoca (Roxb.) W.J.de Wilde , Urena lobata L., Lepisanthes tetraphylla (Vahl) Radlk. ( Nitin et al. 2018); Ixora L. sp. ( Kunte et al. 2025); Litchi chinensis Sonn. ( Mukherjee 2021); Mangifera indica L., Lithocarpus quercifolius C.C.Huang & Y.T.Chang , Millettia nitida Benth. ( Robinson et al. 2023); Senna tora (L.) Roxb.( Naik & Mustak 2020); Syzygium Gaertn. sp. ( Bhakare & Ogale 2018); and Mallotus repandus (Rottler) Müll.Arg. ( Banerjee et al. 2023). Additionally, they have been recorded on flowers and young leaves of Bauhinia purpurea L., Dimocarpus longan Lour. , Durio zibethinus Murray , Gordonia axillaris Szyszył. , Nephelium lappaceum L., Combretum indicum (L.)De Filipps,and Viburnum odoratissimum Ker Gawl. ( Ek-Amnuay 2012); and on the flowers of Spondias pinnata (L. fil.) Kurz ( Mukherjee 2022); Calliandra haematocephala Hassk. ( Mukherjee 2021); Mimosa invisa Mart. ex Colla ( Kalawate et al. 2024); and Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. ( Payra & Bhatt 2024). Their host range is likely broader, encompassing additional plant species.

Natural History: Adults are typically found in woods, along forest trails, on flowers, and near stream edges ( Sondhi et al. 2013, Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Variation: The ventral coloration of Rapala manea varies from slate gray to yellowish or purplish. The cell-end bar on the ventral hindwing can range from distant to close to the postdiscal band. The spots in the postdiscal bands may be aligned or strongly broken.

Elevation: 150– 2,140 m ( Smith 1994; Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Phenology in Nepal: March to December ( Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).

Distribution on the Indian Subcontinent: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, including the Andamans, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh ( Van Gasse 2018).

Distribution in Nepal: Widely distributed across Nepal, except in arid regions such as much of Sudurpaschim Province and the trans-Himalayan districts of Manang and Mustang ( Van der Poel & Smetacek 2022).