Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 October 2025 | 17(10): 27611–27636
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9396.17.10.27611-27636
#9396 | Received 03 September 2024 | Final received 08 September 2025 |
Finally accepted 01 October 2025
Butterfly diversity in Nagarahole
(Rajiv Gandhi) National Park of Karnataka, India: an updated checklist
S. Santhosh 1 , V.
Gopi Krishna 2 , G.K. Amulya 3 , S. Sheily 4 , M. Nithesh 5 & S. Basavarajappa 6
1 Department of Studies in
Zoology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, Karnataka 570006, India.
2,3,4,5 Nagarahole Conservation Society,
#16, 3rd Floor, 80 ft Road, 4th Block, Koramangala,
Bengaluru, Karnataka 560034, India.
6 Department of Studies in
Zoology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore,Karnataka 570006, India.
1 santhoshacharr@zoology.uni-mysore.ac.in
(corresponding author), 2 ncsbutterfly@gmail.com, 3 amulyagopikrishna@gmail.com,
4 sheilysrinivas@gmail.com, 5 nitheshmgowda@gmail.com, 6
ornithoraj11@gmail.com
Editor: Raju Kasambe, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Date of publication: 26 October 2025
(online & print)
Citation:
Santhosh, S., V. Gopi Krishna, G.K. Amulya, S. Sheily, M. Nithesh & S.
Basavarajappa (2025). Butterfly diversity in Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park
of Karnataka, India: an updated checklist. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(10): 27611–27636. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9396.17.10.27611-27636
Copyright: © Santhosh et al. 2025. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in
any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of
publication.
Funding: Nagarahole Conservation Society (Reg). Bangalore. RUSA 2.0 , RIQI
(Component -10) at Univeristy of Mysore.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Dr. Santhosh S serves as the principal investigator of the project and is a faculty
member in the Department of Studies in Zoology, University of Mysore. He
specializes in entomology, wildlife research and conservation biology. His
research primarily focuses on butterfly species
distribution, community ecology and conservation biology. Mr. Gopi Krishna V is the co-investigator of the
project and president of the Nagarahole Conservation Society (NCS).
Professionally trained as an architect and engineer,
he is deeply engaged in wildlife research and the conservation of natural
resources. Mrs. Amulya G.K. is the co-founder of NCS. Her
research interests lie in wildlife ecology and conservation biology. Mrs. Sheily S is a project assistant at NCS with
a keen interest in conservation biology and field-based biodiversity
research. Mr. Nithesh M is a project fellow at NCS and
holds an MSc degree in wildlife studies and management from the Department of
Wildlife Studies and Management, Kuvempu University. His
research interests encompass wildlife ecology and conservation practices. Dr. Basavarajappa S is a professor in the Department
of Studies in Zoology, University of Mysore. His areas of specialization
include entomology, silkworm pathology, and wildlife conservation.
His current research emphasizes the nest-site fidelity, behavioral ecology of
wild honey bees and conservation of pollinators.
Author contributions: SS: conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, methodology,
investigation, resources, supervision, project administration, visualization,
writing original draft. VGK: data curation, funding acquisition, investigation,
resources, supervision, project administration and validation.
GKA: data curation, funding acquisition, investigation, resources, supervision
and validation. SS: data curation and investigation. NMD: data curation and
investigation. SB: writing review and editing.
Acknowledgments: The principal investigator extends sincere
gratitude to Mr. Gopi Krishna V, president of the Nagarahole Conservation
Society (NCS), for project funding and support. The authors acknowledge the
Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA 2.0), Government of India, for funding infrastructure and research activities under the
Research Innovation and Quality Improvement (Component-10) initiative through
the University of Mysore. Thanks are due to the chairmen of the Departments of
Studies in Zoology, University of Mysore (MGM), and Applied Zoology,
Kuvempu University, for their encouragement and institutional support. The
authors are grateful to the principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife)
and chief wildlife warden, Bengaluru, for research permissions. Special thanks to apccf (Wildlife), dcf and director NNP, RFOs, DRFOs and
all other Karnataka Forest Department staff of NNP including all the watchers
and field staff members who helped us during the strenuous field work. Special
thanks are extended to Surya, Ajay Kishan, Ambhika, Rashmi M
Heddoori and Anusha, project interns at NCS, for their field support. The
authors also thank Mr. Isaac David Kehimkar, chairman and director of the
iNaturewatch Foundation, for his valuable guidance and encouragement.
Abstract: This study provides a
comprehensive insight into the species richness and diversity of butterflies
recorded from Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park (NNP), a protected area
in southern Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. An updated checklist of 210
species, including previous records of 138 species, by adopting random and
opportunistic sampling methods across different vegetation types of NNP from
June 2021 to June 2023. The Nymphalidae was the most species-rich butterfly
family, represented by 63 species, followed by Lycaenidae (57 species),
Hesperiidae (49), Pieridae (23), Papilionidae (16), and Riodinidae (2). Of the
total, 35 species are listed under various schedules of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972, including the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Amendment
Act, 2022. Additionally, four species are endemic to the Western Ghats. The
population status of butterflies in NNP indicates that 38% of species are very
common, 19% are common, 23% are not rare, and 10% are rare. However, 20
butterfly species (10%) are classified as very rare in their status. This
highlights the importance of conservation measures to protect these butterfly
species in this area.
Keywords: Biodiversity hotspots, butterfly
status, conservation planning, Kodagu, lepidoptera, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve,
protected species, protected area, Rhopalocera, Western Ghats.
Introduction
The Western
Ghats (WG) is recognized as one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ with a
high level of biological diversity and endemism (Myers et al. 2000). During the
last century, between 1920 and 1990, approximately 40% of its natural
vegetation has been lost because of forest fragmentation (Myers et al. 2000).
