This is a list of the butterflies of India belonging to the family Lycaenidae and an index to the species articles. This forms part of the full list of butterflies of India.
This list is based on Evans (1932) and includes 318 species belonging to 76-128 genera depending on taxonomy.
Checklist
Subfamily Poritiinae
Genus Poritia Moore, 1866 - The Gems
Genus Simiskina Distant, 1886 - The Brilliants
Subfamily Miletinae
Genus Miletus Hübner, 1819 - The Brownies
Genus Allotinus C. & R. Felder, 1865 - The Darkies
Genus Paragerydus - The Common Darkie
Genus Miletographa - The Darkies
Genus Logania - The Mottles
Genus Spalgis - The Apefly
Genus Taraka - The Forest Pierrot
Other subfamilies
Genus Talicada - The Red Pierrot
Genus Castalius - The Common Pierrot
Genus Caleta - The Angled Pierrot
Genus Discolampa - The Banded Blue Pierrot
Genus Pycnophallium - The Pierrots
Genus Tarucus - The Blue Pierrots
- Tarucus dharta Bethune-Baker, 1918. Assam Pierrot (L10.2).
- Tarucus venosus Moore, 1882 Himalayan Pierrot. (L10.3).
- Tarucus callinara Butler, 1886. Spotted Pierrot (L10.4).
- Tarucus theophrastus Fabricius, 1793. Pointed Pierrot (L10.5).
- Tarucus extricatus Butler, 1886. Rounded Pierrot (L10.6).
- Tarucus alteratus Moore, 1882. Rusty Pierrot (L10.7).
- Tarucus nigra Bethune-Baker, 1918. Spotted Pierrot (L10.8).
- Tarucus nara Kollar, 1848. Striped Pierrot (L10.9).
- Tarucus indica Evans, 1932. Indian Pierrot
- Tarucus balkanicus (Freyer, 1845). Balkan Pierrot
Genus Syntarucus - The Zebra Blue
Genus Azanus - The Babul Blues
Genus Niphanda - The Pointed Pierrots
Genus Pithecops - The Forest Quakers
Genus Neopithecops - The Quaker
Genus Elkayce - The Tailed Cupids
Genus Shijimia - Moore's Cupid
Genus Bothrinia - The Hedge Cupid
Genus Megisba - The Malayan
Genus Lycaenopsis - The Hedge Blues
Genus Celastrina - The Hedge Blues
- Celastrina melaena (Doherty, 1889). Metallic Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis melaena Rhe Phil (L19.4).
- Celastrina albocoeruleus (Moore, 1879). Albocerulean, previously Lycaenopsis albocoerulea Moore (L19.11).
- Celastrina musina (Snellen, 1892). Swinhoe's Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis musina Swinhoe (L19.14).
- Celastrina lavendularis (Moore, 1877). Plain Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis lavendularis Moore (L19.15).
- Celastrina cardia (Felder, 1860). Pale Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis cardia Moore (L19.16).
- Celastrina huegeli (Moore, 1882). Large Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis huegelii Moore (L19.18).
- Celastrina ladonides (De L'Orza, 1869). Silvery Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis ladonides Hemming (L19.19).
- Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus 1758). Hill Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis argiolus Woodmason (L19.20).
- Celastrina iynteana (De Nicéville, 1883). Jyntea Hedge Blue, previously Lycaenopsis jynteana De Nicéville (L19.21).
- Celastrina dipora (Moore, 1865). Dusky Blue Cupid, previously Everes dipora Moore (L16.3).
