Common Pierrot

Common Pierrot - Castalius rosimon Fabricius

Wingspan: 24-34mm

Common Pierrot Butterfly

Larva Host Plants

Ziziphus rugosa and Ziziphus mauritiana (Rhamnaceae).

Gram Blue

Gram Blue - Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius

Wingspan: 25 -33mm

Gram Blue Butterfly

Gram Blue Butterfly

Gram Blue Butterfly

Larva Host Plants

Acacia spp., Butea monosperma, Paracalyx scariosa, Ougeinia oojeinensis, Pisum sativum, Vigna cylindrica and Vigna trilobata (Fabaceae and Mimosaceae).

Monkey Puzzle

Monkey Puzzle - Rathinda amor Fabricius

Monkey Puzzle Butterfly

Monkey Puzzle Butterfly

Monkey Puzzle Butterfles Mating

Caterpillar of Monkey Puzzle Butterfly

Caterpillars of Monkey Puzzle Butterfly

Nigger

Nigger Orsotriaena medus Fabricius

Nigger Butterfly

Tawny Coster

Tawny Coster - Acraea Violae Fabricius

Wingspan: 50-65mm

Tawny Coster Butterfly

Tawny Coster Butterfly

Tamil Yeoman

 Tamil Yeoman Cirrochroa thais Fabricius

Tamil Yeoman Butterfly

Tamil Yeoman Butterfly

Psyche

Psyche - Leptosia nina Fabricius

Psyche Butterfly

Wingspan: 35-50mm

Psyche is a bright white butterfly with a big black spot on its fore wings. It has slow flight and mainly spends time in shaded places.

Larval Host Plants

Capparaceae - Capparis rheedii, Capparis spinosa, Capparis zeylanica, Cleome viscosa and Crateva adansonii

Common Emigrant

Common Emigrant - Catopsilia pomona Fabricius

Common Emigrant Butterfly

Wingspan: 55-80mm

Color and Size variation in Common Emigrant Butterfly

One of the most variable butterfly species in India in regard of size and color.

Common Emigrant Butterflies Mudpuddling

Common Emigrant Butterflies Mudpuddling

Egg of Common Emigrant Butterfly

Eggs of Common Emigrant Butterfly

Caterpillar is yellowish and green when young later turns leafy green.

Caterpillar of Common Emigrant Butterfly

Caterpillar of Common Emigrant Butterfly

Pupation takes place close to the ground in dense foliage.

Pupa of Common Emigrant Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Cassia fistula, Cassia siamea and Cassia tora (Caesalpiniaceae) , Butea frondosa and Bauhinia racemosa (Fabaceae and Caesalpiniaceae)

Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Fabricius

Common Rose is one of the most beautiful swallow tail butterflies to be found in India. With a wingspan of 80 -110 mm it is also a large butterfly. It is black in color with a crimson body and has a large white area on its hind wings. The outer margin of its hind wings has a series of deep red or brownish red spots. Both sexes of this butterfly species look alike.

 

 Crimson Rose Butterfly

Crimson rose and Malabar rose are two species that look alike the Common rose. But crimson rose is larger, brighter and it also has two white central bands on its fore wings. And Malabar rose has a much larger white patch on its hid wings and is only found in southern and central western ghats. The stichius form of the Common mormon female mimics Common rose.

Flight

Flight of the common rose butterfly is slow but straight and long sustained, usually flies at a height of 3 – 4 meters from the ground but when traveling long distances it attains heights up to 10 – 15 meters.

Habits

Common rose butterfly is fond of flowers especially of Lantana, Cleorodendron, Cosmos, Zinnia etc. It occasionally visits wet soil patches, baskes with its wings spread out.

Newly Emerged Common Rose Butterfly

Newly emerged common rose butterfly

Caterpillar

Caterpillar of common rose butterfly is velvety maroon in color and has a white band on its abdominal segments. It is bulky, has fleshy protuberances on the body and moves very slowly. Caterpillars are very similar to that of Southern Birdwing but smaller and with out pale ash markings on the body.

Pupa

Pupa of common rose butterfly is brownish in color, has a large flat semi circular projections on the back of abdomen, thorax and head. It is usually supported by a body band which is attached to the stick where it hangs.

Larval Host Plants

Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagala, Aristolochia bracteolate and Thottea siliquosa (Aristolochiaceae).