Out of 1,85,500 km2 of preliminary forest of WG, only 6.8% of
primary forest cover exists today (Myers et al. 2000; Padhye et al. 2012) and
an estimated area of approximately 40,000 km2 in southern stretch of
the WG has experienced significant land use change, and 1.16% of forest area is
degraded annually due to deforestation, and other anthropogenic activities (Jha
et al. 2000). Presently, only 10% of its land cover is under protection and
there are fewer opportunities to keep large tracts of native habitats (Dolia et
al. 2008). Nagarahole National Park (NNP) is one of the largest Protected Areas
(PA) in the southern zone of WG and harbours rich irreplaceable flora &
fauna assemblages, which therefore warrant conservation importance for
protection, and management.
Biodiversity
inventories, carefully tested for their potential to serve as proxies for
estimating general health, and conservation of overall biodiversity, and as
indicators for various terrestrial ecosystems at multiple spatial scales
(McGeoch 1998; Kerr et al. 2000; Naik et al. 2022), suggests that
butterflies meet many of the criteria proposed for defining a definitive path
in conservation planning (Ehrlich & Murphy 1987; Nelson & Andersen
1994; DeVries et al. 1997; Lomov et al. 2006; Bhuyan et al. 2013).
Butterflies are often highly co-evolved with plants for their larval host and
nectar plant needs, and their diversity will directly depict the plant
diversity in the given area (Ehrlich & Raven 1964; Ehrlich & Murphy
1987; Nelson & Andersen 1994; DeVries et al. 1997; Hayes et al. 2009). They
are very sensitive to microclimatic variations in their habitat (Kocher &
Williams 2000; Sawchik et al. 2005), many of the species are strictly seasonal
(Kunte 1997), migratory or locally extinct (Kunte 2000; Schtickzelle et al.
2006). Thus, butterflies are used as an umbrella group of species for insects’
conservation planning, and management (Fleishman et al. 2001, 2005; Betrus et
al. 2005).
India being
a vast country with one of the most varied flora and fauna in the world (Rodgers
1989) hosts about 1,403 species of butterflies (Smetacek 2025) and accounts for
about 8.7% of the butterfly species of the world (Kunte 2005). Out of these
1,403 species, 350 species are recorded from peninsular India, Pandhye et al.
(2012) reported 334 species from Western Ghats. A more recent update by
Sadasivan & Sengupta (2024) of 353 species from WG, of which 317 species,
including 33 endemics to Karnataka, and 42 species are endemic to southern
India (Rajagopal et al. 2011). Recently, Padhye et al. (2012) have
revised the distribution and abundance of butterfly species along the
latitudinal and habitat gradients in the WG, Kunte et al. (2024) has recently
described new species Cigaritis conjuncta species from Honey Valley,
which is part of the WG in Kodagu District, Karnataka, and Naicker et al.
(2023) has described Cigaritis meghamalaiensis (Lycaenidae, Aphnaeinae)
from the Meghamalai Hills of the Periyar landscape of the southern WG. But
increasing global habitat destruction has resulted in modern studies of species
diversity which are of vital importance in understanding biological communities
and their conservation (Purvis & Hector 2000). The present study has aided
a lot in the knowledge of butterfly species’ diversity, and a sustained exploration
was undertaken from June 2021 to June 2023 across different habitats of NNP.
Material and methods
Study area
Nagarahole National Park (NNP) or Rajiv Gandhi National Park is located
in Kodagu and Mysuru districts of Karnataka State, India with a coordinate of
76.116–75.929o E,
11.836–12.346o N at 700–1002 m altitude with an area of 843 km2,
and is bordered by Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in the south-west, and by Kabini
Reservoir in the southeast which further connects to Bandipur Tiger Reserve (Figure
1). Nagarhole National Park, which was established as a Wildlife Sanctuary (WS)
in 1955, and NP in 1988 is one of the most important wildlife refuges in the
country. The National Park derives its name from the meandering stream ‘Nagarahole’,
a tributary of the river Taraka which eventually joins the river Kabini. The
forest type of NNP is majorly composed of moist deciduous, dry deciduous,
scrub, and semi evergreen vegetation (Champion & Seth 1968) followed by
very small portions of evergreen forest type at 1,002 m. The mean annual
rainfall ranges from 900 mm in the east to 1,500 mm in the west (Habib et al.
2020).
Methods
We studied the butterfly diversity across eight forest ranges, viz.,
Anechowkur, Antharasanthe, D.B. Kuppe, Hunsuru (Hunsuru Wildlife Range),
Kallahalla, Metikuppe, Nagarahole, and Veeranahosahalli of NNP. A total of 189
random transects were established for sampling butterflies from June 2021–June
2023, across different seasons (Monsoon, Winter and Summer) (Figure 1).
Modified Pollard Walk method (Caldas & Robbins 2003) was followed for
recording butterflies while walking along fixed transects. The length of each
transect was 500 m, and they were traversed in a time frame of 45 minutes
during two periods: from 0900–1300 h and from 1500–1800 h. Butterflies within a
5 x 5 x 5 m box around the observer were recorded. In addition to conducting
transects, we also executed opportunistic surveys at mud puddles, nectar
sources, jeep roads, fire lines, D lines (Dividing lines between the two ranges
and beats) and other potential areas to increase the inventory (Figure 1).
Photographic documentation was made using Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras, and all
the photographs are copyright to Nagarahole Conservation Society (NCS),
Bangalore. Butterflies were identified in the field using different field
guides by Evans (1932), Wynter-Blyth (1957), Kehimkar (2016), and Bhakare &
Ogale (2018). The classification followed guidelines outlined by Heppner (1998)
and recent nomenclature was followed as per Sadasivan & Sengupta (2024).
The protected butterfly species are recorded as per different schedules of WPA
1997 and The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, and population
status of butterflies at NNP based on the occurrence data on the transects with
status as Very Common (VC) when seen in >75% of transects, Common (C) seen
in 50–75%, Not Rare (NR) seen in 25–50% transects, Rare (R) seen in 5–25%, and
Very Rare (VR) is seen in <5% of the transects (Sadasivan & Sengupta
2024).
