List of butterflies of India (Papilionidae)
Encyclopedia
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. This family of large and beautiful butterflies is well represented with about 84 species found within India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n borders, the exact number depending on the taxonomy followed.
Two of the three papilionid subfamilies are represented in India, namely, the Parnassiinae
Parnassiinae
The Parnassiinae or Snow Apollos are a subfamily of the Papilionidae or Swallowtail family. The subfamily includes about 50 medium sized, white or yellow species...
, or 'Apollos', with 14 species, and, the Papilioninae
Papilioninae
Papilioninae is a subfamily of the butterfly family Papilionidae. Papilioninae occurs world wide with most of the species being found in the tropics. There are roughly 480 species, of which 27 occur in North America.-References:...
, or 'Swallowtails', with 70 species.
Diversity of Indian swallowtails
Indian swallowtails are found almost everywhere in the country. The Malabar Banded Peacock Papilio buddhaPapilio buddha
The Malabar Banded Peacock is a species of swallowtail found in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:Resembles Papilio palinurus but is larger...
and the Malabar Banded Swallowtail Papilio liomedon
Papilio liomedon
The Malabar Banded Swallowtail is a beautiful member of the Swallowtail family found in southern India. Earlier considered a subspecies of the Banded Swallowtail of South-east Asia but now considered a distinct species.-Description:Similar to Papilio demolion but distinguishable chiefly by the...
fly at sea level while the Apollos, Parnassius
Parnassius
Parnassius is a genus of northern circumpolar and montane butterflies usually known as Apollos. They can vary in colour and form significantly based on their altitude. They also show an adaptation to high altitudes called altitudinal melanism...
spp, are to be found only in the highest alpine meadows of the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
. Some species such as the Common Mormon Papilio polytes
Papilio polytes
The Common Mormon is a common species of swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia. This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedible Red-bodied Swallowtails, such as the Common Rose and the Crimson Rose.- Names :The common name...
and the Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor
Papilio polymnestor
The Blue Mormon is a large swallowtail butterfly found in South India and Sri Lanka.-Description:Males have the upper wings rich velvety black...
fly at ground level whereas others, such as the Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon
Graphium agamemnon
The Tailed Jay is a predominantly green and black tropical butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family. The butterfly is also called Green-spotted Triangle, Tailed Green Jay, or the Green Triangle. It is a common, nonthreatened species native to India, Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia and...
are normally found flying high in the forest canopy. The Lime butterfly Papilio demoleus
Papilio demoleus
Papilio demoleus, the Common Lime Butterfly, is a common and widespread Swallowtail butterfly. It gets its name from its host plants which are usually citrus species such as the cultivated lime. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies it does not have a prominent tail...
is a creature of arid scrub-land, occasionally being spotted even in the Thar desert, while the tropical evergreen forests have their own representatives, such as the Red Helen Papilio helenus
Papilio helenus
The Red Helen Papilio helenus is a large swallowtail butterfly found in forests in southern India and parts of Southeast Asia.-Range:Sri Lanka, southern and North-East India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Vietnam, southern China , southern Japan, South Korea, Ryukyu...
, the Common Bluebottle Graphium cloanthus
Graphium cloanthus
The Glassy Bluebottle is a common, non-threatened tropical butterfly.-Description:Upperside, fore wing: costal margin up to a line through the anterior half of the cell to the apex of the wing and the terminal margin broadly black; the medial portion of the wing pale hyaline greenish-yellow...
and the Malabar Raven. Indian papilionids such as the Common Mormon (Papilio polytes) and Great Mormon (Papilio memnon
Papilio memnon
The Great Mormon is a large butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family and is found in southern Asia. It is widely distributed and has thirteen subspecies...
) show polymorphism
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
with many mimetic female forms.
While spread over all the biogeographic zones of India, amongst swallowtails, endemism is found only in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
. Notable endemics are the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos
Troides minos
The Southern Birdwing is a large and striking Swallowtail butterfly endemic to Peninsular India. With a wingspan of 140-190mm, it is the largest butterfly found in southern India....
