List of butterflies of India (Pieridae)

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The article is a list of the pierid butterflies of India. It forms part of the full list of butterflies of India.

The family Pieridae, or the Whites and Yellows are a family of butterflies of moderate or small size. The common names 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, 81 species in 21 genera are found in India.

File:VV001 Delias eucharis Enhanced.JPG
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

Worldwide, the family Pieridae has four subfamilies, of which the Whites and the Yellows are well represented in India.

Subfamily Pierinae, The Whites

Genus Aporia, The Blackveins

Genus Baltia, The Dwarfs

Genus Pieris, The Whites

Genus Pontia, The Bath Whites

Genus Anaphaeis, The Pioneers

Genus Cepora, The Gulls

Genus Ixias, The Indian Orange Tips

Genus Delias, The Jezebels

Genus Prioneris, The Sawtooths

Genus Appias, The Puffins and Albatrosses

Genus Leptosia, The Psyche

Genus Euchloe, The Little Whites

Genus Hebomoia, The Great Orange Tip

Genus Colotis, The Arabs

Genus Pareronia, The Wanderers

Subfamily Coliadinae, The Yellows

Genus Catopsilia, The Emigrants

Genus Gonepteryx, The Brimstones

Genus Dercas, The Sulphurs

Genus Eurema, The Grass Yellows

Genus Gandaca, The Tree Yellow

Genus Colias, The Clouded Yellows

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.

Food plants

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.

External links

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