List of butterflies of the Western Ghats explained
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
Genus Graphium—bluebottles and jays
Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta)—roses
Genus Troides—birdwings
Genus Papilio (Chilasa)—mimes
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
Genus Anaphaeis—pioneers
Genus Cepora—gulls
Genus Ixias—Indian orange tips
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
Genus Hebomoia—great orange tip
Genus Colotis—Arabs
- Small salmon Arab, Colotis amata Fabricius, 1775
- Blue-spotted Arab, Colotis phisadia (Godart, 1819)
- White Arab, Colotis vestalis (Butler, 1876)
- Large salmon Arab, Colotis fausta (Olivier, 1804)
- Small orange-tip, Colotis etrida Boisduval, 1836
- Plain orange-tip, Colotis aurora (Cramer, 1780)
- Crimson-tip, Colotis danae (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Pareronia—wanderers
Subfamily Coliadinae—yellows
Genus Catopsilia—emigrants
Genus Eurema—grass yellows
- Small grass yellow, Eurema brigitta Cramer, 1780
- Spotless grass yellow, Eurema laeta Boisduval, 1836
- One-spot grass yellow, Eurema andersonii Moore
- Common grass yellow, Eurema hecabe Linnaeus, 1758
- Three-spot grass yellow, Eurema blanda Boisduval, 1836
- Nilgiri grass yellow, Eurema nilgiriensis
Genus Colias—clouded yellows
Family Nymphalidae
Subfamily Libytheinae
Genus Libythea—beaks
Subfamily Danainae
Genus Parantica—glassy tigers
Genus Tirumala—blue tigers
Genus Danaus—tigers
Genus Euploea—crows
Genus Idea—tree nymphs
Subfamily Charaxinae
Genus Charaxes—rajahs
Genus Polyura—nawabs
Subfamily Morphinae
Genus Discophora—duffers
Genus Amathusia—palmking
- Palmking, Amathusia phidippus Linnaeus, 1763
Subfamily Satyrinae
Genus Mycalesis—bushbrowns
- Whitebar bushbrown, Mycalesis anaxias Hewitson, 1862
- Small longbrand bushbrown, Mycalesis igilia Fruhstorfer, 1909
- Long-brand bushbrown, Mycalesis visala Moore, 1858
- Palebrand bushbrown, Mycalesis khasia Evans, 1920
- Redeye bushbrown, Mycalesis adolphei (Guérin-Ménéville, 1843)
- Palni bushbrown, Mycalesis mamerata davisoni
- Red-disc bushbrown, Mycalesis oculus Marshall, 1880
- Gladeye bushbrown, Mycalesis patnia Moore, 1857
- Tamil bushbrown, Mycalesis subdita Moore
- Common bushbrown, Mycalesis perseus (Fabricius, 1775)
- Dark branded bushbrown, Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus, 1758)
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
Genus Elymnias—palmflies
Subfamily Heliconiinae
Genus Vindula—cruiser
- Cruiser, Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793
Genus Cirrochroa—yeomen
Genus Cupha—rustic
- Rustic, Cupha erymanthis (Drury, 1773)
Genus Phalanta—leopards
Genus Argynnis—fritillaries
Genus Cethosia—lacewings
Subfamily Acraeinae
Genus Acraea—tawny coster
thumb|Tawny coster
Subfamily Limenitidinae
Genus Limenitis—admirals
Genus Athyma—sergeants
Genus Pantoporia—lascars
Genus Neptis—sailers
Genus Parthenos—clipper
- Clipper, Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)
Genus Euthalia—barons
Genus Tanaecia—counts
Genus Dophla—dukes
Subfamily Cyrestinae
Genus Cyrestis—map butterflies
Subfamily Biblidinae
Genus Ariadne—castors
Genus Byblia—joker
- Joker, Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)
Subfamily Apaturinae
Genus Rohana
Genus Euripus—courtesans
Subfamily Nymphalinae
Genus Vanessa—admirals, painted lady
Genus Kaniska
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
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
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
Genus Cyaniris—hedge blues
Genus Polyommatus—meadow blues
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
Genus Pseudozizeeria—pale grass blue
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
Genus Catachrysops—forget-me-nots
Genus Lampides—ceruleans and the peablue
- Peablue, Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) (L26.1)