), Malabar Banded Swallowtail(Papilio liomedon
Papilio liomedon
The Malabar Banded Swallowtail is a beautiful member of the Swallowtail family found in southern India. Earlier considered a subspecies of the Banded Swallowtail of South-east Asia but now considered a distinct species.-Description:Similar to Papilio demolion but distinguishable chiefly by the...
), Malabar Raven (Papilio dravidarum
Papilio dravidarum
The Malabar Raven is a species of Swallowtail butterfly found in the Western Ghats of India.-Range:Endemic to the Western Ghats in South India. It occurs in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa.-Status:...
), Malabar Rose (Pachliopta pandiyana
Pachliopta pandiyana
Malabar Rose is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura or the Red-bodied Swallowtails...
) and the Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha).
Checklist
Subfamily Parnassiinae
The Apollos, Parnassius are different in appearance from other swallowtails, being of moderate size, with ground colour white, spotted with red, black and blue.Parnassius - Apollos
- Maharaja ApolloParnassius maharajaMaharaja Apollo Parnassius maharaja is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-References:...
, Parnassius maharaja Avinoff, 1913 - Karakoram Banded ApolloParnassius hunzaThe Karakoram Banded Apollo is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family. It was variously treated as a subspecies of P. delphius and a distinct species.-Description:Male upperside ground-colour duller, more sullied white...
, Parnassius staudingeri hunza Grumm-Grshimailo, 1888* - Ladakh Banded ApolloParnassius stoliczkanusLadakh Banded Apollo Parnassius stoliczkanus is a rare high-altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family. It is named after the naturalist and explorer Ferdinand Stoliczka.-Description:Male upperside dull white...
, Parnassius stoliczkanus C. & R. FelderCajetan Freiherr von FelderBaron Cajetan von Felder, German: Cajetan Freiherr von Felder was an Austrian jurist, politician, and entomologist...
, 1865 - Parnassius acdestisParnassius acdestisParnassius acdestis is a high-altitude butterfly found in India. It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family.-Range:...
, Parnassius acdestis OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1883* - Imperial ApolloParnassius imperator augustusImperial Apollo Parnassius imperator is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-Description:...
, Parnassius imperator augustus OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1883 - Regal ApolloParnassius charltoniusRegal Apollo Parnassius charltonius is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family. This handsome butterfly is found from 9000 to 13,000 ft from Chitral to Kumaon.DescriptionMaleUpperside: creamy-white...
, Parnassius charltonius (GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1853) - Varnished ApolloParnassius accoVarnished Apollo Parnassius acco is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-Description:Upperside: dull greyish white...
, Parnassius acco GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1852 - Hannyngton's ApolloParnassius hannyngtoniHannyngton's Apollo Parnassius hannyngtoni is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family. Some sources also spell the name as P. hunnygtoni...
, Parnassius hannyngtoni (Avinoff, 1916) - Blackedged ApolloParnassius simoThe Black-edged Apollo Parnassius simo is a high altitude butterfly found in the Himalayas which belongs to the Papilionidae family.-Description:Male upperside: dull white, the veins black...
, Parnassius simo (GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1853) - Common Blue ApolloParnassius hardwickiiCommon Blue Apollo Parnassius hardwickii is a high altitude butterfly which is found in South Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family...
, Parnassius hardwickii (GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1831) - Keeled ApolloParnassius jacquemontiiKeeled Apollo Parnassius jacquemontii is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India and Pakistan. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family...
, Parnassius jacquemontii (BoisduvalJean Baptiste BoisduvalJean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
, 1836) - Common Red ApolloParnassius epaphusCommon Red Apollo Parnassius epaphus is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family...
, Parnassius epaphus (OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1879) - Parnassius actiusParnassius actiusParnassius actius is a high altitude butterfly found in Central Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-Range:...
