List of butterflies of Tamil Nadu

This is a list of butterfly species found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In this state 329 species of butterflies are expected to be found.

• Papilionidae—swallowtail butterflies (19 species)
• Pieridae—yellow-white butterflies (32 species)
• Nymphalidae—brush-footed butterflies (97 species)
• Lycaenidae—blues butterflies (96 species)
• Riodinidae—Judies butterflies (2 species)
• Hesperiidae—skipper butterflies (83 species)

Family Papilionidae

There are 19 species recorded.

Subfamily Papilioninae

Genus Graphium (Pathysa)—swordtails, zebras

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

Genus Graphium (Graphium)—bluebottles and jays

• Common jay, Graphium doson (C. & R. Felder, 1864)
• Tailed jay, Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Southern/ Narrow-banded bluebottle, Graphium teredon (Felder & Felder, 1864)

Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta)—roses

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

Genus Troides—birdwings

• Southern birdwing, Troides minos (Cramer, 1779)

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

There are 32 species recorded.

Subfamily Pierinae—whites

Genus Pieris—whites

• Indian cabbage white, Pieris canidia Linnaeus, 1768

Genus Anaphaeis—pioneers

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

Genus Cepora—gulls

• Common gull, Cepora nerissa Fabricius, 1775
• Lesser gull, Cepora nadina Lucas, 1852

Genus Ixias—Indian orange tips

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

Genus Delias—Jezebels

• Common Jezebel, Delias eucharis Drury, 1773

Genus Prioneris—sawtooths

• Painted sawtooth, Prioneris sita C. Felder, 1865

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

• Small salmon Arab, Colotis amata Fabricius, 1775
• 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

• Dark wanderer, Pareronia ceylanica (C. & R. Felder, 1865)
• Common wanderer, Pareronia valeria (Cramer, 1776)

Subfamily Coliadinae—yellows

Genus Catopsilia—emigrants

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

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

• Nilgiri clouded yellow, Colias nilgiriensis

Family Nymphalidae

Subfamily Libytheinae

Genus Libythea—beaks

• Lobed beak, Libythea laius lepitoides (Moore, 1903)
• Club beak, Libythea myrrha, (Godart, 1819)

Subfamily Danainae

Genus Parantica—glassy tigers

• Glassy tiger, Parantica aglea (Stoll, 1782)
• Nilgiri tiger, Parantica nilgiriensis (Moore, 1877)

Genus Tirumala—blue tigers

• Dark blue tiger, Tirumala septentrionis (Butler, 1874)
• Blue tiger, Tirumala limniace Cramer, 1775

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

• Malabar tree nymph, Idea malabarica Moore, 1877

Subfamily Charaxinae

Genus Charaxes—rajahs

• Tawny rajah, Charaxes bernardus (Fabricius, 1793)
• Black rajah, Charaxes solon (Fabricius, 1793)

Genus Polyura—nawabs

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

Subfamily Morphinae

Genus Discophora—duffers

• Southern duffer, Discophora lepida (Moore, 1857)

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

• Common treebrown, Lethe rohria (Fabricius, 1787)
• Tamil treebrown, Lethe drypetis (Hewitson, ?1868)
• Bamboo treebrown, Lethe europa (Fabricius, 1775)

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

• Tamil catseye, Zipaetis saitis Hewitson, 1863

Genus Orsotriaena—nigger

• Nigger, Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Melanitis—evening browns

• Common evening brown, Melanitis leda (Linnaeus, 1758)
• Dark evening brown, Melanitis phedima (Cramer, 1780)
• Great evening brown, Melanitis zitenius (Herbst, 1796)

Genus Elymnias—palmflies

• Common palmfly, Elymnias hypermnestra (Linnaeus, 1763)
• Tailed palmfly, Elymnias hypermnestra (Butler, 1871)

Subfamily Heliconiinae

Genus Vindula—cruiser

• Cruiser, Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793

Genus Cirrochroa—yeomen

• Tamil yeoman, Cirrochroa thais (Fabricius, 1787)

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

• Tamil lacewing, Cethosia nietneri Felder & Felder, 1867

Subfamily Acraeinae

Genus Acraea—tawny coster

• Tawny coster, Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758)

Subfamily Limenitidinae

Genus Limenitis—admirals

• Commander, Limenitis procris (Cramer, 1777)

Genus Athyma—sergeants

• 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

• Common sailer, Neptis hylas Linnaeus, 1758
• Shortbanded sailer, Neptis columella
• Chestnut-streaked sailer, Neptis jumbah Moore, 1857
• Yellowback sailer, Neptis viraja
• Sullied sailer, Neptis soma
• Clear sailer, Neptis nata
• Southern sullied sailer, Neptis clinia

Genus Parthenos—clipper

• Clipper, Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)

Genus Euthalia—barons

• Common baron, Euthalia aconthea (Cramer, 1777)
• Gaudy baron, Euthalia lubentina (Cramer, 1777)
• Baronet, Euthalia nais (Forster, 1771)
• Blue baron, Euthalia telchinia (Ménétriés, 1857)

