List of butterflies of the Western Ghats

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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[]

Subfamily Papilioninae[]

Genus Graphium (Pathysa)—swordtails and zebras[]

Spot swordtail
  • Spot swordtail, Pathysa nomius (Esper, 1798)
  • Fivebar swordtail, Pathysa antiphates (Cramer, 1775)

Genus Graphium—bluebottles and jays[]

  • Common jay, Graphium doson (C. & R. Felder, 1864)
  • Tailed jay, Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Common bluebottle, Graphium sarpedon (Linnaeus, 1758)

Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta)—roses[]

Crimson rose
  • Common rose, Pachliopta aristolochiae (Fabricius, 1775)
  • Crimson rose, Pachliopta hector (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Malabar rose, Pachliopta pandiyana (Moore, 1881)

Genus Troides—birdwings[]

Genus Papilio (Chilasa)—mimes[]

  • Common mime, Papilio (Chilasa) clytia, Linnaeus, 1758

Genus Papilio (Papilio)—swallowtails[]

  • Malabar banded swallowtail, Papilio liomedon (Moore, 1874)
  • Blue Mormon, Papilio polymnestor (Cramer, 1775)
  • Red Helen, Papilio helenus ( Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Common Mormon, Papilio polytes ( Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Malabar raven, Papilio dravidarum (Wood-Mason, 1880)
  • Lime butterfly, Papilio demoleus ( Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Common banded peacock, Papilio crino (Fabricius, 1792)
  • Malabar banded peacock, Papilio buddha (Westwood, 1872)
  • Paris peacock, Papilio paris ( Linnaeus, 1758)

Family Pieridae[]

Subfamily Pierinae—whites[]

Genus Pieris—whites[]

  • Indian cabbage white, Pieris canidia Linnaeus, 1768

Genus Anaphaeis—pioneers[]

Pioneer (caper white)
  • Pioneer (caper white), Anaphaeis aurota Fabricius, 1793

Genus Cepora—gulls[]

Genus Ixias—Indian orange tips[]

Yellow orange tip
  • White orange tip, Ixias marianne Cramer, 1779
  • Yellow orange tip, Ixias pyrene Linnaeus, 1764

Genus Delias—Jezebels[]

Genus Prioneris—sawtooths[]

Genus Appias—puffins and albatrosses[]

  • Spot puffin, Appias lalage (Doubleday, 1842)
  • Plain puffin, Appias indra Moore, 1857
  • Striped albatross, Appias libythea Fabricius, 1775
  • Chocolate albatross, Appias lyncida Cramer, 1777
  • Common albatross, Appias albina Felder
  • Lesser albatross, Appias wardii (Moore, 1884)

Genus Leptosia—Psyche[]

  • Psyche, Leptosia nina Fabricius, 1793

Genus Hebomoia—great orange tip[]

  • Great orange tip, Hebomoia glaucippe Linnaeus, 1758

Genus Colotis—Arabs[]

Genus Pareronia—wanderers[]

Subfamily Coliadinae—yellows[]

Mottled emigrant

Genus Catopsilia—emigrants[]

  • Common emigrant, Catopsilia pomona Fabricius, 1775
  • Mottled emigrant, Catopsilia pyranthe Latreille, 1758
Common grass yellow

Genus Eurema—grass yellows[]

Genus Colias—clouded yellows[]

  • Nilgiri clouded yellow, Colias nilgiriensis

Family Nymphalidae[]

Subfamily Libytheinae[]

Genus Libythea—beaks[]

  • Lobed beak, Libythea laius (Trimen, 1879)
  • Club beak, Libythea myrrha, (Godart, 1819)

Subfamily Danainae[]

Plain tiger

Genus Parantica—glassy tigers[]

Genus Tirumala—blue tigers[]

Genus Danaus—tigers[]

  • Plain tiger, Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Common or striped tiger, Danaus genutia Cramer, 1779

Genus Euploea—crows[]

  • Common Indian crow, Euploea core (Cramer, 1780)
  • Double-branded crow, Euploea sylvester (Fabricius, 1793)
  • Blue king crow, Euploea klugii Moore, 1858

Genus Idea—tree nymphs[]

Subfamily Charaxinae[]

Genus Charaxes—rajahs[]

Genus Polyura—nawabs[]

  • Blue nawab, Polyura schreiberi (Godart, 1819)
  • Common nawab, Polyura athamas (Drury, 1773)
  • Anomalous common nawab, Polyura agraria

Subfamily Morphinae[]

Genus Discophora—duffers[]

  • Southern duffer, Discophora lepida (Moore, 1857)

Genus Amathusia—palmking[]