, Parnassius actius (EversmannEduard Friedrich EversmannAlexander Eduard Friedrich Eversmann was a biologist and explorer.Eversmann was born in Westphalia and studied at the universities of Marburg, Halle, Berlin and Dorpat. He received his degree of Philosophy and Master of Liberal Sciences at Halle in 1814, and at Dorpat graduated as a Doctor of...
, 1843) - Large Keeled ApolloParnassius tianschianicusLarge Keeled Apollo Parnassius tianschianicus is a high altitude butterfly. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-Range:Uzbekistan, Tadzikistan and Kirghistan...
, Parnassius tianschianicus (OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1879) - Nanda Devi Apollo, Parnassius nandadevinensis Weiss, 1990
Bhutanitis - Bhutan Glory
- Bhutan GloryBhutanitis lidderdaliiThe Bhutan Glory, Bhutanitis lidderdalii, is a species of swallowtail butterfly , which is found in Bhutan, parts of northeastern India and of Southeast Asia. A spectacular insect much sought after by collectors, the species epithet is after Dr R. Lidderdale, from whose collection the butterfly was...
, Bhutanitis lidderdalii AtkinsonWilliam Stephen AtkinsonWilliam Stephen Atkinson was a British lepidopterist who worked for much of his life in India.William was the eldest son of Rev. Thomas D, Atkinson, of Chesterton, in Suffolk. He became interested in nature at Cannock Chase, when his father became Vicar of Rugeley. He started collecting British...
, 1873
Subfamily Papilioninae
----
Teinopalpus - Kaiser-e-Hind
- Kaiser-e-HindTeinopalpus imperialisThe Kaiser-i-Hind is a rare species of swallowtail butterfly found from Nepal and north India east to north Vietnam. The common name literally means "Emperor of India". The Kaiser-i-hind is much sought after by butterfly collectors for its beauty and rarity...
, Teinopalpus imperialis (HopeFrederick William HopeFrederick William Hope was an English entomologist and founder of the Hope Department of Entomology at the University of Oxford....
, 1843)
Meandrusa - Hooked Swallowtails
- Brown GorgonMeandrusa scironThe Brown Gorgon, Meandrusa sciron, is a species of swallowtail found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Hooked Swallowtails genus , Meandrusa, of the Papilionidae family. The butterfly is found in India from Sikkim to Assam and North Burma and is not considered to be...
, Meandrusa sciron (LeechJohn Henry LeechJohn Henry Leech John Henry Leech John Henry Leech (5 December 1862- 29 December 1900, Salisbury was an English entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.His collections from China , Japan and Kashmir are in the Natural History Museum , London.These contain also insects from...
, 1890) - Yellow GorgonMeandrusa payeniThe Yellow Gorgon, Meandrusa payeni, is a species of swallowtail found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Hooked Swallowtails genus, Meandrusa, of the Papilionidae family. They are also called "Outlet Sword" or as "The Sickle".DescriptionMaleUpperside bright ochraceous,...
, Meandrusa payeni (BoisduvalJean Baptiste BoisduvalJean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
, 1836)
Lamproptera - Dragontails
- Green DragontailLamproptera megesThe Green Dragontail, Lamproptera meges, is a species of swallowtail found in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. There are ten subspecies. A specimen from Java is the type species of the genus.-Description:...
, Lamproptera meges (Zinken-Sommer, 1831) - White DragontailLamproptera curiusThe White Dragontail, Lamproptera curius, is a species of swallowtail native to parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Dragontails genus, Lamproptera, of the Swallowtail family...
, Lamproptera curius (FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
, 1787)
Graphium (Pazala) - Swordtails
- Sixbar Swordtail, Graphium (Pazala) eurous (LeechJohn Henry LeechJohn Henry Leech John Henry Leech John Henry Leech (5 December 1862- 29 December 1900, Salisbury was an English entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera and Coleoptera.His collections from China , Japan and Kashmir are in the Natural History Museum , London.These contain also insects from...
