Nothing Special   »   [go: up one dir, main page]

List of butterflies of the Western Ghats

This is a list of butterfly species found in the Western Ghats region. This region is a biodiversity hotspot and about 334 species of butterflies have been recorded.

  • Papilionidae—swallowtail butterflies (19 species)
  • Pieridae—yellow-white butterflies (34 species)
  • Nymphalidae—brush-footed butterflies (97 species)
  • Riodinidae—metalmark butterflies (1 species)
  • Lycaenidae—blues, hairstreaks and gossamer-winged butterflies (101 species)
  • Hesperiidae—skipper butterflies (83 species)

Family Papilionidae

edit

Subfamily Papilioninae

edit

Genus Graphium (Pathysa)—swordtails and zebras

edit
 
Spot swordtail

Genus Graphium—bluebottles and jays

edit

Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta)—roses

edit
 
Crimson rose

Genus Troides—birdwings

edit

Genus Papilio (Chilasa)—mimes

edit

Genus Papilio (Papilio)—swallowtails

edit

Family Pieridae

edit

Subfamily Pierinae—whites

edit

Genus Pieris—whites

edit

Genus Anaphaeis—pioneers

edit
 
Pioneer (caper white)

Genus Cepora—gulls

edit

Genus Ixias—Indian orange tips

edit
 
Yellow orange tip

Genus Delias—Jezebels

edit
 
Common Jezebel

Genus Prioneris—sawtooths

edit

Genus Appias—puffins and albatrosses

edit

Genus Leptosia—Psyche

edit

Genus Hebomoia—great orange tip

edit

Genus Colotis—Arabs

edit
 
Crimson-tip

Genus Pareronia—wanderers

edit

Subfamily Coliadinae—yellows

edit
 
Mottled emigrant

Genus Catopsilia—emigrants

edit
 
Common grass yellow

Genus Eurema—grass yellows

edit

Genus Colias—clouded yellows

edit

Family Nymphalidae

edit

Subfamily Libytheinae

edit

Genus Libythea—beaks

edit

Subfamily Danainae

edit
 
Blue tiger
 
Plain tiger

Genus Parantica—glassy tigers

edit

Genus Tirumala—blue tigers

edit

Genus Danaus—tigers

edit

Genus Euploea—crows

edit

Genus Idea—tree nymphs

edit

Subfamily Charaxinae

edit

Genus Charaxes—rajahs

edit

Genus Polyura—nawabs

edit
 
Common nawab

Subfamily Morphinae

edit

Genus Discophora—duffers

edit

Genus Amathusia—palmking

edit
  • Palmking, Amathusia phidippus Linnaeus, 1763

Subfamily Satyrinae

edit
 
Whitebar bushbrown
 
Lethe europa
 
Common evening brown
 
Common palmfly

Genus Mycalesis—bushbrowns

edit

Genus Lethe—treebrowns

edit

Genus Ypthima—rings

edit

Genus Zipaetis—catseyes

edit

Genus Orsotriaena—nigger

edit
  • Nigger, Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Melanitis—evening browns

edit

Genus Parantirrhoea—Travancore evening brown

edit

Genus Elymnias—palmflies

edit

Subfamily Heliconiinae

edit
 
Rustic
 
Leopard

Genus Vindula—cruiser

edit
  • Cruiser, Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793

Genus Cirrochroa—yeomen

edit

Genus Cupha—rustic

edit
  • Rustic, Cupha erymanthis (Drury, 1773)

Genus Phalanta—leopards

edit

Genus Argynnis—fritillaries

edit

Genus Cethosia—lacewings

edit

Subfamily Acraeinae

edit

Genus Acraea—tawny coster

edit
 
Tawny coster

Subfamily Limenitidinae

edit

Genus Limenitis—admirals

edit

Genus Athyma—sergeants

edit
 
Colour sergeant (Athyma nefte)

Genus Pantoporia—lascars

edit

Genus Neptis—sailers

edit
 
Neptis hylas
 
Pantoporia hordonia

Genus Parthenos—clipper

edit
  • Clipper, Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)

Genus Euthalia—barons

edit

Genus Tanaecia—counts

edit

Genus Dophla—dukes

edit

Subfamily Cyrestinae

edit

Genus Cyrestis—map butterflies

edit

Subfamily Biblidinae

edit

Genus Ariadne—castors

edit

Genus Byblia—joker

edit
  • Joker, Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)

Subfamily Apaturinae

edit
 
Painted courtesan, Euripus consimilis

Genus Rohana

edit

Genus Euripus—courtesans

edit

Subfamily Nymphalinae

edit
 
Peacock pansy
 
Blue pansy

Genus Vanessa—admirals, painted lady

edit

Genus Kaniska

edit

Genus Junonia—pansies

edit

Genus Hypolimnas—eggflies

edit

Genus Kallima—oakleafs

edit

Genus Doleschallia—autumn leaf

edit
  • Autumn leaf, Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica (Cramer, 1777)

Family Riodinidae

edit

Subfamily Nemeobiinae

edit

Genus Abisara—Judies

edit

Family Lycaenidae

edit

Subfamily Curetinae

edit

Genus Curetis—sunbeams

edit

Subfamily Miletinae

edit

Genus Logania—mottles

edit
  • Mottle, Logania distanti Semper, 1889.