Genus Tanaecia—counts

• Grey count, Tanaecia lepidea (Butler, 1868)

Genus Dophla—dukes

• Redspot duke, Dophla evelina (Stoll, 1790)

Subfamily Cyrestinae

Genus Cyrestis—map butterflies

• Common map, Cyrestis thyodamas Boisduval, 1836

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

Genus Rohana

• Black prince, Rohana parisatis (Westwood, 1850)

Genus Euripus—courtesans

• Painted courtesan, Euripus consimilis (Westwood, 1850)

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Genus Vanessa—admirals, painted lady

• Indian red admiral, Vanessa indica (Herbst, 1794)
• Painted lady, Vanessa cardui

Genus Kaniska

• Blue admiral, Kaniska canace (Linnaeus, 1763)

Genus Junonia—pansies

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

• South Indian blue oakleaf, Kallima horsfieldii Kollar, 1844

Genus Doleschallia—autumn leaf

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

Family Riodinidae

Subfamily Nemeobiinae

Genus Abisara—Judies

• Plum Judy, Abisara echerius (Moore, 1901)

Family Lycaenidae

Subfamily Curetinae

Genus Curetis—sunbeams

• Indian sunbeam, Curetis thetis (Drury, 1773) (L40.1)
• Shiva's sunbeam, Curetis siva Evans, 1954
• Toothed sunbeam, Curetis dentata Moore, 1879

Subfamily Miletinae

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

• Spotted Pierrot, Tarucus callinara Butler, 1886 (L10.4)
• Striped Pierrot, Tarucus nara Kollar, 1848 (L10.9)
• Indian Pierrot, Tarucus indica Evans, 1932

Genus Syntarucus—zebra blue

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

Genus Azanus—babul blues

• Bright babul blue, Azanus ubaldus Cramer, 1782 (L12.1)
• Dull babul blue, Azanus uranus Butler, 1886 (L12.2)
• African babul blue, Azanus jesous Guérin-Meneville, 1847 (L12.4)

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) 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 Catochrysops—forget-me-nots

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

Genus Lampides—ceruleans and the peablue

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

Genus Jamides—ceruleans

• Dark cerulean, Jamides bochus Stoll, 1782 (L27.1)
• Common cerulean, Jamides celeno (Cramer, 1775) (L27.3)
• Metallic cerulean, Jamides alecto (Felder, 1860) (L27.7)

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

• Silverstreak blue, Iraota timoleon Stoll, 1790 (L41.1)

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

• Large oakblue, Arhopala amantes (Hewitson, 1862) previously Amblypodia amantes Hewitson (L45.18)
• Aberrant bushblue, Arhopala abseus (Hewitson, 1862) previously Amblypodia abseus (L45.39)
• Dark broken-band oakblue, Arhopala atrax (Hewitson, 1862)

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

• Common acacia blue, Surendra quercetorum (Moore, 1857) (L46.1)

Genus Zinaspa—silver streaked acacia blue

• Silver streaked acacia blue, Zinaspa todara (Moore, 1883) previously Surendra todara Moore (L46.2)

Genus Loxura—yamfly

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

Genus Zesius—redspot

• Redspot, Zesius chrysomallus Hübner, 1819/21 (L53.1)

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

• Plains blue royal, Tajuria jehana Moore, 1883 (L55.12)
• Peacock royal, Tajuria cippus (Fabricius, 1798) (L55.13)
• Spotted royal, Tajuria maculata Hewitson, ? (L55.17)

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

• Common imperial, Cheritra freja (Fabricius, 1793) (L60.1)

Genus Rathinda—monkeypuzzle

• Monkeypuzzle, Rathinda amor (Fabricius, 1775) (L63.1)

Genus Horaga—onyxs

• Common onyx, Horaga onyx (Moore, 1857) (L64.1)
• Brown onyx, Horaga viola Moore, 1882 (L64.4)

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

• 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)
• Cloud forest silverline, Cigaritis meghamalaiensis Sadasivan & Naicker, 2023 (L52.7)

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/orange awlet, Bibasis jaina (Moore, 1865)
• Orangetail awl/pale green awlet, Bibasis sena (Moore, 1865)

Genus Choaspes—awlkings

• Indian awlking, Choaspes benjaminii (Guérin-Meneville, 1843)

Genus Hasora—awls

• Common awl, Hasora badra (Moore, 1857)
• Common banded awl, Hasora chromus (Cramer, 1780)
• White banded awl, Hasora taminatus (Hübner, 1818)

Subfamily Hesperiinae

Genus Aeromachus—scrub hoppers

• Dingy scrub-hopper, Aeromachus dubius (Elwes & Edwards, 1897)
• Pygmy grass/scrub-hopper, Aeromachus pygmaeus (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Ampittia—bush hoppers

• Bush hopper, Ampittia dioscorides (Fabricius, 1793)

Genus Arnetta—bobs

• Coorg forest hopper, Arnetta mercara (Evans, 1932)
• Vindhyan bob, Arnetta vindhiana (Moore, 1883)