Results
Analyses of
results suggest that NNP is rich in butterfly diversity with 210 species,
including 138 species from previous records of Basavarajappa (2015). These
species belong to six families and 127 genera (Table 1), with 73 species added
to the earlier record. Nymphalidae was the largest representative family with
(63) species followed by Lycaenidae (57) species, Hesperiidae (49 species),
Pieridae (23 species), Papilionidae (16 species), and Riodinidae (2 species),
which correspond to about 59.49% of the estimated species of the WG, and 24% of
the state of Karnataka. Gerosis bhagava bhagava (Moore, [1866]) was
recorded in the earlier study by Basavarajappa (2015), it was not sighted
during the present investigation. The population status of butterflies in NNP
indicates that 38% of species are very common, 19% are common, 23% are not
rare, and 10% are rare. However, twenty butterfly species (10%) are classified
as very rare in their status, among which Appias (Hiposcritia)
indra shiva (Swinhoe, 1885), Elymnias caudata (Butler, 1871), Athyma
ranga karwara (Fruhstorfer, 1906), Dophla evelina laudabilis
(Swinhoe, 1890), Charaxes solon solon (Fabricius, 1793), Kallima
horsfieldii (Kollar, 1844), Libythea myrrha rama (Moore, 1872), Thaduka
multicaudata kanara (Evans, 1925), Zesius chrysomallus (Hübner,
1819), Rachana jalindra macanita (Fruhstorfer, 1912), Tajuria cippus
cippus (Fabricius, 1798), Creon cleobis cleobis (Godart, 1824), Tarucus
ananda (de Nicéville, 1884), and Thoressa astigmata (Swinhoe, 1890)
were recorded only once or twice during two years of study period.
Members of
the subfamily Danaine, such as Tirumala limniace exoticus (Gmélin,
1790), T. septentrionis dravidarum (Fruhstorfer, 1899), Euploea
core core (Cramer, 1780) and E. sylvester coreta (Godart,
1819) were most frequently recorded on Heliotrophium indicum, and Crotolaria
plant species during the months between October and February. These butterflies
are known to migrate from the WG during the pre-monsoon period in May. Among
the 210 butterflies recorded from NNP, 35 species like Graphium teredon
(Felder & Felder, 1865), Papilio clytia clytia (Linnaeus, 1758), Troides
minos (Cramer, 1779), P. crino (Fabricius, 1793), P. buddha
(Westwood, 1872), Pachliopta hector (Linnaeus, 1758), Eurema (Terias)
andersoni shimai (Yata & Gaonkar, 1999), Appias (Catophaga)
albina swinhoei (Moore, 1905), Appias lyncida latifasciata (Moore,
1881), Appias (Hiposcritia) indra shiva (Swinhoe, 1885), Charaxes
bharata (Felder & Felder, 1867), C. solon solon (Fabricius,
1793), C. psaphon imna (Butler, 1870), Lethe europa europa
(Fabricius, 1775). Athyma ranga karwara (Fruhstorfer, 1906), Neptis
jumbah nalanda (Fruhstorfer, 1908), Phaedyma columella nilgirica
(Moore, 1889), Euthalia aconthea meridionalis (Fruhstorfer, 1906), Tanaecia
lepidea miyana (Fruhstorfer, 1913), Dophla evelina laudabilis
(Swinhoe, 1890), Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764), Kallima
horsfieldii (Kollar, 1844), Arhopala alea (Hewitson, 1862), Thaduka
multicaudata kanara (Evans, 1925), Catapaecilma major callone
(Fruhstorfer, 1915), Tajuria cippus cippus (Fabricius, 1798), Hypolycaena
othona othona (Hewitson, 1865), Rapala varuna lazulina (Moore,
1879), Cigaritis lohita lazularia (Moore, 1881), Anthene lycaenina
lycaenina (Felder, 1868), Prosotas dubiosa indica (Evans, 1925), P.
noreia hampsonii (de Nicéville, 1885), Jamides alecto eurysaces
(Fruhstorfer, 1915), Megisba malaya thwaitesi (Moore, 1881), and Halpe
hindu (Evans, 1937) are enlisted under different schedules of WPA 1972 and The
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022. However, four species
Papilio buddha (Westwood, 1872), Mycalesis orcha (Evans, 1912), Oriens
concinna (Elwes & Edwards, 1897), and Thoressa astigmata
(Swinhoe, 1890) are endemic to the WG (Sadasivan & Sengupta 2024).
Discussion
A thorough
investigation of regional biodiversity is essential before implementing
conservation measures for the respective taxa of interest. The present study
provides comprehensive baseline data on butterfly diversity in NNP, a regional
segment of the WG. Peninsular India hosts 350 species (Padhya et al. 2012) and
more recent update by Sadasivan & Sengupta (2024) of 353 species from WG,
of which 317 species including 33 endemics to Karnataka. We did not expect to
record as many butterfly species in smaller sites like NNP, as it lacks
evergreen and shola forests at higher elevations (>1,000 m). The area is
mainly composed of dry deciduous, moist deciduous, and scrub forests. However,
our study documented 210 butterfly species. The total numbers of species
reflect their family-wise richness for the subtropical regions of southern WG,
which is a part of Karnataka. The 210 species recorded correspond to about
59.49% of the estimated species of the WG and 66. 24% of the state of Karnataka.