  • Palmking, Amathusia phidippus Linnaeus, 1763

Subfamily Satyrinae[]

Common evening brown
Common palmfly

Genus Mycalesis—bushbrowns[]

Genus Lethe—treebrowns[]

Genus Ypthima—rings[]

  • Common threering, Ypthima asterope
  • Jewel fourring, Ypthima avanta Moore, 1875
  • Common fivering, Ypthima baldus (Fabricius, 1775)
  • White fourring, Ypthima ceylonica Hewitson, 1865
  • Nilgiri fourring, Ypthima chenui (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)
  • Common fourring, Ypthima huebneri Kirby, 1871
  • Baby fivering, Ypthima philomela (Linnaeus, 1763)
  • Palni fourring, Ypthima ypthimoides Moore, 1881

Genus Zipaetis—catseyes[]

Genus Orsotriaena—nigger[]

  • Nigger, Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Melanitis—evening browns[]

Genus Parantirrhoea—Travancore evening brown[]

  • Travancore evening brown, Parantirrhoea marshalli Wood-Mason, 1880

Genus Elymnias—palmflies[]

  • Common palmfly, Elymnias hypermnestra (Linnaeus, 1763)

Subfamily Heliconiinae[]

Leopard

Genus Vindula—cruiser[]

  • Cruiser, Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793

Genus Cirrochroa—yeomen[]

Genus Cupha—rustic[]

  • Rustic, Cupha erymanthis (Drury, 1773)

Genus Phalanta—leopards[]

  • Small leopard, Phalanta alcippe Stoll, 1782
  • Leopard, Phalanta phalantha Drury, 1773

Genus Argynnis—fritillaries[]

  • Indian fritillary, Argynnis hyperbius Linnaeus, 1763

Genus Cethosia—lacewings[]

Subfamily Acraeinae[]

Genus Acraea—tawny coster[]

Tawny coster
  • Tawny coster, Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758)

Subfamily Limenitidinae[]

Genus Limenitis—admirals[]

  • Commander, Limenitis procris (Cramer, 1777)

Genus Athyma—sergeants[]

Colour sergeant (Athyma nefte)
  • Common sergeant, Athyma perius (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Blackvein sergeant, Athyma ranga Moore, 1857
  • Staff sergeant, Athyma selenophora (Kollar, 1844)
  • Colour sergeant, Athyma nefte (Cramer, 1780)

Genus Pantoporia—lascars[]

  • Common lascar, Pantoporia hordonia (Stoll, 1790)
  • Extra lascar, Pantoporia sandaka (Butler, 1892)

Genus Neptis—sailers[]

Neptis hylas
Pantoporia hordonia

Genus Parthenos—clipper[]

  • Clipper, Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)

Genus Euthalia—barons[]

Genus Tanaecia—counts[]

Genus Dophla—dukes[]

  • Redspot duke, Dophla evelina (Stoll, 1790)

Subfamily Cyrestinae[]

Genus Cyrestis—map butterflies[]

Subfamily Biblidinae[]

Genus Ariadne—castors[]

  • Angled castor, Ariadne ariadne Linnaeus, 1763
  • Common castor, Ariadne merione

Genus Byblia—joker[]

  • Joker, Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)

Subfamily Apaturinae[]

Painted courtesan, Euripus consimilis

Genus Rohana[]

Genus Euripus—courtesans[]

Subfamily Nymphalinae[]

Peacock pansy
Blue pansy

Genus Vanessa—admirals, painted lady[]

Genus Kaniska[]

  • Blue admiral, Kaniska canace (Linnaeus, 1763)

Genus Junonia—pansies[]

  • Gray pansy, Junonia atlites (Linnaeus, 1763)
  • Peacock pansy, Junonia almana (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Yellow pansy, Junonia hierta (Fabricius, 1798)
  • Chocolate pansy, Junonia iphita (Cramer, 1779)
  • Lemon pansy, Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Blue pansy, Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758)

Genus Hypolimnas—eggflies[]

  • Great eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Danaid eggfly, Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764)

Genus Kallima—oakleafs[]

Genus Doleschallia—autumn leaf[]

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

Family Riodinidae[]

Subfamily Nemeobiinae[]

Genus Abisara—Judies[]

Family Lycaenidae[]

Subfamily Curetinae[]

Genus Curetis—sunbeams[]

Subfamily Miletinae[]

Genus Logania—mottles[]

  • Mottle, Logania distanti Semper, 1889.