Genus Jamides—ceruleans
Genus Nacaduba—lineblues
- Large four-line blue, Nacaduba pactolus (Felder, 1860) (L30.2)
- Pale four-line blue, Nacaduba hermus (Felder, 1860) (L30.3)
- Pointed lineblue, Nacaduba helicon Felder,? (L30.7)
- Transparent six-line blue, Nacaduba kurava (Moore, 1857) (L30.8)
- Opaque six-line blue, Nacaduba beroe (Felder & Felder, 1865) (L30.9)
- Rounded six-line blue, Nacaduba berenice (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) (L30.10)
- Dark Ceylon six-line blue, Nacaduba calauria (C. Felder, 1860)
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
Genus Thaduka—many-tailed oak-blue
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
Genus Ancema—royals
Genus Creon—broadtail royal
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
Genus Cheritra—common imperial
Genus Rathinda—monkeypuzzle
Genus Horaga—onyxs
Genus Catapaecilma—common tinsel
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
Genus Deudorix—cornelians
Genus Virachola—guava blues
Genus Rapala—flashes
Genus Vadebra—Malabar flash
Genus Bindahara—plane
- Plane, Bindahara phocides (Fabricius, 1793) (L74.1)
Subfamily Aphnaeinae
Genus Cigaritis—silverlines
- Tawny silverline, Cigaritis acamas (Klug, 1834) (L51.1)
- Common silverline, Cigaritis vulcanus (Fabricius, 1775) (L52.1)
- Long-banded silverline, Cigaritis lohita (Horsfield, [1829]) (L52.11)
- Plumbeous silverline, Cigaritis schistacea (Moore, [1881]) (L52.2)
- Abnormal silverline, Cigaritis abnormis (Moore, [1884]) (L52.4)
- Common shot silverline, Cigaritis ictis (Hewitson, [1865]) (L52.5)
- Scarce shot silverline, Cigaritis elima (Moore, 1877) (L52.6)
- Lilac silverline, Cigaritis lilacinus (Moore, 1884) (L51.2)
Family Hesperiidae
Subfamily Coeliadinae
Genus Badamia—brown awl
- Brown awl, Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Bibasis—orange tailed awl
Genus Choaspes—awlkings
Genus Hasora—awls
Subfamily Hesperiinae
Genus Aeromachus—scrub hoppers
Genus Ampittia—bush hoppers
Genus Arnetta—bobs
Genus Baoris—swifts
Genus Baracus—hedge hoppers
Genus Pseudoborbo—Bevan's swift
Genus Borbo—swifts
Genus Caltoris—swifts
Genus Cupitha—wax dart
Genus Erionota—palm redeye
Genus Gangara—giant redeye
Genus Gegenes
Genus Halpe—aces
Genus Matapa—branded redeye
Genus Notocrypta—demons
Genus Parnara
Genus Pelopidas—branded swifts
- Dark branded swift, Pelopidas agna (Moore, 1865)
- Great swift, Pelopidas assamensis (De Nicéville, 1882)
- Conjoined swift, Pelopidas conjuncta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)
- Dark small-branded swift, Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798)
- Large branded swift, Pelopidas subochracea (Moore, 1878)
- Pale small-branded swift, Pelopidas thrax (Hübner, 1821)
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
Genus Telicota—palm darts
Genus Cephrenes
Genus Thoressa—aces
Genus Udaspes—grass demon
thumb|Grass demon
Genus Hyarotis—flitters
Genus Oriens—dartlets
Subfamily Pyrginae
Genus Caprona —angles
Genus Celaenorrhinus—flat
Genus Coladenia—pied flats
Genus Gerosis—white flat
Genus Gomalia
Genus Odontoptilum—angles
Genus Sarangesa—small flats
Genus Spialia —grizzled skippers
Genus Tagiades—snow flats
Genus Tapena—angles
See also
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.
- Book: Evans . William Harry Evans
. W.H. . William Harry Evans . The Identification of Indian Butterflies . 2nd . Mumbai, India . . 1932 .
- Book: Wynter-Blyth, Mark Alexander . Mark Alexander Wynter-Blyth
. Mark Alexander Wynter-Blyth . Butterflies of the Indian Region . 1957 . Bombay, India . . 978-8170192329 .
- Book: Gaonkar, Harish . Harish Gaonkar
. Harish Gaonkar . Butterflies of the Western Ghats, India (including Sri Lanka) - A Biodiversity Assessment of a Threatened Mountain System . Centre for Ecological Sciences . Bangalore, India . 1996 .
- 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