, 1893) - Spectacle Swordtail, Graphium (Pazala) mandarinus (OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1879) (= glycerion GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
)
Graphium (Pathysa) - Swordtails
- Chain Swordtail, Graphium (Pathysa) aristeus (StollCaspar StollCaspar Stoll was born in Hessen-Kassel , probably between 1725 and 1730. Being either a clerk or a porter at the Admiralty of Amsterdam, he published several works on entomology. Stoll's publications of stick insects, mantids and their relatives are particularly well known.-Life:In 1791 Stoll wrote...
, 1780) - Spot SwordtailGraphium nomiusSpot Swordtail Graphium nomius is a beautiful butterfly found in South and Southeast Asia that belongs to the Swallowtail family. One of the grandest sights is a host of Spot Swordtails mud-puddling or swarming around a flowering forest tree....
, Graphium (Pathysa) nomius (EsperEugenius Johann Christoph EsperEugenius Johann Christoph Esper was a German entomologist. Born in Wunsiedel in Bavaria, he was professor of zoology at Erlangen university.-Life and work:...
, 1798) - Andaman Swordtail, Graphium (Pathysa) epaminondas, OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1879 - Fivebar SwordtailGraphium antiphatesFive-bar Swordtail Graphium antiphates is a species of papilionid butterfly found in South Asia.-Description:The ground colour of the upperside of both males and females is white...
, Graphium (Pathysa) antiphates (CramerPieter CramerPieter Cramer , was a wealthy Dutch merchant in linen and Spanish wool, and an entomologist. Cramer was the director of the Zealand Society, a scientific society located in Flushing and a member of Concordia et Libertate, based in Amsterdam...
, [1775]) - Fourbar Swordtail, Graphium (Pathysa) agetes (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1841)
Graphium (Paranticopsis) - Zebras
- Great Zebra, Graphium (Paranticopsis) xenocles (Doubleday, 1842) (= leucothoe WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
) - Lesser Zebra, Graphium (Paranticopsis) macareus (GodartJean Baptiste GodartJean-Baptiste Godart was a French entomologist.Born at Origny, Godart became impassioned by butterflies in his youth. He was charged by Pierre André Latreille with writing the article on these insects in the Encyclopédie Méthodique...
, 1819) - Spotted Zebra, Graphium (Paranticopsis) megarus (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1841)
Graphium (Graphium) - Bluebottles and Jays
- Spotted JayGraphium aryclesThe Spotted Jay , a species of butterfly, is scarce and likely to be found in the extreme North East of India. It is not known to be threatened but the nominate subspecies is protected by law in India.-See also:*Papilionidae...
, Graphium (Graphium) arycles (BoisduvalJean Baptiste BoisduvalJean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
, 1836) - Veined JayGraphium chironThe Veined Jay , a species of butterfly, is found in Assam and other parts of North-East India and Southeast Asia.-Description:...
, Graphium (Graphium) chiron (WallaceAlfred Russel WallaceAlfred Russel Wallace, OM, FRS was a British naturalist, explorer, geographer, anthropologist and biologist...
, 1865) - Great Jay, Graphium (Graphium) eurypylus (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Common JayGraphium dosonThe Common Jay is a black, tropical papilionid butterfly with pale blue semi-transparent central wing bands that are formed by large spots. There is a marginal series of smaller spots. The underside of wings is brown with markings similar to upperside but whitish in color...
, Graphium (Graphium) doson (C. Felder & R. FelderRudolf FelderRudolf Felder was an Austrian jurist and entomologist. He was mainly interested in Lepidoptera, amassing, with his father, Cajetan Felder a huge collection.-Works:...
, 1864) - Lesser JayGraphium evemonThe Lesser Jay , also called the Pale Green Triangle, is a species of tropical butterfly found in North-East India.-References:...
