Caterpillar of Archduke butterfly (Lexias pardalis dirteana)

The host plant, Cratoxylum cochinchinense, can be found growing naturally in the nature reserves and planted as wayside trees in various urban parks. It has simple and opposite leaves which are red to dark red when young. Its red bark can peel off in strips or angular pieces. The bisexual flowers are pinkish to darker red. Besides Archduke, this plant is also utilized by Short Banded Sailor and Common Grass Yellow as larval food plant. Caterpillars of Archduke feed on older and more mature leaves of this plant.