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.
- PapilionidaeâÂÂswallowtail butterflies (19 species)
- PieridaeâÂÂyellow-white butterflies (34 species)
- NymphalidaeâÂÂbrush-footed butterflies (97 species)
- RiodinidaeâÂÂmetalmark butterflies (1 species)
- LycaenidaeâÂÂblues, hairstreaks and gossamer-winged butterflies (101 species)
- HesperiidaeâÂÂskipper butterflies (83 species)
Family Papilionidae
Subfamily Papilioninae
Genus Graphium (Pathysa)âÂÂswordtails and zebras
Genus GraphiumâÂÂbluebottles and jays
Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta)âÂÂroses
Genus TroidesâÂÂbirdwings
Genus Papilio (Chilasa)âÂÂmimes
Genus Papilio (Papilio)âÂÂswallowtails
- 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 PierinaeâÂÂwhites
Genus PierisâÂÂwhites
Genus AnaphaeisâÂÂpioneers
Genus CeporaâÂÂgulls
Genus IxiasâÂÂIndian orange tips
Genus DeliasâÂÂJezebels
Genus PrionerisâÂÂsawtooths
Genus AppiasâÂÂpuffins 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 LeptosiaâÂÂPsyche
Genus HebomoiaâÂÂgreat orange tip
Genus ColotisâÂÂArabs
- 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 PareroniaâÂÂwanderers
Subfamily ColiadinaeâÂÂyellows
Genus CatopsiliaâÂÂemigrants
Genus EuremaâÂÂgrass 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 ColiasâÂÂclouded yellows
Family Nymphalidae
Subfamily Libytheinae
Genus LibytheaâÂÂbeaks
Subfamily Danainae
Genus ParanticaâÂÂglassy tigers
Genus TirumalaâÂÂblue tigers
Genus DanausâÂÂtigers
Genus EuploeaâÂÂcrows
Genus IdeaâÂÂtree nymphs
Subfamily Charaxinae
Genus CharaxesâÂÂrajahs
Genus PolyuraâÂÂnawabs
Subfamily Morphinae
Genus DiscophoraâÂÂduffers
Genus AmathusiaâÂÂpalmking
- Palmking, Amathusia phidippus Linnaeus, 1763
Subfamily Satyrinae
Genus MycalesisâÂÂbushbrowns
- 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 LetheâÂÂtreebrowns
Genus YpthimaâÂÂrings
- 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 ZipaetisâÂÂcatseyes
Genus OrsotriaenaâÂÂnigger
- Nigger, Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus MelanitisâÂÂevening browns
Genus ParantirrhoeaâÂÂTravancore evening brown
Genus ElymniasâÂÂpalmflies
Subfamily Heliconiinae
Genus VindulaâÂÂcruiser
- Cruiser, Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793
Genus CirrochroaâÂÂyeomen
Genus CuphaâÂÂrustic
- Rustic, Cupha erymanthis (Drury, 1773)
Genus PhalantaâÂÂleopards
Genus ArgynnisâÂÂfritillaries
Genus CethosiaâÂÂlacewings
Subfamily Acraeinae
Genus AcraeaâÂÂtawny coster
Subfamily Limenitidinae
Genus LimenitisâÂÂadmirals
Genus AthymaâÂÂsergeants
Genus PantoporiaâÂÂlascars
Genus NeptisâÂÂsailers
Genus ParthenosâÂÂclipper
- Clipper, Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)
Genus EuthaliaâÂÂbarons
Genus TanaeciaâÂÂcounts
Genus DophlaâÂÂdukes
Subfamily Cyrestinae
Genus CyrestisâÂÂmap butterflies
Subfamily Biblidinae
Genus AriadneâÂÂcastors
Genus BybliaâÂÂjoker
- Joker, Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)
Subfamily Apaturinae
Genus Rohana
Genus EuripusâÂÂcourtesans
Subfamily Nymphalinae
Genus VanessaâÂÂadmirals, painted lady
Genus Kaniska
Genus JunoniaâÂÂpansies
- 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 HypolimnasâÂÂeggflies
Genus KallimaâÂÂoakleafs
Genus DoleschalliaâÂÂautumn leaf
- Autumn leaf, Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica (Cramer, 1777)
Family Riodinidae
Subfamily Nemeobiinae
Genus AbisaraâÂÂJudies
Family Lycaenidae
Subfamily Curetinae
Genus CuretisâÂÂsunbeams
Subfamily Miletinae
Genus LoganiaâÂÂmottles
- Mottle, Logania distanti Semper, 1889.
