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 [ edit ]
Subfamily Papilioninae [ edit ]
Genus Graphium (Pathysa )—swordtails and zebras[ edit ]
Spot swordtail
Genus Graphium —bluebottles and jays[ edit ]
Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta )—roses[ edit ]
Crimson rose
Genus Troides —birdwings[ edit ]
Genus Papilio (Chilasa )—mimes[ edit ]
Genus Papilio (Papilio )—swallowtails[ edit ]
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 )
Subfamily Pierinae —whites[ edit ]
Genus Pieris —whites[ edit ]
Genus Anaphaeis —pioneers[ edit ]
Pioneer (caper white)
Genus Ixias —Indian orange tips[ edit ]
Yellow orange tip
Genus Delias —Jezebels[ edit ]
Common Jezebel
Genus Prioneris —sawtooths[ edit ]
Genus Appias —puffins and albatrosses[ edit ]
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[ edit ]
Genus Hebomoia —great orange tip[ edit ]
Genus Colotis —Arabs[ edit ]
Crimson-tip
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[ edit ]
Subfamily Coliadinae —yellows[ edit ]
Mottled emigrant
Genus Catopsilia —emigrants[ edit ]
Common grass yellow
Genus Eurema —grass yellows[ edit ]
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[ edit ]
Subfamily Libytheinae [ edit ]
Genus Libythea —beaks[ edit ]
Blue tiger
Plain tiger
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 ]
Common nawab
Subfamily Morphinae [ edit ]
Genus Discophora —duffers[ edit ]
Genus Amathusia —palmking[ edit ]
Palmking , Amathusia phidippus Linnaeus, 1763
Subfamily Satyrinae [ edit ]
Whitebar bushbrown
Lethe europa
Common evening brown
Common palmfly
Genus Mycalesis —bushbrowns[ edit ]
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[ edit ]
Genus Ypthima —rings[ edit ]
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[ edit ]
Genus Orsotriaena —nigger[ edit ]
Nigger , Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Melanitis —evening browns[ edit ]
Genus Parantirrhoea —Travancore evening brown[ edit ]
Genus Elymnias —palmflies[ edit ]
Subfamily Heliconiinae [ edit ]
Rustic
Leopard
Genus Vindula —cruiser[ edit ]
Cruiser , Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793
Genus Cirrochroa —yeomen[ 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 ]
Tawny coster
Subfamily Limenitidinae [ edit ]
Genus Limenitis —admirals[ edit ]
Genus Athyma —sergeants[ edit ]
Colour sergeant (Athyma nefte )
Genus Pantoporia —lascars[ edit ]
Genus Neptis —sailers[ edit ]
Neptis hylas
Pantoporia hordonia
Genus Parthenos —clipper[ edit ]
Clipper , Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)
Genus Euthalia —barons[ edit ]
Genus Tanaecia —counts[ edit ]
Subfamily Cyrestinae [ edit ]
Genus Cyrestis —map butterflies[ edit ]
Subfamily Biblidinae [ edit ]
Genus Ariadne —castors[ edit ]
Joker , Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)
Subfamily Apaturinae [ edit ]
Painted courtesan , Euripus consimilis
Genus Euripus —courtesans[ edit ]
Subfamily Nymphalinae [ edit ]
Peacock pansy
Blue pansy
Genus Vanessa —admirals, painted lady[ edit ]
Genus Junonia —pansies[ edit ]
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[ edit ]
Genus Kallima —oakleafs[ edit ]
Genus Doleschallia —autumn leaf[ edit ]
Autumn leaf , Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica (Cramer, 1777)
Subfamily Nemeobiinae [ edit ]
Genus Abisara —Judies[ 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 ]
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[ edit ]
Genus Cyaniris —hedge blues[ edit ]
Genus Polyommatus —meadow blues[ edit ]
Genus Chilades —lime blue[ edit ]
Lime blue , Chilades lajus (Stoll, [1780]) (L21.1)
Indian Cupid , Chilades parrhasius (Fabricius, 1793) previously Everes parrhasius Fabricius (L16.4)
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 ]
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 Catachrysops —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 ]
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[ 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 ]
Tamil oakblue , Narathura bazaloides (Hewitson, 1878) previously Amblypodia bazaloides Hewitson (L45.23)
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 ]
Genus Creon —broadtail royal[ edit ]
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 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 ]
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)
Subfamily Coeliadinae [ edit ]
Genus Badamia —brown awl[ edit ]
Brown awl , Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Bibasis —orange tailed awl[ edit ]
Genus Choaspes —awlkings[ edit ]
Subfamily Hesperiinae [ edit ]
Genus Aeromachus —scrub hoppers[ edit ]
Genus Ampittia —bush hoppers[ edit ]
Genus Baoris —swifts[ edit ]
Genus Baracus —hedge hoppers[ edit ]
Genus Pseudoborbo —Bevan's swift[ edit ]
Genus Caltoris —swifts[ edit ]
Genus Cupitha —wax dart[ edit ]
Genus Erionota —palm redeye[ edit ]
Genus Gangara —giant redeye[ edit ]
Giant redeye , Gangara thyrsis
Genus Matapa —branded redeye[ edit ]
Genus Notocrypta —demons[ edit ]
Restricted demon
Genus Pelopidas —branded swifts[ edit ]
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 Potanthus —darts[ edit ]
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)
Coon , Psolos fuligo (Mabille, 1876)
Genus Salanoemia —lancer[ edit ]
Genus Suastus —palm bob[ edit ]
Genus Taractrocera —grass darts[ edit ]
Genus Telicota —palm darts[ edit ]
Genus Thoressa —aces[ edit ]
Genus Udaspes —grass demon[ edit ]
Grass demon
Genus Hyarotis —flitters[ edit ]
Genus Oriens —dartlets[ edit ]
Genus Caprona —angles[ edit ]
Genus Celaenorrhinus —flat[ edit ]
Genus Coladenia —pied flats[ edit ]
Genus Gerosis —white flat[ edit ]
Genus Odontoptilum —angles[ edit ]
Genus Sarangesa —small flats[ edit ]
Genus Spialia —grizzled skippers[ edit ]
Genus Tagiades —snow flats[ edit ]
Immaculate/large/suffused snow flat , Tagiades gana
Genus Tapena —angles[ 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) Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society , vol 84 & 85.