, Graphium (Graphium) evemon (BoisduvalJean Baptiste BoisduvalJean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
, 1836) - Tailed JayGraphium agamemnonThe Tailed Jay is a predominantly green and black tropical butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family. The butterfly is also called Green-spotted Triangle, Tailed Green Jay, or the Green Triangle. It is a common, nonthreatened species native to India, Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia and...
, Graphium (Graphium) agamemnon (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Glassy BluebottleGraphium cloanthusThe Glassy Bluebottle is a common, non-threatened tropical butterfly.-Description:Upperside, fore wing: costal margin up to a line through the anterior half of the cell to the apex of the wing and the terminal margin broadly black; the medial portion of the wing pale hyaline greenish-yellow...
, Graphium (Graphium) cloanthus (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1841) - Common BluebottleGraphium sarpedonGraphium sarpedon, the common bluebottle or blue triangle , is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Australia. There are approximately 15 subspecies with differing geographical distributions.-Description:Upperside opaque black...
, Graphium (Graphium) sarpedon (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758)
Atrophaneura (Atrophaneura) - Red-bodied Swallowtails
- Pemberton's Windmill, Tytler's WindmillAtrophaneura plutoniusChinese Windmill Atrophaneura plutonius is a butterfly found in Asia that belongs to the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents....
, Atrophaneura plutonius (OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1907) - Rose WindmillAtrophaneura latreilleiRose Windmill Atrophaneura latreillei is a butterfly found in India that belongs to the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents.-Range:...
, Atrophaneura latreillei (DonovanEdward DonovanEdward Donovan was an Anglo Irish writer, natural history illustrator and amateur zoologist.-Biography:Born in Cork, Ireland, Donovan was an avid collector of natural history specimens purchased mainly at auctions of specimens from voyages of exploration...
, 1826) - De Nicéville's WindmillAtrophaneura pollaDe Nicéville's Windmill Atrophaneura polla is a butterfly found in India that belongs to the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents.-Range:...
, Atrophaneura polla (de NicévilleLionel de NicévilleCharles Lionel Augustus de Nicéville was a curator at the Indian Museum in Calcutta . He studied the butterflies of South Asia and wrote a three volume monograph on the butterflies of India, Pakistan, Burma and Sri Lanka.Born in a noble Huguenot family, his father was a physician. He was educated...
, 1897) - Black WindmillAtrophaneura crassipesBlack Windmill is a beautiful butterfly found in India that belongs to the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents.-Range:...
, Atrophaneura crassipes (OberthürCharles OberthürCharles Oberthür was a French entomologist specializing in Lepidoptera. He was the son of François-Charles Oberthür.Oberthür named 42 new genera of moths -Works:...
, 1879) - Neville's WindmillAtrophaneura nevilliNevill's Windmill Atrophaneura nevilli is a beautiful butterfly found in India that belongs to the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents.-Status:...
, Atrophaneura nevilli (Wood-MasonJames Wood-MasonJames Wood-Mason was a Scottish zoologist who worked in the Indian Museum at Calcutta from 1877 succeeding Prof. John Anderson. He made many collections of marine animals and lepidoptera.-Publications:...
, 1896) - Great WindmillAtrophaneura dasaradaGreat Windmill is a butterfly found in India that belongs to the Windmills group of the genus Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents....
, Atrophaneura dasarada (MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
, 1857) - Common WindmillAtrophaneura polyeuctesThe Common Windmill Atrophaneura polyeuctes is the most common member in India of the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents....
, Atrophaneura polyeuctes (Doubleday, 1842) - Lesser BatwingAtrophaneura aidoneusThe Lesser Batwing Atrophaneura aidoneus is an Asian species of butterfly that belongs to the Batwings group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailless black swallowtail butterflies.-Description:* Wingspan - 112-162mm....
, Atrophaneura aidoneus (Doubleday, 1845) - Common BatwingAtrophaneura varunaCommon Batwing Atrophaneura varuna is a beautiful butterfly found in India that belongs to the Swallowtail family belongs to the Batwings group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailless black swallowtail butterflies.-Range:...