During the
present investigation 38% of species were found to be very common, 19% common,
23% not rare, and 10% are rare, while 20 species (10%) were classified as very
rare to their population status. Papilio dravidarum (Wood-Mason, 1880), Papilio
buddha (Westwood, 1872), Discophora lepida lepida (Moore, 1857), Lethe
europa europa (Fabricius, 1775), Athyma ranga karwara (Fruhstorfer,
1906), Euthalia lubentina arasada (Fruhstorfer, 1913), Dophla evelina
laudabilis (Swinhoe, 1890), Kallima horsfieldii (Kollar, 1844), Rachana
jalindra macanita (Fruhstorfer, 1912), Tajuria cippus cippus
(Fabricius, 1798), Creon cleobis cleobis (Godart, 1824), Tarucus
ananda (de Nicéville, 1884), Abisara echerius prunosa (Moore, 1879),
and Gerosis bhagava bhagava (Moore, 1866) were recorded predominantly in
moist deciduous forest of NNP. Whereas Horaga onyx onyx (Moore, 1858), Catapaecilma
major callone (Fruhstorfer, 1915), Appias (Hiposcritia) indra shiva
(Swinhoe, 1885), and Libythea myrrha rama (Moore, 1872) are recorded
very rarely towards Coorg (Kodagu) part of NNP. But Elymnias caudata
(Butler, 1871) was recorded towards the fringe areas of the forest towards
Veeranahosahalli Range of NNP. The distribution pattern of these butterflies
emphasizes the need for further studies and conservation measures.
Studies of
Kunte (2005) and Vinayan et al. (2023) have documented the migration of Tirumala
limniace exoticus (Gmélin, 1790), T. septentrionis dravidarum
(Fruhstorfer, 1899), Euploea core core (Cramer, 1780) and E. sylvester
coreta (Godart, 1819) from WG to eastern plains, likely to avoid the
extreme conditions of the south-west monsoon. The congregation of these
butterflies on Heliotrophium indicum and Crotolaria plant species
during the months of October to February observed in the present study is
consistent with these earlier findings. Vinayan et al. (2023) recorded breeding
activity of E. core in the Wayanad Forest Division, highlighting
the need for further studies to confirmation of breeding of these species
within NNP.
Additionally,
this number contributes to the existing tally of 138 species of butterflies
reported from Basavarajappa (2015) at NNP. The species diversity includes 35
species which are listed under Schedules I & II of WPA 1972 and The Indian
Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022 and four species are endemic to the
WG. This could help to develop better conservation measures for the protected
and endemic butterfly species in their natural habitats. Thus, NNP not only
possesses large number of legally protected butterfly species but also supports
enough endemic species indicating the vegetation richness of the forest.
Therefore, NNP should be considered as top priority within the protected areas
of southern WG for long term conservation of butterfly species to avoid
regional extinction and safeguard butterflies against human induced
disturbances (Watson et al. 2014; Maxwell et al. 2020). Further, information on
habitat preference, distribution, seasonality, larval host plants distribution,
and status of endemic, and protected species listed under the Wildlife
(Protection) Amendment Act, 2022, are still lacking as their diversity is
largely dependent on floral richness (Gordon & Kerr 2022). Therefore, a
more thorough study would surely result in identification of more species at
NNP and there is a further need for periodic assessment of habitat, and host
plant preferences which will help enhance the depth of historical data, and be
used as an elementary tool to mitigate species loss, and plan further
conservation measures.
Table 1. Checklist of butterfly
species recorded during study period (2021–2023) in Nagarahole National Park.
|
Taxon |
WLPA |
EN |
ST |
||
|
|
Family: Papilionidae |
|
|
|
|
|
1 |
Graphium agamemnon menides (Fruhstorfer, 1904) |
Dakhan Tailed Jay |
|
|
VC |
|
2 |
Graphium teredon (Felder &
Felder, 1865) |
Narrow Banded Bluebottle |
Sch II |
|
C |
|
3 |
Graphium doson eleius (Fruhstorfer, 1907) |
Dakhan Common Jay |
|
|
VC |
|
4 |
Graphium nomius nomius (Esper, 1799) |
Indian Spot Swordtail |
|
|
R |
|
5 |
Papilio clytia clytia (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Common Mime |
Sch II |
|
R |
|
6 |
Papilio dravidarum (Wood-Mason, 1880) |
Malabar Raven |
|
|
R |
|
7 |
Papilio polytes romulus (Cramer, 1775) |
Indian Common Mormon |
|
|
VC |
|
8 |
Papilio agenor polymnestor (Cramer, 1775) |
Indian Blue Mormon |
|
|
VC |
|
9 |
Papilio daksha daksha (Moore, 1889) |
Sahyadri Large-spotted Helen |
|
|
C |
|
10 |
Papilio demoleus demoleus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Lime Swallowtail |