Genus Baoris—swifts

• Paintbrush swift, Baoris farri (Moore, 1878)

Genus Baracus—hedge hoppers

• Hedge/Hampson's hedge-hopper, Baracus vittatus (Felder, 1862)

Genus Pseudoborbo—Bevan's swift

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

Genus Borbo—swifts

• Rice swift, Borbo cinnara (Wallace, 1866)

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 Gangara—giant redeye

• Giant redeye, Gangara thyrsis (Fabricius, 1775)

Genus Halpe—aces

• Indian/Ceylon ace, Halpe homolea (Hewitson, 1868)
• Moore's ace, Halpe porus (Mabille, 1876)
• Chestnut bob, Iambrix salsala (Moore, 1865)

Genus Matapa—branded redeye

• Common redeye, Matapa aria (Moore, 1865)

Genus Notocrypta—demons

• Restricted demon, Notocrypta curvifascia (Felder & Felder, 1862)
• Common banded demon, Notocrypta paralysos (Wood-Mason & de Nicéville, 1881)

Genus Parnara

• Variable swift, Parnara bada (Moore, 1878)
• Continental swift, Parnara ganga (Evans, 1937)

Genus Pelopidas—branded swifts

• Dark branded swift, Pelopidas agna (Moore, 1865)
• Conjoined swift, Pelopidas conjuncta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)
• Dark small-branded swift, Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798)
• Large branded swift, Pelopidas subochracea (Moore, 1878)

Genus Polytremis

• Contiguous swift, Polytremis lubricans (Herrich–Schäffer, 1869)

Genus Potanthus—darts

• Confucian/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/common dart, Potanthus pseudomaesa (Moore, 1881)

Genus Psolos—coon

• Coon, Psolos fuligo (Mabille, 1876)

Genus Quedara

• Yellow–base/golden tree flitter, Quedara basiflava (de Nicéville, 1888)

Genus Sovia

• Bicolour ace, Sovia hyrtacus (de Nicéville, 1897)

Genus Suastus—palm bob

• Indian palm bob, Suastus gremius (fabricius, 1798)
• Small palm bob, Suastus minuta (Moore, 1877)

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

• Southern spotted ace or unbranded ace, Thoressa astigmata (Swinhoe, 1890)
• Evershed's ace, Thoressa evershedi (Evans, 1910)
• Madras ace, Thoressa honorei (de Nicéville, 1887)
• Tamil ace or Sitala ace, Thoressa sitala (de Nicéville, 1885)

Genus Udaspes—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

• Tamil dartlet, Oriens concinna (Elwes & Edwards, 1897)
• Common dartlet, Oriens goloides (Moore, 1881)

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

• Malabar spotted flat, Celaenorrhinus ambareesa (Moore, 1865)
• Common spotted flat, Celaenorrhinus leucocera (Kollar, 1848)
• Tamil spotted flat, Celaenorrhinus ruficornis (Mabille, 1878)

Genus Cogia

• Tricolour flat, Cogia indrani (Moore, 1865)

Genus Coladenia—pied flats

• Fulvous pied flat, Coladenia dan (Fabricius, 1787)

Genus Gerosis—white flat

• Common yellowbreasted flat, Gerosis bhagava (Moore, 1865) ?

Genus Gomalia

• African mallow/marbled skipper, Gomalia elma (Trimen, 1862)

Genus Odontoptilum—angles

• Chestnut/banded angle, Odontoptilum angulatum (Felder, 1862)

Genus Sarangesa—small flats

• Common small flat, Sarangesa dasahara (Moore, 1865)
• Spotted small flat, Sarangesa purendra (Moore, 1882)

Genus Spialia —grizzled skippers

• Indian grizzled/Indian skipper, Spialia galba (Fabricius, 1793)

Genus Tagiades—snow flats

• Immaculate/large/suffused snow flat, Tagiades gana (Moore, 1865)
• Common/Ceylon snow flat, Tagiades jepetus (Stoll, 1782)
• Water snow flat, Tagiades litigiosa (Möschler, 1878)

Genus Tapena—angles

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

See also

• Butterfly
• List of butterflies of India
• Western Ghats butterflies
• Fauna of India

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. 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

• http://tamil.thehindu.com/tamilnadu/article19544329.ece, கோவை வண்ணத்துப்பூச்சி பூங்கா!- இப்ப வருமோ. எப்ப வருமோ? The Hindu Tamil
• http://tamil.thehindu.com/tamilnadu/article19708447.ece, இனப்பெருக்க காலம் முடிந்ததால் மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலைக்கு இடம்பெயரும் வண்ணத்துப் பூச்சிகள் The Hindu Tamil
• "Over 100 butterfly species sighted at Pachamalai", The Hindu
• "Pachamalai Hills ideal for butterfly breeding, 105 species spotted in survey", The New Indian Express
• "Butterflies migrate to Pachamalai early this year", The Hindu
• "With a flutter of their wings", The Hindu
• " Experts spot 150 butterfly varieties in STR during census", The Times of India
• "241 bird, 150 butterfly species recorded at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve", The Hindu