, Atrophaneura varuna (A. White, 1868)
Atrophaneura (Pachliopta) - Roses
- Common RosePachliopta aristolochiaeThe Common Rose is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura or Red-bodied Swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and South East Asia.-Range:It is widely distributed in Asia...
, Pachliopta aristolochiae (FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
, 1775) - Crimson RosePachliopta hectorCrimson Rose is a large swallowtail butterfly belonging to the subgenus Pachliopta of the Red-bodied Swallowtails .-Range:...
, Pachliopta hector (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Malabar RosePachliopta pandiyanaMalabar Rose is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta subgenus, the Roses, of the genus Atrophaneura or the Red-bodied Swallowtails...
, Pachliopta pandiyana (MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
, 1881)
Clubtails
- Common Clubtail, Atrophaneura coon (FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
, 1793) - Andaman ClubtailAtrophaneura rhodiferThe Andaman Clubtail , a rare and beautiful member of the Swallowtail family, is native to India. The butterfly belongs to the Clubtail subgenus, Losaria, of the genus Atrophaneura or the Red Bodied Swallowtails.-Distribution:The butterfly is endemic and restricted to the Andaman Islands in the...
, Atrophaneura rhodifer (ButlerArthur Gardiner ButlerArthur Gardiner Butler was an English entomologist, arachnologist and ornithologist...
, 1876)
Troides - Birdwings
- Southern BirdwingTroides minosThe Southern Birdwing is a large and striking Swallowtail butterfly endemic to Peninsular India. With a wingspan of 140-190mm, it is the largest butterfly found in southern India....
, Troides minos (CramerPieter CramerPieter Cramer , was a wealthy Dutch merchant in linen and Spanish wool, and an entomologist. Cramer was the director of the Zealand Society, a scientific society located in Flushing and a member of Concordia et Libertate, based in Amsterdam...
, 1779) - Golden BirdwingTroides aeacusGolden Birdwing is a large butterfly belonging to the Swallowtail .-Description: Troides aeacus has a wingspan reaching about . In the males the fore wings are black, with veins bordered by whitish colour, while the hind wings are bright yellow. The underside of the wings is quite similar to the...
, Troides aeacus (C. & R. FelderCajetan Freiherr von FelderBaron Cajetan von Felder, German: Cajetan Freiherr von Felder was an Austrian jurist, politician, and entomologist...
, 1860) - Common BirdwingTroides helenaThe Common Birdwing, Troides helena , is a beautiful and large butterfly belonging to the Swallowtail . It is often found in the wildlife trade due to its popularity with butterfly collectors...
, Troides helena (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758)
Papilio (Chilasa) - Mimes
- Common Mime, Papilio (Chilasa) clytia, LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758 - Great Blue Mime, Papilio (Chilasa) paradoxus (Zinken-Sommer, 1831)
- Tawny Mime, Papilio (Chilasa) agestor (GrayJohn Edward GrayJohn Edward Gray, FRS was a British zoologist. He was the elder brother of George Robert Gray and son of the pharmacologist and botanist Samuel Frederick Gray ....
, 1832) - Lesser Mime, Papilio (Chilasa) epycides (HewitsonWilliam Chapman HewitsonWilliam Chapman Hewitson was a British naturalist, born on 9 January 1806 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and died on 28 May 1878. A wealthy collector, this naturalist was particularly devoted to the Coleoptera and the Lepidoptera and, also, to bird's nests and eggs...
, 1862) - Blue Striped Mime, Papilio (Chilasa) slateri (HewitsonWilliam Chapman HewitsonWilliam Chapman Hewitson was a British naturalist, born on 9 January 1806 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and died on 28 May 1878. A wealthy collector, this naturalist was particularly devoted to the Coleoptera and the Lepidoptera and, also, to bird's nests and eggs...
