List of butterflies of Karnataka

This is a list of butterfly species found in Karnataka, India. In this state about 319 species of butterflies have been recorded.

  • Papilionidae—swallowtail butterflies (19 species)
  • Pieridae—yellow-white butterflies (29 species)
  • Nymphalidae—brush-footed butterflies (92 species)
  • Riodinidae—metalmark butterflies (1 species)
  • Lycaenidae—blues, hairstreaks and gossamer-winged butterflies (98 species)
  • Hesperiidae—skipper butterflies (80 species)

Family Papilionidae[edit]

Subfamily Papilioninae[edit]

Genus Graphium (Pathysa)—swordtails, zebras[edit]

Genus Graphium—bluebottles and jays[edit]

Genus Pachliopta —roses[edit]

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]

Genus Cepora—gulls[edit]

Genus Ixias—Indian orange tips[edit]

Genus Delias—Jezebels[edit]

Genus Prioneris—sawtooths[edit]

Genus Appias—puffins and albatrosses[edit]

Genus Leptosia—Psyche[edit]

Genus Hebomoia—great orange tip[edit]

Genus Colotis—Arabs[edit]

Genus Pareronia—wanderers[edit]

Subfamily Coliadinae—yellows[edit]

Genus Catopsilia—emigrants[edit]

Genus Eurema—grass yellows[edit]

Genus Colias—clouded yellows[edit]

Family Nymphalidae[edit]

Subfamily Libytheinae[edit]

Genus Libythea—beaks[edit]

Subfamily Danainae[edit]

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]

Subfamily Morphinae[edit]

Genus Discophora—duffers[edit]

Subfamily Satyrinae[edit]

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 Elymnias—palmflies[edit]

Subfamily Heliconiinae[edit]

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]

Subfamily Limenitidinae[edit]

Genus Limenitis—admirals[edit]

Genus Athyma—sergeants[edit]

Genus Pantoporia—lascars[edit]

Genus Neptis—sailers[edit]

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]

Genus Rohana[edit]

Genus Euripus—courtesans[edit]

Subfamily Nymphalinae[edit]

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]

Genus Akasinula—white hedge blue[edit]

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

Genus Cyaniris—hedge blues[edit]

Genus Chilades—lime blue[edit]

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]

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

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 Catochrysops—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]

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]

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

Genus Creon—broadtail royal[edit]

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

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]

Genus Halpe—aces[edit]

Genus Matapa—branded redeye[edit]

Genus Notocrypta—demons[edit]

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]

Genus Hyarotis—flitters[edit]

Genus Oriens—dartlets[edit]

Subfamily Pyrginae[edit]

Genus Caprona—angles[edit]

Genus Celaenorrhinus—flat[edit]

Genus Cogia[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]

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) The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, vol 84 & 85.
  • Viswanathan Geetha., Poornima Ramanujam & Harpreet Singh. (2000) Comparative study of biodiversity of butterflies between Bangalore and Jammu region. Indian Journal of Environment and Ecoplanning 3:599–602.

External links[edit]