Genus Acytolepis - The Hedge Blues
Genus Oreolyce - The Naga Hedge Blue
Genus Arletta - The Dusky Hedge Blue
Genus Akasinula - The White Hedge Blue
Genus Cyaniris - The Hedge Blues
Genus Notarthinus - Chapman's Hedge Blue
Genus Polyommatus - The Meadow Blues
Genus Udara - The Hedge Blues
Genus Phengaris - The Great Spotted Blue
Genus Pseudophilotes - The Chequered Blue
Genus Plebejus - The Small Jewel Blue
Genus Albulina - The Mountain Blues
Genus Tiora - Dusky Meadow Blue
Genus Chilades - The Lime Blue
Genus Zizeeria - The Grass Blues
Genus Pseudozizeeria - The Pale Grass Blue
Genus Zizula - The Tiny Grass Blue
Genus Freyeria - The Grass Jewel
Genus Euchrysops - The Gram Blues
Genus Edales - The Plains Cupid
Genus Anthene - The Ciliate Blues
Genus Catachrysops - The Forgetmenots
Genus Lampides - The Ceruleans and the Peablue
Genus Jamides - The Ceruleans
Genus Orthomiella - The Straightwing Blue
Genus Una - The Una
Genus Nacaduba - The Lineblues
Genus Catapyrops - Felder's Lineblue
Genus Prosotas - The Lineblues
- Prosotas aluta (Druce, 1873). 'Banded Lineblue, previously Nacaduba aluta, Nacaduba nora (L30.11).
- Prosotas nora (Felder, 1860). Common Lineblue, previously Nacaduba nora Felder (L30.13).
- Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, 1879). Tailless Lineblue, previously Nacaduba dubiosa Evans (L30.14).
- Prosotas noreia (Felder, 1868). White-tipped Lineblue, previously Nacaduba noreia Felder (L30.15).
- Prosotas dilata (Evans, 1932). previously Nacaduba dilata Evans.
- Prosotas pia Toxopeus, 1929. (From FUNET site)
- Prosotas bhutea (de Nicéville, 1884). Bhutya Lineblue. Sikkim - Assam, Karens, Yunnan. Earlier Nacaduba bhutea (L30.12). (From FUNET site)
- Prosotas lutea (Martin, 1895). (From FUNET site)
Genus Petrelea - The Dingy Lineblue
Genus Lycaena - The Coppers
- Lycaena pavana Kollar, 1848. White-bordered Copper (L31.1).
- Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761). Common Copper (L31.2).
- Lycaena thetis Klug, 1834. Golden Copper (L31.3).
- Lycaena kasyapa (Moore, 1865). Green Copper (L31.4)
- Lycaena semiargus Stauder, 1923. Chumbi Argus, previously Polyommatus semiargus Elwes (L20.6).
- Lycaena metallica Felder & Felder, 1865. Small Green Underwing, previously Polyommatus metallica Tytler (L20.11).
- Lycaena galathea Blanchard, 1844. Large Green Underwing, previously Polyommatus galathea Evans (L20.12).
- Lycaena orbitulus (Esper, 1800). Greenish Mountain Blue, previously Polyommatus orbitulus Evans (L20.13).
- Lycaena younghusbandi Elwes, 1906. Chumbi Green Underwing, previously Polyommatus younghusbandi Elwes (L20.9).
Genus Heliophorus - The Sapphires
Genus Strymon - The White-line Hairstreaks
Genus Pamela - Lister's Hairstreak
Genus Euaspa - Water Hairstreak
Genus Thecla - The Hairstreaks
Genus Esakiozephyrus - The Hairstreaks
Genus Chrysozephyrus - The Hairstreaks
- Chrysozephyrus ataxus (Westwood, 1851). Wonderful Hairstreak, previously Thecla ataxus Doubleday (L37.4).
- Chrysozephyrus surioia (Tytler, 1915). Cerulean Hairstreak, previously Thecla surioia Tytler (L37.6).
- Chrysozephyrus vittata (Tytler, 1915). Tytler's Hairstreak, previously Thecla vittata Tytler (L37.7).
- Chrysozephyrus duma (Hewitson, 1869). Metallic Green Hairstreak, previously Thecla duma Hewitson (L37.8).
- Chrysozephyrus zoa (De Nicéville, 1889). Powdered Green Hairstreak, previously Thecla zoa De Nicéville (L37.9).
- Chrysozephyrus kabrua (Tytler, 1915). Kabru Hairstreak, previously Thecla kabrua Tytler (L37.11).