, 1857)
Papilio (Papilio) - Swallowtails
- Common Yellow Swallowtail, Papilio machaon (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Malabar Banded SwallowtailPapilio liomedonThe Malabar Banded Swallowtail is a beautiful member of the Swallowtail family found in southern India. Earlier considered a subspecies of the Banded Swallowtail of South-east Asia but now considered a distinct species.-Description:Similar to Papilio demolion but distinguishable chiefly by the...
, Papilio liomedon (MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
, 1874) - SpanglePapilio protenorThe Spangle Papilio protenor is a butterfly found in India that belongs to the Swallowtail family. -Male:Upperside: velvety indigo-blue black, duller on the fore wing than on the hind wing. Fore wing with pale adnervular streaks broadened along the terminal margin and extended...
, Papilio protenor (CramerPieter CramerPieter Cramer , was a wealthy Dutch merchant in linen and Spanish wool, and an entomologist. Cramer was the director of the Zealand Society, a scientific society located in Flushing and a member of Concordia et Libertate, based in Amsterdam...
, 1775) - Yellow-crested SpanglePapilio elephenorThe Yellow-crested Spangle is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South Asia.-Description:Male upperside dull black. Fore wing with an irroration of brilliant green scales that form cellular and internervular streaks...
, Papilio elephenor (Doubleday, 1845) - Tailed RedbreastPapilio bootesThe Tailed Redbreast is a beautiful swallowtail butterfly found in India.-Description:Male upperside velvety black. Fore wing with pale internervular streaks that do not reach the terminal margin and only obscurely extend into the cell...
, Papilio bootes (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1842) - Tailed RedbreastPapilio janakaThe Tailed Redbreast is a well-marked swallowtail butterfly found in India.-Description:The Tailed Redbreast closely resembles Papilio bootes but differs as follows :...
, Papilio janaka (MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
, 1857) - RedbreastPapilio alcmenorThe Redbreast is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South Asia.-Description:Male upperside black with, in some lights, an obscure dark indigo-blue tint...
, Papilio alcmenor (C. & R. FelderCajetan Freiherr von FelderBaron Cajetan von Felder, German: Cajetan Freiherr von Felder was an Austrian jurist, politician, and entomologist...
, 1864) - Blue MormonPapilio polymnestorThe Blue Mormon is a large swallowtail butterfly found in South India and Sri Lanka.-Description:Males have the upper wings rich velvety black...
, Papilio polymnestor (CramerPieter CramerPieter Cramer , was a wealthy Dutch merchant in linen and Spanish wool, and an entomologist. Cramer was the director of the Zealand Society, a scientific society located in Flushing and a member of Concordia et Libertate, based in Amsterdam...
, 1775) - Great MormonPapilio memnonThe Great Mormon is a large butterfly that belongs to the swallowtail family and is found in southern Asia. It is widely distributed and has thirteen subspecies...
, Papilio memnon (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Andaman MormonPapilio mayoThe Andaman Mormon is a species of swallowtail butterfly that is endemic to the Andamans. It is a species that is protected by Indian Law...
, Papilio mayo (AtkinsonWilliam Stephen AtkinsonWilliam Stephen Atkinson was a British lepidopterist who worked for much of his life in India.William was the eldest son of Rev. Thomas D, Atkinson, of Chesterton, in Suffolk. He became interested in nature at Cannock Chase, when his father became Vicar of Rugeley. He started collecting British...
, 1873) - Common MormonPapilio polytesThe Common Mormon is a common species of swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia. This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedible Red-bodied Swallowtails, such as the Common Rose and the Crimson Rose.- Names :The common name...
, Papilio polytes (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Red HelenPapilio helenusThe Red Helen Papilio helenus is a large swallowtail butterfly found in forests in southern India and parts of Southeast Asia.-Range:Sri Lanka, southern and North-East India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Kampuchea, Vietnam, southern China , southern Japan, South Korea, Ryukyu...
, Papilio helenus (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Yellow HelenPapilio nephelusPapilio nephelus, common name Yellow Helen or Black and White Helen , is a species of Swallowtail belonging to the Papilionidae family.-Description:...