Genus Spalgis—apefly

edit
  • Apefly, Spalgis epius (Westwood, 1851) (L6.1)

Subfamily Polyommatinae

edit

Genus Talicada—red Pierrot

edit

Genus Castalius—common Pierrot

edit
  • Common Pierrot, Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775. (L9.1)
  • Dark Pierrot, Castalius ananda de Nicéville, 1884 previously Tarucus ananda de Nicéville (L10.1)

Genus Caleta—angled Pierrot

edit
  • Angled Pierrot, Caleta caleta Hewitson, 1876 earlier Castalius caleta Moore (L9.2)

Genus Discolampa—banded blue Pierrot

edit
  • Banded blue Pierrot, Discolampa ethion Westwood, 1851 earlier Castalius ethion Doubleday & Hewitson (L9.3)

Genus Tarucus—blue Pierrots

edit

Genus Syntarucus—zebra blue

edit
  • Zebra blue, Syntarucus plinius (Fabricius, 1793) (L11.1) (synonyms Leptotus plinius, Tarucus plinius)

Genus Azanus—babul blues

edit

Genus Neopithecops—Quaker

edit
  • Quaker, Neopithecops zalmora Butler 1870 (L15.1)

Genus Megisba—Malayan

edit
  • Malayan, Megisba malaya (Horsfield, 1828) (H20.1, p. 220)

Genus Celastrina—hedge blues

edit
  • Plain hedge blue, Celastrina lavendularis (Moore, 1877) previously Lycaenopsis lavendularis Moore (L19.15)

Genus Acytolepis—hedge blues

edit
  • Common hedge blue, Acytolepis puspa (Horsfield, 1828) previously Lycaenopsis puspa (Toxopeus) (L19.1)
  • Hampson's hedge blue, Acytolepis lilacea (Hampson, 1889) previously Lycaenopsis lilacea Hampson (L19.2)

Genus Akasinula—white hedge blue

edit

Genus Cyaniris—hedge blues

edit

Genus Polyommatus—meadow blues

edit

Genus Chilades—lime blue

edit
  • Lime blue, Chilades lajus (Stoll, [1780]) (L21.1)
  • Indian Cupid, Chilades parrhasius (Fabricius, 1793) previously Everes parrhasius Fabricius (L16.4)

Genus Luthrodes—Cupids

edit
  • Small Cupid, Luthrodes contracta (Butler, 1880) previously Euchrysops contracta Butler (L23.2)?
  • Plains Cupid, Luthrodes pandava (Horsfield, 1829) previously Euchrysops pandava Horsfield (L23.3)

Genus Zizeeria—grass blues

edit

Genus Pseudozizeeria—pale grass blue

edit

Genus Zizula—tiny grass blue

edit
  • Tiny grass blue, Zizula gaika (Trimen, 1862) synonym Zizula hylax (Fabricius 1775) (now suppressed) (L22.4)

Genus Freyeria—grass jewel

edit
  • Grass jewel, Freyeria trochylus (Freyer, 1845) previously Zizeeria trochilus Freyer (L22.1)

Genus Euchrysops—gram blues

edit
  • Gram blue, Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius, 1798) (L23.1)

Genus Anthene—ciliate blues

edit

Genus Catachrysops—forget-me-nots

edit

Genus Lampides—ceruleans and the peablue

edit
  • Peablue, Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) (L26.1)

Genus Jamides—ceruleans

edit

Genus Nacaduba—lineblues

edit

Genus Prosotas—lineblues

edit
  • Common Lineblue, Prosotas nora (Felder, 1860) previously Nacaduba nora Felder (L30.13)
  • Tailless lineblue, Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, 1879) previously Nacaduba dubiosa Evans (L30.14)
  • White-tipped lineblue, Prosotas noreia (Felder, 1868) previously Nacaduba noreia Felder (L30.15)

Genus Petrelea—dingy lineblue

edit
  • Dingy lineblue, Petrelea dana (De Nicéville, 1884) previously Nacaduba dana de Nicéville (L30.16)

Subfamily Theclinae

edit

Genus Iraota—silverstreak blues

edit

Genus Horsfieldia—leaf blue

edit

Genus Thaduka—many-tailed oak-blue

edit

Genus Arhopala—oakblues

edit

Genus Nilasera—oakblues

edit
  • Centaur oakblue, Nilasera centaurus (Fabricius, 1775) previously Amblypodia centaurus Moore (L45.16)