|
|
VC |
|
11 |
Troides minos (Cramer, 1779) |
Sahyadri Birdwing |
Sch II & IV |
|
NR |
|
12 |
Papilio paris tamilana (Moore, 1881) |
Sahyadri Paris Peacock |
|
|
NR |
|
13 |
Papilio crino (Fabricius, 1793) |
Common Banded Peacock |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
14 |
Papilio buddha (Westwood, 1872) |
Malabar Banded Peacock |
Sch II |
EWG |
VR |
|
15 |
Pachliopta aristolochiae
aristolochiae (Fabricius,
1775) |
Indian Common Rose |
|
|
C |
|
16 |
Pachliopta hector (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Crimson Rose |
Sch II |
|
VC |
|
|
Family: Pieridae |
|
|
|
|
|
17 |
Eurema (Teriasi hecabe
hecabe (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Common Grass Yellow |
|
|
VC |
|
18 |
Eurema (Terias)
andersoni shimai (Yata & Gaonkar, 1999) |
Sahyadri One-spot Grass Yellow |
Sch II |
|
C |
|
19 |
Eurema (Terias)
blanda silhetana (Wallace, 1867) |
Sylhet Three-spot Grass Yellow |
|
|
VC |
|
20 |
Eurema laeta laeta (Boisduval, 1836) |
Indian Spotless Grass Yellow |
|
|
NR |
|
21 |
Eurema drona rubella (Wallace, 1867) |
Red-line Small Grass Yellow |
|
|
NR |
|
22 |
Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Mottled Emigrant |
|
|
VC |
|
23 |
Catopsilia pomona pomona (Fabricius, 1775) |
Oriental Lemon Emigrant |
|
|
VC |
|
24 |
Colotis amata amata (Fabricius, 1775) |
Desert Small Salmon Arab |
|
|
NR |
|
25 |
Colotis danae danae (Fabricius, 1775) |
Indian Crimson-tip |
|
|
NR |
|
26 |
Colotis etrida etrida (Boisduval, 1836) |
Indian Little Orange-tip |
|
|
C |
|
27 |
Colotis aurora (Cramer, 1780) |
Plain Orange Tip |
|
|
C |
|
28 |
Ixias marianne (Cramer, 1779) |
White Orange-tip |
|
|
C |
|
29 |
Ixias pyrene sesia (Fabricius, 1777) |
Dakhan Yellow Orange-tip |
|
|
VC |
|
30 |
Hebomoia glaucippe australis (Butler, 1898) |
Oriental Great Orange-tip |
|
|
C |
|
31 |
Leptosia nina nina (Fabricius, 1793) |
Oriental Psyche |
|
|
VC |
|
32 |
Pareronia hippia (Fabricius, 1787) |
Indian Wanderer |
|
|
NR |
|
33 |
Appias (Catophaga)
albina swinhoei (Moore, 1905) |
Sahyadri Common Albatross |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
34 |
Appias libythea (Fabricius, 1775) |
Western Striped Albatross |
|
|
NR |
|
35 |
Appias lyncida latifasciata (Moore, 1881) |
Sahyadri Chocolate Albatross |
Sch II |
|
R |
|
36 |
Appias (Hiposcritia)
indra shiva (Swinhoe, 1885) |
Sahyadri Plain Puffin |
Sch II |
|
VR |
|
37 |
Cepora nerissa phryne (Fabricius, 1775) |
Dakhan Common Gull |
|
|
VC |
|
38 |
Belenois aurota aurota (Fabricius, 1793) |
Indian Pioneer |
|
|
VC |
|
39 |
Delias eucharis (Drury, 1773) |
Indian Jezebel |
|
|
VC |
|
|
Family: Nymphalidae |
|
|
|
|
|
40 |
Danaus genutia genutia (Cramer, 1779) |
Oriental Striped Tiger |
|
|
VC |
|
41 |
Danaus chrysippus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Plain Tiger |
|
|
VC |
|
42 |
Tirumala limniace exoticus (Gmélin, 1790) |
Oriental Blue Tiger |
|
|
VC |
|
43 |
Tirumala septentrionis
dravidarum (Fruhstorfer,
1899) |
Dakhan Dark Blue Tiger |
|
|
VC |
|
44 |
Parantica aglea aglea (Stoll, 1782) |
Coromandel Glassy Tiger |
|
|
C |
|
45 |
Euploea core core (Cramer, 1780) |
Indian Common Crow |
|
|
VC |
|
46 |
Euploea sylvester coreta (Godart, 1819) |
Double-branded Black Crow |
|
|
C |
|
47 |
Euploea klugii kollari (Felder &
Felder, 1865) |
Brown King Crow |
|
|
R |
|
48 |
Charaxes bharata (Felder &
Felder, 1867) |
Indian Nawab |
Sch II |
|
C |
|
49 |
Charaxes solon solon (Fabricius, 1793) |
Pale Black Rajah |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
50 |
Charaxes psaphon imna (Butler, 1870) |
Indian Plain Tawny Rajah |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
51 |
Discophora lepida lepida (Moore, 1857) |
Sahyadri Duffer |
|
|
R |
|
52 |
Melanitis leda leda (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Common Evening Brown |
|
|
VC |
|
53 |
Melanitis phedima varaha (Moore, 1857) |
Sahyadri Dark Evening Brown |
|
|
NR |
|
54 |
Lethe europa europa (Fabricius, 1775) |
Dakhan Bamboo Treebrown |
Sch I & II |
|
NR |
|
55 |
Lethe rohria neelgheriensis (Guérin-Méneville,
1843) |
Dakhan Common Treebrown |
|
|
C |
|
56 |
Lethe drypetis todara (Moore, 1881) |
Dakhan Two-eyed Treebrown |
|
|
NR |
|
57 |
Elymnias caudata (Butler, 1871) |
Tailed Palmfly |
|
|
VR |
|
58 |
Mycalesis perseus tabitha (Fabricius, 1793) |
Dakhan Common Bushbrown |
|
|
VC |
|
59 |
Mycalesis mineus polydecta (Cramer, 1777) |
Dakhan Dark-branded Bushbrown |
|
|
VC |
|
60 |
Mycalesis visala visala (Moore, 1858) |
Indian Long-branded Bushbrown |
|
|
C |
|
61 |
Mycalesis subdita (Moore, 1890) |