Genus Spalgis—apefly[]

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

Subfamily Polyommatinae[]

Genus Talicada—red Pierrot[]

  • Red Pierrot, Talicada nyseus Guérin, 1843. (L8.1)

Genus Castalius—common Pierrot[]

  • 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[]

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

Genus Discolampa—banded blue Pierrot[]

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

Genus Tarucus—blue Pierrots[]

Genus Syntarucus—zebra blue[]

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

Genus Azanus—babul blues[]

Genus Neopithecops—Quaker[]

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

Genus Megisba—Malayan[]

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

Genus Celastrina—hedge blues[]

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

Genus Acytolepis—hedge blues[]

  • 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[]

  • White hedge blue, Akasinula akasa (Horsfield, 1828) previously Lycaenopsis akasa Frühstorfer (L19.10)

Genus Cyaniris—hedge blues[]

  • Whitedisc hedge blue, Cyaniris albidisca Moore, 1883 previously Lycaenopsis albidisca Moore (L19.6)

Genus Polyommatus—meadow blues[]

  • Singhalese hedge blue, Polyommatus singalensis Moore, 1877 previously Lycaenopsis singalensis Felder (L19.13)

Genus Chilades—lime blue[]

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

Genus Luthrodes—Cupids[]

  • 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[]

  • Dark grass blue, Zizeeria lysimon (Hübner, 1798–1803) (L22.3)
  • Lesser grass blue, Zizeeria otis (Fabricius, 1787) (L22.5)

Genus Pseudozizeeria—pale grass blue[]

  • Pale grass blue, Pseudozizeeria maha (Kollar, 1848) previously Zizeeria maha Kollar (L22.2)

Genus Zizula—tiny grass blue[]

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

Genus Freyeria—grass jewel[]

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

Genus Euchrysops—gram blues[]

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

Genus Anthene—ciliate blues[]

  • Ciliate blue, Anthene emolus (Godart, 1823) previously Lycaenesthes emolus Godart (L24.1)
  • Pointed ciliate blue, Anthene lycaenina (C. Felder, 1868) previously Lycaenesthes lycaenina Felder (L24.2)

Genus Catachrysops—forget-me-nots[]

  • Forget-me-not, Catachrysops strabo (Fabricius, 1793) (L25.1)
  • Silver forget-me-not, Catachrysops panoramus (C. Felder, 1860)

Genus Lampides—ceruleans and the peablue[]

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

Genus Jamides—ceruleans[]

Genus Nacaduba—lineblues[]

Genus Prosotas—lineblues[]

  • 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[]

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

Subfamily Theclinae[]

Genus Iraota—silverstreak blues[]

Genus Horsfieldia—leaf blue[]

  • Leaf blue, Horsfieldia anita Moore

Genus Thaduka—many-tailed oak-blue[]

  • Many-tailed oak-blue, Thaduka multicaudata Moore, 1878 (L43.1)

Genus Arhopala—oakblues[]

Genus Nilasera—oakblues[]

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

Genus Panchala—oakblues[]

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

Genus Narathura—Tamil oakblue[]

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

Genus Surendra—acacia blue[]

Genus Zinaspa—silver streaked acacia blue[]

Genus Loxura—yamfly[]

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

Genus Zesius—redspot[]

Genus Pratapa—tufted royals[]

  • White royal, Pratapa deva (Moore, 1857) (L54.5)

Genus Ancema—royals[]

  • Silver royal, Ancema blanka (De Nicéville, 1895) previously Pratapa blanka Evans (L54.4)

Genus Creon—broadtail royal[]

  • Broadtail royal, Creon cleobis (Godart, 1823) previously Pratapa cleobis Godart (L54.8)

Genus Tajuria—royals[]

Genus Ops—branded royal[]

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

Genus Charana—mandarin blues[]

  • Banded royal, Charana jalindra Moore (L56.1)

Genus Cheritra—common imperial[]

Genus Rathinda—monkeypuzzle[]

Genus Horaga—onyxs[]

Genus Catapaecilma—common tinsel[]

  • Common tinsel, Catapaecilma elegans Druce, 1873 (L64.1)

Genus Chliaria—tits[]

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

Genus Zeltus—fluffy tit[]

  • Fluffy tit, Zeltus etolus (Fabricius, 1787) (L68.1)

Genus Deudorix—cornelians[]

  • Cornelian, Deudorix epijarbas (Moore, 1857) (L70.1)

Genus Virachola—guava blues[]

  • Common guava blue, Virachola isocrates (Fabricius, 1793) (L71.1)
  • Large guava blue, Virachola perse (Hewitson, 1863) (L71.2)

Genus Rapala—flashes[]

  • Indigo flash, Rapala varuna (Hewitson, 1863) (L72.7)
  • Slate flash, Rapala schistacea (Moore, 1879) (L72.8)
  • Common red flash, Rapala iarbus (Fabricius, 1787) previously Rapala jarbas Fabricius (L72.13)