Genus SpalgisâÂÂapefly
- Apefly, Spalgis epius (Westwood, 1851) (L6.1)
Subfamily Polyommatinae
Genus TalicadaâÂÂred Pierrot
Genus CastaliusâÂÂcommon Pierrot
- Common Pierrot, Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775. (L9.1)
- Dark Pierrot, Castalius ananda de Nicéville, 1884 previously Tarucus ananda de Nicéville (L10.1)
Genus CaletaâÂÂangled Pierrot
- Angled Pierrot, Caleta caleta Hewitson, 1876 earlier Castalius caleta Moore (L9.2)
Genus DiscolampaâÂÂbanded blue Pierrot
- Banded blue Pierrot, Discolampa ethion Westwood, 1851 earlier Castalius ethion Doubleday & Hewitson (L9.3)
Genus TarucusâÂÂblue Pierrots
Genus SyntarucusâÂÂzebra blue
- Zebra blue, Syntarucus plinius (Fabricius, 1793) (L11.1) (synonyms Leptotus plinius, Tarucus plinius)
Genus AzanusâÂÂbabul blues
Genus NeopithecopsâÂÂQuaker
- Quaker, Neopithecops zalmora Butler 1870 (L15.1)
Genus MegisbaâÂÂMalayan
- Malayan, Megisba malaya (Horsfield, 1828) (H20.1, p. 220)
Genus CelastrinaâÂÂhedge blues
- Plain hedge blue, Celastrina lavendularis (Moore, 1877) previously Lycaenopsis lavendularis Moore (L19.15)
Genus AcytolepisâÂÂhedge 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 AkasinulaâÂÂwhite hedge blue
Genus CyanirisâÂÂhedge blues
Genus PolyommatusâÂÂmeadow blues
Genus ChiladesâÂÂlime blue
- Lime blue, Chilades lajus (Stoll, [1780]) (L21.1)
- Indian Cupid, Chilades parrhasius (Fabricius, 1793) previously Everes parrhasius Fabricius (L16.4)
Genus LuthrodesâÂÂCupids
- 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 ZizeeriaâÂÂgrass blues
Genus PseudozizeeriaâÂÂpale grass blue
Genus ZizulaâÂÂtiny grass blue
- Tiny grass blue, Zizula gaika (Trimen, 1862) synonym Zizula hylax (Fabricius 1775) (now suppressed) (L22.4)
Genus FreyeriaâÂÂgrass jewel
- Grass jewel, Freyeria trochylus (Freyer, 1845) previously Zizeeria trochilus Freyer (L22.1)
Genus EuchrysopsâÂÂgram blues
- Gram blue, Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius, 1798) (L23.1)
Genus AntheneâÂÂciliate blues
Genus CatachrysopsâÂÂforget-me-nots
Genus LampidesâÂÂceruleans and the peablue
- Peablue, Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) (L26.1)
Genus JamidesâÂÂceruleans
Genus NacadubaâÂÂlineblues
- 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 ProsotasâÂÂlineblues
- 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 PetreleaâÂÂdingy lineblue
- Dingy lineblue, Petrelea dana (De Nicéville, 1884) previously Nacaduba dana de Nicéville (L30.16)
Subfamily Theclinae
Genus IraotaâÂÂsilverstreak blues
Genus HorsfieldiaâÂÂleaf blue
Genus ThadukaâÂÂmany-tailed oak-blue
Genus ArhopalaâÂÂoakblues
Genus NilaseraâÂÂoakblues
- Centaur oakblue, Nilasera centaurus (Fabricius, 1775) previously Amblypodia centaurus Moore (L45.16)
Genus PanchalaâÂÂoakblues