Tamil Bushbrown |
|
|
R |
|
62 |
Mycalesis orcha (Evans, 1912) |
Pale-brand Bushbrown |
|
EWG |
NR |
|
63 |
Mycalesis patnia junonia (Butler, 1868) |
Malabar Glad-eye Bushbrown |
|
|
VC |
|
64 |
Orsotriaena medus mandata (Moore, 1857) |
Sahyadri Medus Brown |
|
|
VC |
|
65 |
Ypthima asterope mahratta (Moore, 1884) |
Indian Common Three-ring |
|
|
VC |
|
66 |
Ypthima huebneri (Kirby, 1871) |
Common Four-ring |
|
|
VC |
|
67 |
Ypthima ceylonica (Hewitson, 1865) |
White Four-ring |
|
|
C |
|
68 |
Ypthima baldus madrasa (Evans, 1923) |
Sahyadri Common Five-ring |
|
|
VC |
|
69 |
Ypthima striata (Hampson, 1888) |
Striated Five-ring |
|
|
R |
|
70 |
Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Tawny Coster |
|
|
VC |
|
71 |
Cirrochroa thais thais (Fabricius, 1787) |
Sahyadri Yeoman |
|
|
C |
|
72 |
Cupha erymanthis maja (Fruhstorfer, 1898) |
Sahyadri Rustic |
|
|
VC |
|
73 |
Phalanta phalantha phalantha (Drury, 1773) |
Oriental Common Leopard |
|
|
VC |
|
74 |
Moduza procris undifragus (Fruhstorfer, 1906) |
Sahyadri Commander |
|
|
C |
|
75 |
Athyma ranga karwara (Fruhstorfer, 1906) |
Karwar Blackvein Sergeant |
Sch II |
|
R |
|
76 |
Athyma selenophora kanara (Evans, 1924) |
Sahyadri Staff Sergeant |
|
|
C |
|
77 |
Athyma inara inara (Westwood, 1850) |
Himalayan Colour Sergeant |
|
|
NR |
|
78 |
Neptis hylas varmona (Moore, 1872) |
Indian Common Sailer |
|
|
VC |
|
79 |
Neptis nata hampsoni (Moore, 1899) |
Sahyadri Clear Sailer |
|
|
C |
|
80 |
Neptis jumbah nalanda (Fruhstorfer, 1908) |
Nalanda Chestnut-streaked
Sailer |
Sch II |
|
C |
|
81 |
Phaedyma columella nilgirica (Moore, 1889) |
Dakhan Short-banded Sailer |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
82 |
Pantoporia hordonia hordonia (Stoll, 1790) |
Oriental Common Lascar |
|
|
VC |
|
83 |
Euthalia aconthea meridionalis (Fruhstorfer, 1906) |
Dakhan Common Baron |
Sch II |
|
C |
|
84 |
Euthalia lubentina arasada (Fruhstorfer, 1913) |
Sahyadri Gaudy Baron |
|
|
R |
|
85 |
Symphaedra nais (Forster, 1771) |
Baronet |
|
|
VC |
|
86 |
Tanaecia lepidea miyana (Fruhstorfer, 1913) |
Peninsular Grey Count |
Sch II |
|
C |
|
87 |
Dophla evelina laudabilis (Swinhoe, 1890) |
Sahyadri Redspot Duke |
Sch II |
|
VR |
|
88 |
Cyrestis thyodamas indica (Evans, 1924) |
Indian Map Butterfly |
|
|
NR |
|
89 |
Ariadne merione merione (Cramer, 1777) |
Dakhan Common Castor |
|
|
VC |
|
90 |
Ariadne ariadne indica (Moore, 1884) |
Indian Angled Castor |
|
|
VC |
|
91 |
Kaniska canace viridis (Evans, 1924) |
Sahyadri Blue Admiral |
|
|
VR |
|
92 |
Vanessa indica pholoe (Fruhstorfer, 1912) |
Sahyadri Red Admiral |
|
|
VR |
|
93 |
Junonia orithya swinhoei (Butler, 1885) |
Pale Blue Pansy |
|
|
VC |
|
94 |
Junonia hierta hierta (Fabricius, 1798) |
Oriental Yellow Pansy |
|
|
VC |
|
95 |
Junonia iphita iphita (Cramer, 1779) |
Oriental Chocolate Pansy |
|
|
VC |
|
96 |
Junonia atlites atlites (Linnaeus, 1763) |
Oriental Grey Pansy |
|
|
VC |
|
97 |
Junonia almana almana (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Oriental Peacock Pansy |
|
|
VC |
|
98 |
Junonia lemonias lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Chinese Lemon Pansy |
|
|
VC |
|
99 |
Hypolimnas bolina jacintha (Drury, 1773) |
Oriental Great Eggfly |
|
|
VC |
|
100 |
Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764) |
Danaid Eggfly |
Sch II |
|
VC |
|
101 |
Kallima horsfieldii (Kollar, 1844) |
Sahyadri Blue Oakleaf |
Sch II |
|
VR |
|
102 |
Libythea myrrha rama (Moore, 1872) |
Sri Lankan Club Beak |
|
|
VR |
|
|
Family: Lycaenidae |
|
|
|
|
|
103 |
Curetis thetis (Drury, 1773) |
Indian Sunbeam |
|
|
NR |
|
104 |
Curetis acuta dentata (Moore, 1879) |
Indian Acute Sunbeam |
|
|
C |
|
105 |
Spalgis epius epius (Westwood, [1851]) |
Oriental Apefly |
|
|
R |
|
106 |
Arhopala centaurus pirama (Moore, 1881) |
Tamil Centaur Oakblue |
|
|
VR |
|
107 |
Arhopala alea (Hewitson, 1862) |
Sahyadri Rosy Oakblue |
Sch I |
|
VR |
|
108 |
Thaduka multicaudata kanara (Evans, 1925) |
Karwar Many-tailed Oakblue |
Sch II |
|
VR |
|
109 |
Zesius chrysomallus (Hübner, 1819) |
Redspot |
|
|
VR |
|
110 |
Amblypodia anita dina (Fruhstorfer, 1907) |
Indian Purple Leaf Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
111 |
Horaga onyx onyx (Moore, 1858) |
Variable Common Onyx |
|
|
VR |
|
112 |
Loxura atymnus atymnus (Stoll, 1780) |
Sahyadri Yamfly |
|
|
R |
|
113 |
Catapaecilma major callone (Fruhstorfer, 1915) |
Sahyadri Common Tinsel |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
114 |
Rathinda amor (Fabricius, 1775) |
Monkey Puzzle |
|
|
NR |
|
115 |
Rachana jalindra macanita (Fruhstorfer, 1912) |
