List of butterflies of India (Pieridae)

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LIST OF BUTTERFLIES OF INDIA
Family PIERIDAE


The Family Pieridae, or the Whites and Yellows, as they are globally known, is a family of butterflies of moderate or small size. The common name of this family, the Whites and Yellows refer to the two predominant colours found on the wings of these butterflies along with markings in black.

Of the 1051 species of Pierids occurring in the world, approximately a hundred are found in India.

The Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), is a brightly coloured Pierid found in South Asia.

Distinguishing Features

  • Outline of Wings usually regular. Hindwings are never tailed.
  • Forelegs are fully developed in both sexes.
  • The Hindwings are channelled at the abdomen to fit the abdomen.

Classification

The family Pieridae comprises of four subfamilies, two of which are found in India. . They are :-

List of Species of Pieridae

The list of Pierid butterflies of India, given below, acts as an index to the species articles. It forms part of the full List of Butterflies of India.

Genus 1 - Leptosia, The Psyche

Genus 2 - Baltia, The Dwarfs

Genus 3 - Euchloe, The Little Whites

Genus 4 - Pieris, The Whites

Genus 5 - Aporia, The Blackveins

Genus 6 - Delias, The Jezebels

Genus 7 - Prioneris, The Sawtooths

Genus 8 - Anaphaeis, The Pioneers

Genus 9 - Cepora, The Gulls

Genus 10 - Appias, The Puffins and Albatrosses

Genus 11 - Catopsilia, The Emigrants

Genus 12 - Gandaca, The Tree Yellow

  • [[ | ]],

Genus 13 - Dercas, The Sulphurs

Genus 14 - Gonepteryx, The Brimstones

Genus 15 - Eurema, The Grass Yellows

Genus 16 - Colias, The Clouded Yellows

Genus 17 - Ixias, The Indian Orange Tips

Genus 18 - Colotis, The Arabs

Genus 19 - Hebomoia, The Great Orange Tip

Genus 20 - Pareronia, The Wanderers

Life Cycle

  • Eggs - Tall, bottle-shaped eggs which are ribbed down the sides. They are generally white, eventually changing to yellow or orange, or, they may be blotched with red.
  • Caterpillars - The caterpillars are cylindrical and smooth usually covered with hairy-ended tubercles. They are generally green and have pale longitudinal stripes. They are all generally similar and difficult to distinguish apart.
  • Chrysalids - Angular with a pointed head which may be produced into a long snout. Supported by a tail hook and girth, some being suspended head upwards like the Swallowtails and others being fastened horizontally to a leaf or other surface.

Foodplants

The foodplants vary considerably, however there is a general trend, in that the Whites mostly use Capers, (Family Capparidaceae) while the Yellows usually prefer members of the Family Leguminosae, which consist of peas, clover, Cassia and others.

References

  • Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
  • Gay,Thomas; Kehimkar,Isaac & Punetha,J.C.(1992) Common Butterflies of India. WWF-India and Oxford University Press, Mumbai, India.
  • Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History.
  • Kunte,Krushnamegh (2005) Butterflies of Peninsular India. Universities Press.
  • Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.

See also

  • LEPINDEX Taxonomy project of Natural History Museum, London -

http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/jdsml/perth/lepindex/index.dsml?UserID=&UserName=

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