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 Grass Yellow

Common Grass Yellow - Eurema hecabe Linnaeus

Common Grass Yellow Butterflies Mating

Wingspan: 40-50mm.

A right yellow butterfly with black borders on the upperside of its wings. It is found all over India.

It has a weak fluttering flight and feeds mostly on small, low growing flowers.

Eggs are laid on closed tender leaves of leguminous plants.

Eggs of Common Grass Yellow Butterfly

Caterpillar is yellowish, does not venture far from and pupation occurs on or near the host plant, near to the ground.

Caterpillar of Common Grass Yellow Butterfly

Pupa of Common Grass Yellow Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Host plants are Legunimous and of families Mimosaceae (acacias, touch me not), Caesalpiniaceae (Cassia) and Fabaceae.

Common Mime

Common Mime - Papilio clytia Linnaeus

Wingspan: 90-120mm.

common mime is a tail-less swallowtail. It has two forms clytia which mimics the Common Indian Crow and the form dissimilis which mimics the Blue Tiger.

Common Mime Butterfly

Common mime is usually found in the hilly regions. It mainly feeds from flowers of shrubs and small trees. Males engage in mud puddling.

Caterpillar of common mime is velvety black or dark green rests on upper side of leafs.

 

Caterpillar of Common Mime Butterfly

Pupa resembles a dead twig about an inch long, broken off irregularly at the tip.

 

Pupa of Common Mime Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Plants of family Lauraceae

Alseodaphne semicarpifolia, Cinnamomum camphora, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Litsea chinensis and Litsea deccanensis.

Common Jay

Common Jay  Graphium doson C & R Felder

 

Common Jay Butterfly

 Winspan: 70 - 80 mm.

 

Common Jay Butterfly

A black butterfly with a pale blue, semi transparent central band. Underside of the wings is brown. Both the sexes look alike. 

 

Common Jay butterflies mudpuddling

 

Caterpillar is very sluggish and is found on the center portion of the  upper side of the leaves.

 

Caterpillar of Common Jay Butterfly

Pupa is green in color has yellowish wing cases and lateral bands.

 

Pupa of Common Jay Butterfly

Larva Host Plants

Plants of family Lauraceae and Annonaceae :-

Alsedaphne semecarpifolia, Cinnamomum camphora, C. macrocarpum, C. malabatrum, Litsea chinensis, Miliusa tomentosa, Polyalthia longifolia and Persea macrantha.

Lime Butterfly

Lime Butterfly  Papilio demoleus.

Wingspan: 80 - 100mm.

Lime Butterflies engaged in Mudpuddling

A medium sized  swallow tail with black wings that become brownish in old ones. Wings are spotted with various shades of yellow. Undersides are marked with lemon yellow, red and blue. Sexes are alike. Large groupes of Lime Butterfly engaged in Mud puddling is a common sight. It occurs through out the year, but more commonly during the monsoon and post-monsoon  months.

Lime Butterfly

The eggs are similar to that of common mormon, but caterpillars are easily distinguishable from that common mormon caterpillar because of the yellowish olive green with a white spiracular band. Pupa is light green and unmarked and very similar to the common mormon. 

Larva host plants: Citrus varieties like Citrus aurantifolia, C. grandis, C. limon, C.sinensis, Murraya koenigii, Atlantia racemosa etc.

Common Mormon

Common Mormon  Papilio polytes Linnaeus


Wingspan: 90 - 100mm.

Common mormon is the  most common species among swallow tail butterflies. Male is black with an array of white spots along the central areas of the hind-wing. The border of the fore wing is marked with smaller white spots.

 

Common Mormon female laying eggs

 Females have three forms, the form cyrus similar to the male and the romulus form mimicking Crimson Rose butterfly. The form stichius is a mimic of Common Rose Butterfly.

 Malabar Banded Swallow Tail

 Malabar Banded Swallow Tail an endemic butterfly of Western Ghats is a similar species to the Common Mormon.

Common Mormon Butterfly Emerging from Pupa

Common Mormon is a regular sight in city garden to forest because of the abundance of larva host plant and nectaring plants. Males often engage in mud puddling; which is a common sight at riverbeds and wet soil.

 

Egg of Common Mormon Butterfly

The eggs are laid on the upper surface of the tender leaves and shots.

 

Caterpillar of Common Mormon Butterfly

First instars of the caterpillar look likes to bird-drops. Pupas are varid in colurs from green to yellow and dry leaves' colour.