- Chrysozephyrus birupa (Moore, 1877). Fawn Hairstreak, previously Thecla birupa Moore (L37.12).
- Chrysozephyrus jakamensis (Tytler, 1915). Jakama Hairstreak, previously Thecla jakamensis Tytler (L37.13).
- Chrysozephyrus syla (Kollar, 1848). Silver Hairstreak, previously Thecla syla Kollar (L37.14).
- Chrysozephyrus kirbariensis (Tytler, 1915). Kirbari Hairstreak, previously Thecla kirbariensis Tytler (L37.15).
- Chrysozephyrus paona (Tytler, 1915). Paona Hairstreak, previously Thecla paona Tytler (L37.16).
- Chrysozephyrus khasia (De Nicéville, 1890). Tailless Metallic Green Hairstreak, previously Thecla khasia De Nicéville (L37.17).
Genus Teratozephyrus - The Suroifui Hairstreak
Genus Chaetoprocta - The Walnut Blue
Genus Amblopala - The Chinese Hairstreak
Genus Curetis - The Sunbeams
Genus Iraota - The Silverstreak Blues
Genus Horsfieldia - The Leaf Blue
Genus Thaduka - The Many-tailed Oak-Blue
Genus Mahathala - The Falcate Oakblue
Genus Apporasa - The Crenulate Oakblue
Genus Amblypodia - The Oakblues
- Amblypodia suffusa Tytler, 1915. Tytler's Rosy Oakblue (L45.4).
- Amblypodia silhetensis Hewitson, 1862. Sylhet Oakblue (L45.5).
- Amblypodia yendava Grose-Smith, 1887. Singapore Oakblue (L45.6).
- Amblypodia agaba Hewitson, 1862. Purple-glazed Oakblue (L45.12).
- Amblypodia alax Evans, 1932. Silky Oakblue (L45.15).
- Amblypodia paralea Evans, 1925. Glazed Oakblue (L45.17).
- Amblypodia alesia Felder, 1865. Pallid Oakblue (L45.24).
- Amblypodia dodonaea Moore, 1857. Pale Himalayan Oakblue (L45.25).
- Amblypodia rama (Kollar, 1848). Dark Himalayan Oakblue (L45.26).
- Amblypodia apidanus Doherty. Plain Plushblue (L45.42) Flos apidanus (?).
- Amblypodia areste Hewitson, 1862. Tailless Plushblue (L45.46).
Genus Arhopala - The Oakblues
- Arhopala anarte (Hewitson 1862). Magnificent Oakblue, previously Amblypodia anarte Hewitson (L45.1).
- Arhopala camdeo (Moore, 1857). Lilac Oakblue, previously Amblypodia camdeo Moore (L45.3).
- Arhopala ace De Nicéville, 1892. Tytler's Dull Oakblue, previously Amblypodia ace Tytler (L45.7).
- Arhopala agrata De Nicéville, 1890. DeNiceville's Oakblue, previously Amblypodia agrata De Nicéville (L45.8).
- Arhopala oenea (Hewitson, 1869). Hewitson's Oakblue, previously Amblypodia aenea Hewitson (L45.9).
- Arhopala khamti Doherty, 1891. Doherty's Oakblue, previously Amblypodia khamti Doherty (L45.10).
- Arhopala alemon (De Nicéville 1891). Indian Oakblue, previously Amblypodia alemon De Nicéville (L45.14).
- Arhopala amantes (Hewitson, 1862). Large Oakblue, previously Amblypodia amantes Hewitson (L45.18).
- Arhopala bazalus (Hewitson, 1862). Powdered Oakblue, previously Amblypodia bazalus Hewitson (L45.20).
- Arhopala eumolphus (Cramer, 1782). Green Oakblue, previously Amblypodia eumolphus (L45.21).
- Arhopala ormistoni Riley, 1920. Ormiston's Oakblue, previously Amblypodia ormistoni (L45.22).
- Arhopala comica De Nicéville, 1900. Comic Oakblue, previously Amblypodia comica (L45.27).
