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List of butterflies of India (Riodinidae)
Encyclopedia
The family Riodinidae
or Metalmarks are a family of small Old and New world butterflies. The common name refers to the bright, metallic spots marking the wings of many of its members.
In India
they are better referred to as the family of Punches and Judies. Only 16 of the 1000 species are found in India.
has two subfamilies of which only one is found in India. These subfamilies are
Riodinidae
The Riodinidae are a family of butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. There are approximately 1,000 species of metalmark butterflies in the world...
or Metalmarks are a family of small Old and New world butterflies. The common name refers to the bright, metallic spots marking the wings of many of its members.
In 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...
they are better referred to as the family of Punches and Judies. Only 16 of the 1000 species are found in India.
Distinguishing features
- Some consider this family as a subfamily of the LycaenidaeLycaenidaeThe Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
. Like the lycaenids, the males of this family have reduced forelegs while the females have full-sized, fully functional forelegs. - In addition to the traits listed above, the butterflies are generally characterized by
- the foreleg of most males, in addition to being reduced, has a uniquely shaped first segment (the coxaCoxaCoxa may refer to:* Theta Leonis, a star* Nickname of Brazilian soccer team Coritiba Foot Ball Club* Hip, below the lateral side of the abdomen* The short most-proximal base jointed segment of the arthropod leg...
) which extends beyond its joint with the second segment, rather than meeting it flush; - the hindwing exhibits unique venation; and
- most species perch on the undersides of leaves with the wings held open and completely flat.
- the foreleg of most males, in addition to being reduced, has a uniquely shaped first segment (the coxa
Classification
The family RiodinidaeRiodinidae
The Riodinidae are a family of butterflies. The common name "metalmarks" refers to the small metallic-looking spots commonly found on their wings. There are approximately 1,000 species of metalmark butterflies in the world...
has two subfamilies of which only one is found in India. These subfamilies are
- Euselasiinae (2 genera. Does not occur in India.)
- RiodininaeRiodininaeThe Riodininae are the larger by far of the subfamilies of the metalmark butterfly family, Riodinidae. The latter was long united with the Lycaenidae....
(36 genera.)
List of species
This list of the Riodinid butterflies of India acts as an index to the species articles and forms part of the full list of butterflies of India.Genus Zemeros, The Punchinello
- PunchinelloZemeros flegyasThe Punchinello is a small butterfly found in South Asia and Southeast Asia that belongs to the Riodinidae family.-Description:Like many tropical butterflies they show different wet and dry season forms.-Wet-season form:...
, Zemeros flegyas (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...
, 1780)
Genus Dodona, The Punches
- Common PunchDodona durgaThe Common Punch is a small but striking butterfly found in South Asia that belongs to the Punches and Judies , that is, the family Riodinidae.-Description:...
, Dodona durga (Kollar & RedtenbacherLudwig RedtenbacherLudwig Redtenbacher Ludwig Redtenbacher Ludwig Redtenbacher (June 10, 1814 in Kirchdorf an der Krems, Austria - February 8, 1876 in Vienna was an Austrian doctor and entomologist mainly interested in beetles....
, 1844) - Lesser PunchDodona dipoeaThe Lesser Punch is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae....
, Dodona dipoea (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...
, 1865) - PunchDodona eugenesThe Punch is a small but striking butterfly found in sub-Himalayan South Asia that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.-Description:...
, Dodona eugenes (BatesHenry Walter BatesHenry Walter Bates FRS FLS FGS was an English naturalist and explorer who gave the first scientific account of mimicry in animals. He was most famous for his expedition to the Amazon with Alfred Russel Wallace in 1848. Wallace returned in 1852, but lost his collection in a shipwreck...
, 1867) - Orange PunchDodona egeonThe Orange Punch is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the family Riodinidae family ....
, Dodona egeon (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....
, 1851) - Mixed PunchDodona ouidaThe Mixed Punch is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.-Description:...
, Dodona ouida (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...
, 1865) - Striped Punch, Dodona adonira, (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...
, 1865) - White PunchDodona henriciThe White Punch is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.-References:...
, Dodona henrici (HollandWilliam Jacob HollandWilliam Jacob Holland was the eighth Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh and Director of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. He was an accomplished zoologist and paleontologist, as well as an ordained Presbyterian minister.-Life:Holland was born August 16, 1848 in Jamaica, West Indies, the...
, 1887)
Genus Abisara, The Judies
- Dark JudyAbisara fyllaThe Dark Judy is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.-Description:...
, Abisara fylla (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....
, 1851) - Tailed JudyAbisara neophronThe Tailed Judy is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies family.-Description:...
, Abisara neophron (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...
, 1860) - Spot JudyAbisara chelaThe Spot Judy is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the .-Description:Closely resembles Abisara neophron but is smaller in both sexes and differs as follows:...
, Abisara chela (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...
,1886) - Malay Tailed JudyAbisara savitriThe Malay Tailed Judy is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.-References:...
, Abisara savitri (FelderCajetan Freiherr von FelderBaron Cajetan von Felder, German: Cajetan Freiherr von Felder was an Austrian jurist, politician, and entomologist...
, 1860) - Plum JudyAbisara echeriusThe Plum Judy is a small but striking butterfly found in Asia belonging to the Punches and Judies family. This active butterfly is usually seen at the tops of trees and amidst foliage....
, Abisara echerius (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...
, 1901) - Straight Plum JudyAbisara kausambiThe Straight Plum Judy is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the Punches and Judies, that is, the family Riodinidae.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
, Abisara kausambi (FelderCajetan Freiherr von FelderBaron Cajetan von Felder, German: Cajetan Freiherr von Felder was an Austrian jurist, politician, and entomologist...
, 1860)
Genus Taxila, The Harlequin
- HarlequinTaxila haquinusThe harlequin or orange harlequin is a small but striking butterfly from the family Riodinidae. It is found from India east to Palawan and south to Java. It is the only species in the genus Taxila.-References:...
, Taxila haquinus (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)
Genus Stiboges, The Columbine
- ColumbineStiboges nymphidiaThe Columbine is a small but striking butterfly found in India that belongs to the "punches and judies" group of metalmark butterflies ....
, Stiboges nymphidia (ButlerArthur Gardiner ButlerArthur Gardiner Butler was an English entomologist, arachnologist and ornithologist...
, 1876)
Life cycle
- Eggs - Eggs vary in shape but often appear round and flattened.
- Larva - The caterpillars are usually hairy, plump, and are the common overwintering stage.
- Pupa - Pupa are hairy and attached with silk to either the host plant or to ground debris or leaf litter.There is no cocoon.