Genus Vadebra—Malabar flash[]

  • Malabar flash, Vadebra lankana (Moore, 1879) previously Rapala lankana Moore (L72.3)

Genus Bindahara—plane[]

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

Subfamily Aphnaeinae[]

Genus Cigaritis—silverlines[]

Family Hesperiidae[]

Subfamily Coeliadinae[]

Genus Badamia—brown awl[]

  • Brown awl, Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Bibasis—orange tailed awl[]

  • Pale green awlet, Bibasis gomata (Moore, 1865)
  • Orange-striped awl or orange awlet, Bibasis jaina (Moore, 1865)
  • Orangetail awl or pale green awlet, Bibasis sena (Moore, 1865)

Genus Choaspes—awlkings[]

Genus Hasora—awls[]

Subfamily Hesperiinae[]

Genus Aeromachus—scrub hoppers[]

Genus Ampittia—bush hoppers[]

  • Bush hopper, Ampittia dioscorides (Fabricius, 1793)

Genus Arnetta—bobs[]

Genus Baoris—swifts[]

Genus Baracus—hedge hoppers[]

Genus Pseudoborbo—Bevan's swift[]

  • Beavan's swift, Pseudoborbo bevani (Moore, 1878) ?

Genus Borbo—swifts[]

Genus Caltoris—swifts[]

  • Kanara swift, Caltoris canaraica (Moore, 1883)
  • Blank swift, Caltoris kumara (Moore, 1878)
  • Philippine swift, Caltoris philippina (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)

Genus Cupitha—wax dart[]

  • Wax dart, Cupitha purreea (Moore, 1877)

Genus Erionota—palm redeye[]

  • Palm redeye, Erionota thrax (Linnaeus, 1767)

Genus Gangara—giant redeye[]

Giant redeye, Gangara thyrsis

Genus Gegenes[]

  • Dingy swift, Gegenes nostrodamus (Fabricius, 1793)

Genus Halpe—aces[]

Genus Matapa—branded redeye[]

Genus Notocrypta—demons[]

Genus Parnara[]

Genus Pelopidas—branded swifts[]

Genus Polytremis[]

Genus Potanthus—darts[]

  • Confucian dart or Chinese dart, Potanthus confucius (Felder & Felder, 1862)
  • Pallied dart, Potanthus pallida (Evans, 1932)
  • Palni dart, Potanthus palnia (Evans, 1914)
  • Pava dart, Potanthus pava (Fruhstorfer, 1911)
  • Pseudomaesa or common dart, Potanthus pseudomaesa (Moore, 1881)

Genus Psolos—coon[]

  • Coon, Psolos fuligo (Mabille, 1876)

Genus Quedara[]

Genus Salanoemia—lancer[]

Genus Sovia[]

Genus Suastus—palm bob[]

Genus Taractrocera—grass darts[]

  • Tamil grass dart, Taractrocera ceramas (Hewitson, 1868)
  • Common grass dart, Taractrocera maevius (Fabricius, 1793)

Genus Telicota—palm darts[]

  • Dark palm dart, Telicota ancilla (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)
  • Pale palm dart, Telicota colon (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Cephrenes[]

  • Plain palm dart, Cephrenes chrysozona (Plötz, 1883)

Genus Thoressa—aces[]

Genus Udaspes—grass demon[]

Grass demon
  • Grass demon, Udaspes folus (Cramer, 1775)

Genus Hyarotis—flitters[]

  • Tree flitter, Hyarotis adrastus (Stoll, 1782)
  • Brush flitter, Hyarotis microstrictum (Wood-Mason & de Nicéville, 1887)

Genus Oriens—dartlets[]

Subfamily Pyrginae[]

Genus Caprona —angles[]

  • Golden angle, Caprona ransonnetti (Felder, 1868)
  • Spotted angle, Caprona agama (Moore, 1857 )
  • Spotted angle, Caprona alida (De Nicéville, 1891)

Genus Celaenorrhinus—flat[]

Genus Coladenia—pied flats[]

  • Fulvous pied flat, Coladenia dan (Fabricius, 1787)
  • Tricolour flat, Coladenia indrani (Moore, 1865)

Genus Gerosis—white flat[]

Genus Gomalia[]

Genus Odontoptilum—angles[]

Genus Sarangesa—small flats[]

Genus Spialia —grizzled skippers[]

Genus Tagiades—snow flats[]

Genus Tapena—angles[]

  • Angled flat or black angle, Tapena thwaitesi (Moore, 1881)

See also[]

Notes[]

References[]

  • 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.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""