Pupa of Common Mormon Butterfly

Larva host plants: Citrus sp. Murraya koeigii, M. paniculata, Glycosmis arborea etc.

Blue Mormon

Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor Cramer.

Life Cycle of Blue Mormon Butterfly

 

Wingspan:120 - 150 mm.

A large black and blue butterfly with red spots at the base of its wing. One of the second largest butterflies in South India. Very common in forests, midland and coastal area. 

 Blue Mormon Butterfly

Regular visitor of flowers of Clearodendron sp, Mussanda sp. and Ixora etc which have long corolla tubes.. Male likes sunshine and females are shadow dwellers. 

Blue Mormon Butterfly Mudpuddling

Males like mud puddling along with other butterflies. It also basks in shady pathways with its wings spread flat. A common butterfly in cities also because of the abundance of the larva host plants and flowers for nectar.

Blue Mormon Butterfly Egg - ready to hatch

The eggs are laid on the upper surface of the leaves or on tender shoots. The eggs are spherical and light green when in fresh, later turning orange yellow.

Caterpillar of Blue Mormon Butterfly

 The caterpillars are very similar to the Common Mormon.

Pupa of Blue Mormon Butterfly 

Larva host plants: Citrus sp., Atalantia racemosa, A. wightii, Glycosmis arborea etc.

Southern Birdwing - Troides minos Cramer

Southern birdwing butterfly with a wingspan of 140 – 190 mm is the largest of southern Indian butterflies. Female of this species is larger than male but is less beautiful; a series of large triangular spots on the yellow areas of the hind-wings which lack in the male helps distinguish males and females. Males are bright black and golden yellow.

 

Southern Birdwing Butterfly

A regular visitor of home gardens; fond of nectar from Mussanda, Lantana and Ixora sp. Etc. Usually common in monsoon and post monsoon seasons and sharing a varied of habitats from forests to coastal areas.

Southen Birdwing Female

 Eggs are dark orange in color and are laid on the leaves and tender shoots of the Aristolochia plants.  Aristolochia indica, A. tagla and Thottea siliquosa.

Southern birdwing butterfly egg

 

Egg of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Flight

Southern birdwing butterfly is a strong flier and it flies high above tree tops in the forests. It flies in a leisurely manner, circling and sailing over the plants.

Habits

It starts flying very early in the morning. Is very fond of nectar and readily visits Mussanda, Lantana and Ixora sp. Etc.

Caterpillar

Southern birdwing caterpillar is similar to that of Common Rose and is velvety maroon – red with a shiny black head.

 

Caterpillar of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Pupa

Pupa of southern birdwing is also similar to that of common rose butterfly. It is pale brown or green and is marked with fine brown striations and minute markings.

Pupa of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagala, Thottea siliquosa.

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).

Crimson Rose - Pachlipta hector Linnaeus

 

Crimson Rose is one among the larger varieties of butterflies found in India. It is a large butterfly with glossy black color and has two broad white bands on its fore wings and bright crimson spots on the tailed hind wings which help identify the species.

 Crimson Rose Butterfly

 A very similar species to Crimson Rose butterfly is the Common Rose; but they lack the white bands on their forewings and have elongated white spots on their hind wing. The romulus form of Common Mormon female is a mimic of Crimson Rose butterfly but is smaller in size, black in color and have duller shades.

Flight

Crimson Rose has a slow, fluttering but steady flight and flies faster, stronger and higher.

Habits

Readily visits nectar sources like Lantana, Cleorodendron s. etc. Basks with wings spread flat. Have strong migrational instincts.

 Wingspan :- 90 -110mm.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar of Crimson Rose butterfly is purplish black or blackish brown with a black head and orange red tuercles, and a transverse yellowish white band on segments 6 to 8 is very prominent.

 Caterpillar of Crimson Rose Butterfly

Pupa

Pupa of Crimson Rose butterfly is pinkish brown with darker, expanded wing cases. The wing like expansion on the abdomen is distinctive.