Sahyadri Banded Royal |
|
|
VR |
|
116 |
Tajuria cippus cippus (Fabricius, 1798) |
Indian Peacock Royal |
Sch II |
|
VR |
|
117 |
Creon cleobis cleobis (Godart, 1824) |
Bengal Broad-tail Roya |
|
|
VR |
|
118 |
Hypolycaena othona othona (Hewitson, 1865) |
Oriental Orchid Tit |
Sch I |
|
NR |
|
119 |
Virachola isocrates (Fabricius, 1793) |
Common Guava Blue |
|
|
R |
|
120 |
Deudorix epijarbas epijarbas (Moore, 1857) |
Oriental Cornelian |
|
|
R |
|
121 |
Rapala manea schistacea (Moore, 1879) |
Bengal Slate Flash |
|
|
VC |
|
122 |
Rapala varuna lazulina (Moore, 1879) |
Lazuli Flash |
Sch II |
|
VC |
|
123 |
Cigaritis lohita lazularia (Moore, [1881]) |
Tamil Long-banded Silverline |
Sch II |
|
R |
|
124 |
Cigaritis vulcanus vulcanus (Fabricius, 1775) |
Indian Common Silverline |
|
|
R |
|
125 |
Cigaritis schistacea (Moore, 1881) |
Plumbeous Silverline |
|
|
R |
|
126 |
Leptotes plinius plinius (Fabricius, 1793) |
Asian Zebra Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
127 |
Anthene emolus emolus (Godart, 1824) |
Bengal Common Ciliate Blue |
|
|
C |
|
128 |
Anthene lycaenina lycaenina (Felder, 1868) |
Dakhan Pointed Ciliate Blue |
Sch II |
|
VC |
|
129 |
Caleta decidia (Hewitson, 1876) |
Angled Pierrot |
|
|
VC |
|
130 |
Discolampa ethion ethion (Westwood, 1851) |
Oriental Banded Blue Pierrot |
|
|
VC |
|
131 |
Castalius rosimon rosimon (Fabricius, 1775) |
Continental Common Pierrot |
|
|
VC |
|
132 |
Tarucus ananda (de Nicéville,
1884) |
Dark Pierrot |
|
|
VR |
|
133 |
Petrelaea dana (de Nicéville,
1884) |
Dingy Lineblue |
|
|
VC |
|
134 |
Nacaduba kurava canaraica (Toxopeus, 1927) |
Karwar Transparent Six-Lineblue |
|
|
NR |
|
135 |
Nacaduba beroe gythion (Fruhstorfer, 1916) |
Assam Opaque Six-Lineblue |
|
|
NR |
|
136 |
Prosotas nora ardates (Moore, 1875) |
Indian Common Lineblue |
|
|
VC |
|
137 |
Prosotas dubiosa indica (Evans, 1925) |
Indian Tailless Lineblue |
Sch II |
|
VC |
|
138 |
Prosotas noreia hampsonii (de Nicéville,
1885) |
Indian White-tipped Lineblue |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
139 |
Jamides bochus bochus (Stoll, 1782) |
Indian Dark Cerulean |
|
|
VC |
|
140 |
Jamides celeno celeno (Cramer, 1775) |
Oriental Common Cerulean |
|
|
VC |
|
141 |
Jamides alecto eurysaces (Fruhstorfer, 1915) |
Himalayan Metallic Cerulean |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
142 |
Catochrysops strabo strabo (Fabricius, 1793) |
Oriental Forget-me-not |
|
|
VC |
|
143 |
Talicada nyseus nyseus (Guérin-Méneville,
1843) |
Indian Red Pierrot |
|
|
C |
|
144 |
Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) |
Pea Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
145 |
Pseudozizeeria maha ossa (Swinhoe, 1885) |
Dakhan Pale Grass Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
146 |
Zizeeria karsandra (Moore, 1865) |
Dark Grass Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
147 |
Zizina otis indica (Murray, 1874) |
Indian Lesser Grass Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
148 |
Zizula hylax hylax (Fabricius, 1775) |
Indian Tiny Grass Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
149 |
Freyeria putli (Kollar, 1844) |
Black-spotted Grass Jewel |
|
|
VC |
|
150 |
Azanus jesous gamra (Lederer, 1855) |
Syrian Babul Blue |
|
|
NR |
|
151 |
Cupido lacturnus syntala (Cantlie, 1963) |
Dakhan Orange-crowned Cupid |
|
|
VC |
|
152 |
Chilades parrhasius parrhasius (Fabricius, 1793) |
Parrhasius Small Cupid |
|
|
VC |
|
153 |
Euchrysops cnejus cnejus (Fabricius, 1798) |
Oriental Gram Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
154 |
Chilades lajus lajus (Stoll, 1780) |
Indian Lime Blue |
|
|
VC |
|
155 |
Neopithecops zalmora dharma
(Moore, 1881) |
Sri Lankan Common Quaker |
|
|
VC |
|
156 |
Megisba malaya thwaitesi (Moore, 1881) |
Tailless Malayan |
Sch II |
|
VC |
|
157 |
Acytolepis puspa felderi (Toxopeus, 1927) |
Common Hedge Blue |
|
|
C |
|
158 |
Celastrina lavendularis
lavenduris (Moore,
1877) |
Sri Lankan Plain Hedge Blue |
|
|
NR |
|
159 |
Udara akasa mavisa (Fruhstorfer,
[1917]) |
Sahyadri White Hedge Blue |
|
|
NR |
|
|
Family: Riodinidae |
|
|
|
|
|
160 |
Abisara bifasciata suffusa (Moore, 1882) |
Suffused Double-banded Judy |
|
|
VC |
|
161 |
Abisara echerius prunosa (Moore, 1879) |
Lankan Plum Judy |
|
|
NR |
|
|
Family: Hesperiidae |
|
|
|
|
|
162 |
Hasora chromus chromus (Cramer, 1780) |
Oriental Common Banded Awl |
|
|
VC |
|
163 |
Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775) |
Brown Awl |
|
|
VC |
|
164 |
Abaratha angulata angulata (Felder, 1862) |
Oriental Chestnut Angle |
|
|
NR |
|
165 |