, Papilio nephelus (BoisduvalJean Baptiste BoisduvalJean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
, 1836) - Andaman Helen, Papilio prexaspes andamanicus (Goeze, 1779)
- Common RavenPapilio castorThe Common Raven is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South Asia.-Description:Male has the upper wings black, more or less irrorated with yellowish-brown scales that form on the fore wing somewhat indistinct longitudinal cell-lines and internervular streaks...
, Papilio castor (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1842) - Malabar RavenPapilio dravidarumThe Malabar Raven is a species of Swallowtail butterfly found in the Western Ghats of India.-Range:Endemic to the Western Ghats in South India. It occurs in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa.-Status:...
, Papilio dravidarum (Wood-MasonJames Wood-MasonJames Wood-Mason was a Scottish zoologist who worked in the Indian Museum at Calcutta from 1877 succeeding Prof. John Anderson. He made many collections of marine animals and lepidoptera.-Publications:...
, 1880) - Lime ButterflyPapilio demoleusPapilio demoleus, the Common Lime Butterfly, is a common and widespread Swallowtail butterfly. It gets its name from its host plants which are usually citrus species such as the cultivated lime. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies it does not have a prominent tail...
, Papilio demoleus (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Common Banded PeacockPapilio crinoThe Common Banded Peacock is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in parts of South Asia, including India and Sri Lanka.-Description:...
, Papilio crino (FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
, 1792) - Malabar Banded PeacockPapilio buddhaThe Malabar Banded Peacock is a species of swallowtail found in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:Resembles Papilio palinurus but is larger...
, Papilio buddha (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1872) - Common PeacockPapilio polyctorThe Common Peacock is a beautiful swallowtail butterfly found in India. It is found in the Himalayas and parts of India from the foothills to 7000 feet between March and October. It has distinct dry and wet season forms. The butterfly frequents Buddleia flowers...
, Papilio polyctor (BoisduvalJean Baptiste BoisduvalJean Baptiste Alphonse Dechauffour de Boisduval was a French lepidopterist and physician. He developed the Boisduval scale and identified many new species of butterflies. One of the most celebrated lepidopterists of France, he was the co-founder of the Société Entomologique de France...
, 1836) - Paris PeacockPapilio parisThe Paris Peacock, Papilio paris, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in South Asia.-Male:Upperwings are black and irrorated with dark green scales, which on the outer portion of the forewing coalesce and form an incomplete postdiscal narrow band which is straighter than the similar...
, Papilio paris (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758) - Tamil PeacockPapilio paris tamilanaThe Tamil Peacock is an endemic swallowtail butterfly found in southern India.-Description:Race tamilana , very closely resembles the typical form , but on the upperside the upper discal patch on the hind wing is of a paler more metallic blue and very considerably larger, it extends from...
, Papilio paris tamilana (MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
, 1881) - Blue PeacockPapilio arcturusThe Blue Peacock is species of swallowtail butterfly found in India.-Description:Male has the upper wings brownish black, somewhat paler on the fore than on the hind wing...
, Papilio arcturus (WestwoodJohn Obadiah WestwoodJohn Obadiah Westwood was an English entomologist and archaeologist also noted for his artistic talents.Born in Sheffield, he studied to be a lawyer but abandoned that for his scientific interests....
, 1842) - Krishna PeacockPapilio krishnaKrishna Peacock Papilio krishna is a large swallowtail butterfly found in forests in North East India and Myanmar.-Description:* A large beautiful butterfly with a prominent swallowtail, the Krishna Peacock has a wingspan of 120 to 130 mm....
, Papilio krishna (MooreFrederic MooreFrederic Moore FZS was a British entomologist. It has been said that Moore was born at 33 Bruton Street but may be incorrect given that this was the address of the menagerie and office of the Zoological Society of London from 1826 to 1836.Moore was appointed an assistant in the East India Company...
, 1857)