- Rosy oakblue, Panchala alea (Hewitson, 1862) previously Amblypodia alea Hewitson (L45.11)
Genus NarathuraâÂÂTamil oakblue
- Tamil oakblue, Narathura bazaloides (Hewitson, 1878) previously Amblypodia bazaloides Hewitson (L45.23)
Genus SurendraâÂÂacacia blue
Genus ZinaspaâÂÂsilver streaked acacia blue
Genus LoxuraâÂÂyamfly
- Yamfly, Loxura atymnus (Cramer, 1782) (L48.1)
Genus ZesiusâÂÂredspot
Genus PratapaâÂÂtufted royals
Genus AncemaâÂÂroyals
Genus CreonâÂÂbroadtail royal
Genus TajuriaâÂÂroyals
Genus OpsâÂÂbranded royal
- Branded royal, Ops melastigma (De Nicéville, 1887) previously Tajuria melastigma de Nicéville (L55.4)
Genus CharanaâÂÂmandarin blues
Genus CheritraâÂÂcommon imperial
Genus RathindaâÂÂmonkeypuzzle
Genus HoragaâÂÂonyxs
Genus CatapaecilmaâÂÂcommon tinsel
Genus ChliariaâÂÂtits
- Orchid tit, Chliaria othona (Hewitson, 1865) (L66.1)
- Nilgiri tit, Chliaria nilgirica (Moore, 1883) previously Hypolycaena nilgirica Moore (L67.1)
Genus ZeltusâÂÂfluffy tit
Genus DeudorixâÂÂcornelians
Genus ViracholaâÂÂguava blues
Genus RapalaâÂÂflashes
Genus VadebraâÂÂMalabar flash
Genus BindaharaâÂÂplane
- Plane, Bindahara phocides (Fabricius, 1793) (L74.1)
Subfamily Aphnaeinae
Genus CigaritisâÂÂsilverlines
- 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 BadamiaâÂÂbrown awl
- Brown awl, Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus BibasisâÂÂorange tailed awl
Genus ChoaspesâÂÂawlkings
Genus HasoraâÂÂawls
Subfamily Hesperiinae
Genus AeromachusâÂÂscrub hoppers
Genus AmpittiaâÂÂbush hoppers
Genus ArnettaâÂÂbobs
Genus BaorisâÂÂswifts
Genus BaracusâÂÂhedge hoppers
Genus PseudoborboâÂÂBevan's swift
Genus BorboâÂÂswifts
Genus CaltorisâÂÂswifts
Genus CupithaâÂÂwax dart
Genus ErionotaâÂÂpalm redeye
Genus GangaraâÂÂgiant redeye
Genus Gegenes
Genus HalpeâÂÂaces
Genus MatapaâÂÂbranded redeye
Genus NotocryptaâÂÂdemons
Genus Parnara
Genus PelopidasâÂÂbranded 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 PotanthusâÂÂdarts
- 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 PsolosâÂÂcoon
- Coon, Psolos fuligo (Mabille, 1876)
Genus Quedara
Genus SalanoemiaâÂÂlancer
Genus Sovia
Genus SuastusâÂÂpalm bob
Genus TaractroceraâÂÂgrass darts
Genus TelicotaâÂÂpalm darts
Genus Cephrenes
Genus ThoressaâÂÂaces
Genus UdaspesâÂÂgrass demon
Genus HyarotisâÂÂflitters
Genus OriensâÂÂdartlets
Subfamily Pyrginae
Genus Caprona âÂÂangles
Genus CelaenorrhinusâÂÂflat
Genus ColadeniaâÂÂpied flats
Genus GerosisâÂÂwhite flat
Genus Gomalia
Genus OdontoptilumâÂÂangles
Genus SarangesaâÂÂsmall flats
Genus Spialia âÂÂgrizzled skippers
Genus TagiadesâÂÂsnow flats
Genus TapenaâÂÂangles
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.
- Larsen, T. B. 1987âÂÂ88. The butterflies of the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, vol 84 & 85.
External links