Larval Host Plants

The romulus form of Common Mormon female mimicking Crimson Rose Butterfly Laying Eggs

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

Plain Tiger - Danaus Chrysippus

Plain Tiger - Danaus Chrysippus

Plain Tiger Butterfly

Scientific name - Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus
Old name - Danais chrysippus Linnaeus

Plain Tiger Butterfly

Plain Tiger or African Monarch is a butterfly with a wingspan of 70- 80 mm. this is a tawny, medium sized butterfly. The body is black, spotted with white. The apical half of the fore wing is black and marked with a pure white band. The hind wing has three small, black spots approximately at the centre. The male has an additional larger and slightly bulging white centered spot. This spot is a cluster of scent scales that attract females. The hind wing has a thin, black border that encloses a series of semicircular white spots. The butterfly is somewhat oily and smooth to touch. The male is smaller than the female.

Plain Tiger Butterflies Mating

Larval Host Plants

The caterpillars feed on "milkweed" plants. These in our region, include a large bush - Calotropis gigantea, a herb growing in the vicinity of water - Asclepias curassavica and a straggling bush - Cryptolepis buchnani (Asclepiadaceae). The first two are commonly used.

Butterfly Egg

Butterfly eggs consist of a hard-ridged outer layer of shell, called the chorion. This is lined with a thin coating of wax which prevents the egg from drying out before the larva has had time to fully develop. Each egg contains a number of tiny funnel-shaped openings at one end, called micropyles; the purpose of these holes is to allow sperm to enter and fertilize the egg. Butterfly and moth eggs vary greatly in size between species, but they are all either spherical or ovate.

Butterfly Eggs

The egg is the fertilized ovum of the female. Butterfly eggs are commonly yellow or green in color and may darken just before hatching. The shape of the egg may be spherical or oval and flattened. The chorion ( egg – shell ) is often beautifully reticulated / sculptured with ribs or pits. The egg is slightly depressed at the top and a small opening or micro Pyle is situated in it. Through the micro Pyle, the sperm enters the egg for fertilization and after the eggs are laid, air and moisture for the developing embryo pass through the micro Pyle only . egg yolk provides the food for the developing embryo.

Butterfly Eggs are always laid on or in the immediate vicinity of plants or any other food resource suitable for larval feeding. They are laid singly or in clusters, mostly on the upper surface of leaves or any part of the plant and a few species of butterflies scatter their eggs at random as they fly over vegetation. Frequently, eggs are laid on the undersurface of the leaf to protect them from rain, direct sunlight and to some extend predators. The female usually glues the eggs to the surface of the leaf or any substrate with a viscous secretion from her body. Female butterflies select the food plants for egg laying both by chemical and visual cues. Species of danaidae scratch the leaf to confirm the identity before laying eggs. Females avoid plants that already have eggs laid on them. Thus ensures that food is there for her eggs only.

The fully formed embryo of the developing larva can be seen through the transparent chorion, just before hatching. The young larva gnaws its way through the shell and after hatching, it eats the shell as it contains nutrients essential for the larva. After eating the shell, the larvae will start devouring the food plant. Generally the egg period lasts for 3 – 4 days.

Butterfly Life Cycle

Butterfly Life Cycle - Facinating creatures these........

Butterfly Life Cycle

The life cycle of a butterfly has four stages, From Egg - Larva or Caterpillar - Pupa or Chrysalis - Adult Butterfly and is said to have a complete life cycle or metamorphosis.

Characteristically, butterflies undergo major developmental changes during their growth. For example, the butterfly lays eggs which hatch into creeping forms with chewing mouth parts. These are called caterpillars or larvae. Incidentally, the word caterpillar is derived from two latin words, catta pilosa, meaning ‘hairy car’ which is quite descriptive of some kinds. But butterfly larvae are not hairy. During this stage, the butterfly feeds and grows. As a matter of fact, it is only during the larval stage, that actual growth occurs, and a caterpillar’s only aim in life is to feed and store up food. As it increases in size, however, the number of cells in the body does not increase; they merely become larger. When full grown, the caterpillar sheds its skin and transforms into a pupa. This is called chrysalis in the case of butterfly. When this transformation occurs, the larval cells begin to die and clusters of adult cells, which have so far been quiescent, are stimulated into growth by hormones or chemical regulators secreted by glands in the head and thorax.

During the pupal stage, the larval tissues are torn down and slowly rebuilt into organs more fitted for aerial life. When the chrysalis is mature, the wings and legs of the future butterfly can be seen through its transparent skin. The developed butterfly crawls out by splitting open the chrysalis. At first, its wings are mere fluid filled sacs, but these rapidly expand and harden, and the adult winged butterfly is then ready for flight. It no longer has mouth parts fitted fro chewing leaves; they are now tube like and are used only for siphoning nectar from flowers. There is no growth during the adult stage.