- Arhopala paramuta (De Nicéville, 1884). Hooked Oakblue, previously Amblypodia paramuta (L45.28).
- Arhopala asopia (Hewitson, 1869). Plain Tailless Oakblue, previously Amblypodia asopia (L45.29).
- Arhopala zeta (Moore, 1877). Andaman Tailless Oakblue, previously Amblypodia zeta (L45.30).
- Arhopala arvina (Hewitson 1869). Purple Brown Tailless Oakblue, previously Amblypodia arvina (L45.31).
- Arhopala ammon (Hewitson, 1862). Malayan Bushblue, previously Amblypodia ammon(L45.35).
- Arhopala birmana (Moore, 1883) Burmese Bushblue, previously Amblypodia birmana (L45.36).
- Arhopala ellisi Evans, 1914. Ellis's Bushblue, previously Amblypodia ellisi (L45.38).
- Arhopala abseus (Hewitson, 1862). Aberrant Bushblue, previously Amblypodia abseus (L45.39).
- Arhopala diardi (Hewitson, 1862). Bifid Plushblue, previously Amblypodia diardi (L45.40).
- Arhopala fulgida (Hewitson, 1863). Shining Plushblue, previously Amblypodia fulgida (L45.41).
- Arhopala chinensis Felder, 1865. Chinese Plushblue, previously Amblypodia chinensis (L45.45).
Genus Nilasera - The Oakblues
- Nilasera opalina Moore, 1883. Opal Oakblue, previously Amblypodia opalina Moore (L45.2).
- Nilasera centaurus (Fabricius, 1775). Centaur Oakblue, previously Amblypodia centaurus Moore (L45.16).
- Nilasera adriana De Nicéville, 1884. Variegated Plushblue, previously Amblypodia adriana De Nicéville (L45.43).
- Nilasera asoka De Nicéville, 1884 . Spangled Plushblue, previously Amblypodia asoka De Nicéville (L45.44).
- Narathura fulla (Hewitson, 1862). Spotless Oakblue, previously Amblypodia fulla Riley (L45.47).
Genus Panchala - The Oakblues
Genus Acesina - The Oakblues
Genus Narathura - The Tamil Oakblue
Genus Darasana - The Tailless Oakblue
Genus Surendra - The Acacia Blue
Genus Zinaspa - The Silver Streaked Acacia Blue
Genus Mota - The Saffron
Genus Loxura - The Yamfly
Genus Yasoda - The Branded Yamfly
Genus Drina - The Brown Yamfly
Genus Apharitis - The Tawny Silverline
Genus Spindasis - The Silverlines
Genus Aphnaeus - The Silverlines
- Aphnaeus schistacea Moore, 1881. Plumbeous Silverline, previously Spindasis schistacea Moore (L52.2).
- Aphnaeus gabriel Swinhoe, 1912. Grey Silverline, previously Spindasis gabriel Swinhoe (L52.3).
- Aphnaeus abnormis Moore, 1883. Abnormal Silverline, previously Spindasis abnormis Moore (L52.4).
- Aphnaeus ictis Hewitson, 1865. Common Shot Silverline, previously Spindasis ictis Felder (L52.5).
- Aphnaeus elima Moore, 1877. Scarce Shot Silverline, previously Spindasis elima Moore (L52.6).
- Aphnaeus nipalicus Moore, 1884. Silvergrey Silverline, previously Spindasis nipalicus Moore (L52.7).
- Aphnaeus rukmini De Nicéville, 1889. Khaki Silverline, previously Spindasis rukmini De Nicéville (L52.8).
- Aphnaeus syama (Horsfield, 1829). Club Silverline, previously Spindasis syama Moore (L52.10).
- Aphnaeus lilacinus Moore, 1884. Lilac Silverline, previously Apharitis lilacinus Moore (L51.2).
Genus Zesius - The Redspot
Genus Pratapa - The Tufted Royals
Genus Dacalana - The Double Tufted Royal
Genus Ancema - The Royals
- Ancema cotys (Hewitson, 1865). White-banded Royal, previously Pratapa cotys Hewitson (L54.2).