Genus Panchala—oakblues

edit
  • Rosy oakblue, Panchala alea (Hewitson, 1862) previously Amblypodia alea Hewitson (L45.11)

Genus Narathura—Tamil oakblue

edit
  • Tamil oakblue, Narathura bazaloides (Hewitson, 1878) previously Amblypodia bazaloides Hewitson (L45.23)

Genus Surendra—acacia blue

edit

Genus Zinaspa—silver streaked acacia blue

edit

Genus Loxura—yamfly

edit
  • Yamfly, Loxura atymnus (Cramer, 1782) (L48.1)

Genus Zesius—redspot

edit

Genus Pratapa—tufted royals

edit

Genus Ancema—royals

edit

Genus Creon—broadtail royal

edit

Genus Tajuria—royals

edit

Genus Ops—branded royal

edit
  • Branded royal, Ops melastigma (De Nicéville, 1887) previously Tajuria melastigma de Nicéville (L55.4)

Genus Charana—mandarin blues

edit

Genus Cheritra—common imperial

edit

Genus Rathinda—monkeypuzzle

edit

Genus Horaga—onyxs

edit

Genus Catapaecilma—common tinsel

edit

Genus Chliaria—tits

edit
  • Orchid tit, Chliaria othona (Hewitson, 1865) (L66.1)
  • Nilgiri tit, Chliaria nilgirica (Moore, 1883) previously Hypolycaena nilgirica Moore (L67.1)

Genus Zeltus—fluffy tit

edit

Genus Deudorix—cornelians

edit

Genus Virachola—guava blues

edit

Genus Rapala—flashes

edit

Genus Vadebra—Malabar flash

edit

Genus Bindahara—plane

edit
  • Plane, Bindahara phocides (Fabricius, 1793) (L74.1)

Subfamily Aphnaeinae

edit

Genus Cigaritis—silverlines

edit

Family Hesperiidae

edit

Subfamily Coeliadinae

edit

Genus Badamia—brown awl

edit
  • Brown awl, Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Bibasis—orange tailed awl

edit

Genus Choaspes—awlkings

edit

Genus Hasora—awls

edit

Subfamily Hesperiinae

edit

Genus Aeromachus—scrub hoppers

edit

Genus Ampittia—bush hoppers

edit

Genus Arnetta—bobs

edit

Genus Baoris—swifts

edit

Genus Baracus—hedge hoppers

edit

Genus Pseudoborbo—Bevan's swift

edit

Genus Borbo—swifts

edit

Genus Caltoris—swifts

edit

Genus Cupitha—wax dart

edit

Genus Erionota—palm redeye

edit

Genus Gangara—giant redeye

edit
 
Giant redeye, Gangara thyrsis

Genus Gegenes

edit

Genus Halpe—aces

edit

Genus Matapa—branded redeye

edit

Genus Notocrypta—demons

edit
 
Restricted demon

Genus Parnara

edit

Genus Pelopidas—branded swifts

edit

Genus Polytremis

edit

Genus Potanthus—darts

edit

Genus Psolos—coon

edit
  • Coon, Psolos fuligo (Mabille, 1876)

Genus Quedara

edit

Genus Salanoemia—lancer

edit

Genus Sovia

edit

Genus Suastus—palm bob

edit

Genus Taractrocera—grass darts

edit

Genus Telicota—palm darts

edit

Genus Cephrenes

edit

Genus Thoressa—aces

edit

Genus Udaspes—grass demon

edit
 
Grass demon

Genus Hyarotis—flitters

edit

Genus Oriens—dartlets

edit

Subfamily Pyrginae

edit

Genus Caprona —angles

edit

Genus Celaenorrhinus—flat

edit

Genus Coladenia—pied flats

edit

Genus Gerosis—white flat

edit

Genus Gomalia

edit

Genus Odontoptilum—angles

edit

Genus Sarangesa—small flats

edit

Genus Spialia —grizzled skippers

edit

Genus Tagiades—snow flats

edit
 
Immaculate/large/suffused snow flat, Tagiades gana

Genus Tapena—angles

edit

See also

edit

Notes

edit

References

edit
  • Kunte, K. (In press.) Checklist of the Butterflies of the Western Ghats, Southwestern India. In K. A. Subramanian (ed.) Diversity and Conservation of Invertebrates in the Western Ghats.
  • Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural History Society.
  • Wynter-Blyth, Mark Alexander (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay, India: Bombay Natural History Society. ISBN 978-8170192329.
  • Gaonkar, Harish (1996). Butterflies of the Western Ghats, India (including Sri Lanka) - A Biodiversity Assessment of a Threatened Mountain System. Bangalore, India: Centre for Ecological Sciences.
  • Larsen, T. B. 1987–88. The butterflies of the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, vol 84 & 85.
edit