Abaratha ransonnettii potiphera
(Hewitson,
1873) |
Dakhan Golden Angle |
|
|
NR |
|
166 |
Sarangesa dasahara davidsoni (Swinhoe, 1912) |
Indian Common Small Flat |
|
|
C |
|
167 |
Sarangesa purendra hopkinsi (Evans, 1921) |
Dakhan Spotted Small Flat |
|
|
NR |
|
168 |
Pseudocoladenia dan (Fabricius, 1787) |
Fulvous Pied Flat |
|
|
C |
|
169 |
Coladenia indrani indra (Evans, 1926) |
Dakhan Tricolour Pied Flat |
|
|
C |
|
170 |
Gerosis bhagava bhagava (Moore, 1866) |
Bengal Common Yellow-breasted
Flat |
|
|
VR |
|
171 |
Tagiades litigiosa litigiosa (Möschler, 1878) |
Sylhet Water Snow Flat |
|
|
NR |
|
172 |
Tagiades silvia (Evans, 1934) |
Dakhan Suffused Snow Flat |
|
|
C |
|
173 |
Tagiades obscurus (Mabille, 1876) |
Common Snow Flat |
|
|
C |
|
174 |
Spialia galba galba (Fabriciuc 1793) |
Indian Grizzled Skipper |
|
|
VC |
|
175 |
Taractrocera maevius (Fabricius, 1793) |
Grey-veined Grass Dart |
|
|
VC |
|
176 |
Cupitha purreea (Moore, 1877) |
Wax Dart |
|
|
VR |
|
177 |
Telicota bambusae bambusae (Moore, 1878) |
Oriental Dark Palm-Dart |
|
|
R |
|
178 |
Telicota colon colon (Fabricius, 1775) |
Indian Pale Palm-Dart |
|
|
R |
|
179 |
Cephrenes acalle oceanica (Mabille, 1904) |
Variable Plain Palm-Dart |
|
|
R |
|
180 |
Oriens goloides (Moore, 1881) |
Smaller Dartlet |
|
|
C |
|
181 |
Oriens concinna (Elwes &
Edwards, 1897) |
Sahyadri Dartlet |
|
EWG |
NR |
|
182 |
Potanthus pseudomaesa (Moore, 1881) |
Common Dart |
|
|
VC |
|
183 |
Potanthus palnia palnia (Evans, 1914) |
Palni Dart |
|
|
NR |
|
184 |
Potanthus diana (Evans, 1932) |
Chinese Dart |
|
|
NR |
|
185 |
Potanthus pava pava (Fruhstorfer,
1911) |
Pava Dart |
|
|
NR |
|
186 |
Gangara thyrsis thyrsis (Fabricius, 1775) |
Oriental Giant Redeye |
|
|
R |
|
187 |
Borbo cinnara (Wallace, 1866) |
Rice Swift |
|
|
C |
|
188 |
Pseudoborbo bevani (Moore, 1878) |
Bevan's Swift |
|
|
C |
|
189 |
Parnara bada bada (Moore, 1878) |
Ceylon Swift |
|
|
C |
|
190 |
Parnara ganga (Evans, 1937) |
Continental Swift |
|
|
C |
|
191 |
Baoris farri (Moore, 1878) |
Paint-brush Swift |
|
|
C |
|
192 |
Caltoris canaraica (Moore, 1884) |
Karwar Swift |
|
|
C |
|
193 |
Caltoris kumara kumara (Moore, 1878) |
Sahyadri Blank Swift |
|
|
NR |
|
194 |
Caltoris philippina philippina (Herrich-Schäffer,
1869) |
Continental Philippine Swift |
|
|
NR |
|
195 |
Pelopidas subochracea
subochracea (Moore,
1878) |
Bengal Large Branded Swift |
|
|
NR |
|
196 |
Pelopidas mathias mathias (Fabricius, 1798) |
Dakhan Small Branded Swift |
|
|
NR |
|
197 |
Pelopidas agna agna (Moore, 1866) |
Bengal Obscure Branded Swift |
|
|
NR |
|
198 |
Pelopidas conjuncta narooa (Moore, 1878) |
Sahyadri Conjoined Swift |
|
|
NR |
|
199 |
Polytremis lubricans lubricans (Herrich-Schäffer,
1869) |
Oriental Contiguous Swift |
|
|
R |
|
200 |
Ampittia dioscorides
dioscorides
(Fabricius, 1793) |
Indian Bush Hopper |
|
|
VC |
|
201 |
Aeromachus pygmaeus (Fabricius, 1775) |
Pygmy Scrub Hopper |
|
|
VC |
|
202 |
Iambrix salsala luteipalpis (Plötz, 1886) |
Southern Chestnut Bob |
|
|
VC |
|
203 |
Suastus gremius gremius (Fabricius, 1798) |
Indian Palm Bob |
|
|
NR |
|
204 |
Arnetta vindhiana (Moore, 1884) |
Vindhyan Bob |
|
|
NR |
|
205 |
Ancistroides curvifascia
curvifascia (Felder
& Felder, 1862) |
Restricted Demon |
|
|
C |
|
206 |
Ancistroides paralysos mangla (Evans, 1949) |
Common Banded Demon |
|
|
C |
|
207 |
Ancistroides folus (Cramer, 1775) |
Grass Demon |
|
|
VC |
|
208 |
Halpe hindu (Evans, 1937) |
Sahyadri Banded Ace |
Sch II |
|
NR |
|
209 |
Halpe porus (Mabille, 1877) |
Bispot Banded Ace |
|
|
R |
|
210 |
Thoressa astigmata (Swinhoe, 1890) |
Southern Spotted Ace |
|
EWG |
VR |
Note: Legal protection status as
per the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment
Act, 2022 (WPA), WLPA Schedules (Sch.). Status of butterflies at Nagarahole
National Park with their population status (ST): VC—Very common | C—Common |
NR—Not Rare | R—Rare | VR—Very Rare | EWG—Endemic to Western Ghats.
For
figure & images - - click here for full PDF
References
Basavarajappa, S. (2015). Report of
Research study on Butterflies in Nagarahole National Park. Nagarahole
Conservation Society & Univeristy of Mysore, Karnatka, India, 150 pp.
Betrus, C.J., E. Fleishman & R.B. Blair (2005).
Cross-taxonomic potential and spatial transferability of an umbrella species
index. Journal of Environmental Management 74(1): 79–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2004.08.010
Bhakare, M & H. Ogale (2018). A Guide
to Butterflies of Western Ghats (India) Includes Butterflies of Kerala, Tamil
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