- Ancema ctesia (Hewitson, 1865). Bi-spot Royal, previously Pratapa ctesia Hewitson (L54.3).
- Ancema blanka (De Nicéville, 1895). Silver Royal, previously Pratapa blanka Evans (L54.4).
- Ancema icetoides (Elwes, 1892). Blue Royal Assam, previously Pratapa icetoides De Nicéville (L54.7).
- Ancema ister (Hewitson, 1865). Uncertain Royal, previously Tajuria ister Hewitson (L55.5).
Genus Creon - The Broadtail Royal
Genus Maneca - The Slate Royal
Genus Tajuria - The Royals
Genus Remelana - The Chocalate Royal
Genus Sithon - The Orange and Black Royal
Genus Ops - The Branded Royal
Genus Bullis - The Baby Royal
Genus Creusa - The Black-branded Royal
Genus Iolaus - The Royals
Genus Cophanta - The White Royal
Genus Charana - The Mandarin Blues
Genus Neocheritra - The Pale Grand Imperial
Genus Suasa - The Red Imperial
Genus Cheritrella - The Truncate Imperial
Genus Cheritra - The Common Imperial
Genus Ticherra - The Blue Imperial
Genus Biduanda - The Posies
Genus Rathinda - The Monkeypuzzle
Genus Horaga - The Onyxs
Genus Catapaecilma - The Common Tinsel
Genus Pentila - The Yellow Tinsel
Genus Acupicta - The Dark Tinsel
Genus Chliaria - The Tits
Genus Hypolycaena - The Tits
Genus Zeltus - The Fluffy Tit
Genus Artipe - The Green Flash
Genus Deudorix - The Cornelians
Genus Virachola - The Guava Blues
Genus Rapala - The Flashes
- Rapala rubida Tytler, 1926. Rosy Flash (L72.1).
- Rapala refulgens De Nicéville, 1891. Refulgent Flash (L72.2).
- Rapala suffusa (Moore, 1878). Suffused Flash (L72.4).
- Rapala tara De Nicéville, 1889. Assam Flash (L72.5).
- Rapala sphinx Fabricius, 1775. Brilliant Flash (L72.6).
- Rapala varuna (Hewitson, 1863). Indigo Flash (L72.7).
- Rapala schistacea (Moore, 1879). Slate Flash (L72.8).
- Rapala scintilla De Nicéville, 1890. Scarce Slate Flash (L72.9).
- Rapala pheritimus Hewitson. Copper Flash (L72.10).
- Rapala dieneces (Hewitson, 1878). Scarlet Flash (L72.11).
- Rapala buxaria De Nicéville, 1889. Short Flash (L72.14).
- Rapala iarbus (Fabricius, 1787). Common Red Flash, previously Rapala jarbas Fabricius (L72.13).
- Rapala hypargyria Elwes, 1892. Scarce Cornelian, previously Deudorix hypargyria Elwes (L70.2).
Genus Vadebra - The Malabar Flash
Genus Baspa - The Indian Red Flash
Genus Bidaspa - The Flashes
Genus Sinthusa - The Sparks
Genus Bindahara - The Plane
Genus Araotes - The Witch
Genus Liphyra - Moth Butterfly
Cited references
References
Print- (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. 2nd Ed, (i to x, pp454, 9 figs, Plates I to XXXII), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.
- ; & (1992) Common Butterflies of India. WWF-India and Oxford University Press, Mumbai, India.
- . (1992) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History (pp 217). Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation.
- . (2000) Butterflies of Peninsular India, (i to xviii, pp254, Plates 1 to 32) Universities Press (India) Ltd, Hyderabad (reprint 2006). ISBN 81-7371-354-5
- (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.Online
Online
- , , & (Editors). 2003. The Global Lepidoptera Names Index (LepIndex). World Wide Web electronic publication.
(accessed 26 September 2007).
- Website on Lepidoptera
(accessed 26 September 2007)
See also