Butterflies of Sri Lanka

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244 species of butterflies occur in Sri Lanka, of which about 20 are endemics. Their habitats range from the hottest areas in the arid zones to the coolest areas in the forested hills. Some butterflies can be seen all year round while others are seasonal. In size, they range from the large, aptly named Bird-wing butterfly to the tiny, just as aptly named, Grass Jewel.

                   

The highest number of species of butterflies occur in the foothills up to 3000 feet elevation. About half a dozen species occur above 4000 feet. Twenty species are strictly confined to the dry zone below 500 feet. There are two major seasons in which the butterfly numbers peak. These correspond to the onset of the south-west monsoon in March-April and the north-east monsoon in September-October.

The eleven families found in Sri Lanka are Danaidae, Satyridae, Amathusiidae, Nymphalidae, Acraeidea, Libytheidae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae.

Endemics are indicated by an asterisk (*).
Danaidae General Characteristics

Danaus chrysippus
Danaus genutia
Euploea core asela
Euploea klugii sinhala
Euploea phaenareta corus
Euploea sylvester montana
Idea iasonia
Ideopsis similis exprompta
Parantica aglea
Parantica taprobana
Tirumala limniace leopardus
Tirumala septentrionis  musikanos

Plain Tiger
Common Tiger
Common Indian Crow
Brown King Crow
The Great Crow
Double Branded Black Crow
Ceylon Tree Nymph*
Blue Glassy Tiger
Glassy Tiger
Ceylon Tiger*
Blue Tiger
Dark Blue Tiger


Blue Tiger


Satyridae
Elymnias hypermnestra fraterna
Elymnias singala
Lethe daretis
Lethe drypetis
Lethe dynsate
Lethe rohria yoga
Melanitis lede ismene
Melanitis phedima tambra
Mycalesis mineus polydecta
Mycalesis perseus typhlus
Mycalesis rama
Mycalesis visala subdita
Nissanga patnia patnia
Orsotriaena medus mandata
Ypthima ceylonica
Ypthima singala
Common Palmfly
Ceylon Palmfly*
Ceylon Treebrown*
Tamil Treebrown
Ceylon Forester*
Common Treebrown
Common Evening Brown
Dark Evening Brown
Dark-Brand Bushbrown
Common Bushbrown
Cingalese Bushbrown*
Tamil Bushbrown
Gladeye Bushbrown
Nigger
White Four-ring
Jewel Four-ring*


Tamil Treebrown


Amathusiidae
Discophora lepida ceylonica Southern Duffer

Nymphalidae
Argynnis hyperbius taprobana
Ariadne ariadne minorata
Ariadne merione taprobana
Byblia ilithyia
Cethosia nietneri nietneri
Charaxes psaphon
Charaxes solon cerynthus
Cirrochroa thais lanka
Cupha erymanthis placida
Doleschallia bisaltide ceylonica
Dophla evelina evelina
Euthalia aconthea vasanta
Euthalia lubentina psittacus
Hypolimnas bolina
Hypolimnas misippus
Junonia almana almana
Junonia atlites
Junonia hierta
Junonia iphita pluviatalis
Junonia lemonias vaisya
Junonia orithya patenas
Kaniska canace haronica
Kallima philarchus philarchus
Neptis hylas varmona
Neptis jumbah nalanda
Moduza procris calidasa
Pantoporia hordonia sinuata
Parthenos sylvia cyaneus
Phalanta alcippe ceylonica
Phalanta phalantha
Polyura athamas
Rohana parisatis camiba
Symphaedra nais
Vanessa indica nubicola
Vanessa cardui
Vindula erota asela
Indian Fritillary
Angled Castor
Common Castor
Joker
Tamil Lacewing
Tawny Rajah
Black Rajah
Tamil Yeoman
Rustic
Autumn Leaf
Redspot Duke
Baron
Gaudy Baron
Great Eggfly
Danaid Eggfly
Peacock Pansy
Grey Pansy
Yellow Pansy
Chocolate Soldier
Lemon Pansy
Blue Pansy
Blue Admiral
Blue Oak Leaf*
Common Sailor
Chestnut Streaked Sailor
Commander
Common Lascar
Clipper
Small Leopard
Common Leopard
Common Nawab
Black Prince
Baronnet
Indian Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Cruiser


Baron


Lemon Pansy


Indian Fritillary


Acraeidae
Telchinia violae Tawny Coster

Libytheidae
Libythea celtis lepitoides
Libythea myrrha rama
Beak
Club Beak


Club Beak


Riodinidae
Abisara echerius prunosa Plum Judy

Lycaenidae
Acytolepis lilacea moorei
Acytolepis puspa felderi
Amblypodia anita naradoides
Anthene lycaenina lycaenina
Arhopala abseus mackwoodi
Arhopala amantes amantes
Arhopala bazaloides lanka
Arhopala ormistoni
Arhopala pseudocentaurus pirama
Azanus jesous gamra
Azanus ubaldus
Bindahara phocides
Caleta decidia
Castalius rosimon
Catapaecilma major myositina
Catochrysops panormus
Catochrysops strabo
Celestrina lavendularis
Cheritra freja pseudojaffra
Chilades lajus lajus
Chilades pandava lanka
Chilades parrhasius nila
Curetis thetis
Deudorix epijarbas epijarbus
Discolampa ethion ethion
Euchrysops cnejus
Everes lacturnus parrhasius
Freyeria trochilus
Horaga albimacula viola
Hypolycaena nilgirica
Horaga onyx cingalensis
Ionolyce helicon viola
Iraota timoleon nicevillei
Jamides alecto meilichius
Jamides bochus bochus
Jamides celeno tissama
Jamides coruscans
Jamides lacteata
Lampides boeticus
Loxura atymnus arcuata
Megisba malaya
Nacaduba berenice ormistoni
Nacaduba beroe minima
Nacaduba calauria toxopeus
Nacaduba hermus sidoma
Nacaduba kurava prominens
Nacaduba ollyetti
Nacaduba sinhala
Nacaduba pactolus ceylonica
Neopithecops zalmora
Petrelaea dana
Pratapa deva deva
Prosotas dubiosa indica
Prosotas nora ardates
Prosotas noreia noreia
Rapala iarbus sorya
Rapala lankana
Rapala manea schistacea
Rapala varuna lazulina
Rathinda amor
Spalgis epeus epeus
Spindasis ictis ceylanica
Spindasis lohita lazularia
Spindasis lunulifera fairliei
Spindasis nubilis
Spindasis schistacea
Surendra vivarna discalis
Spindasis vulcanus fusca
Syntarucus plinius
Tajuria arida
Tajuria cippus longinu
Tajuria jehana ceylonicas
Talicada nyseus nyseus
Tarucus callinara
Tarucus nara
Udara akasa mavisa
Udara lanka
Udara singalensis
Virachola isocrates
Virachola perse ghela
Zesius chrysomallus
Zizeeria karsandra
Zizina otis decreta
Zizula hylax hylax
Hampson's Hedge Blue
Common Hedge Blue
Purple Leaf Blue
Pointed Ciliate Blue
Aberrant Bushblue
Large Oakblue
Tamil Oakblue
Ormiston's Oakblue*
Centaur Oakblue
African Babul Blue
Bright Babul Blue
Plane
Angled Pierrot
Common Pierrot
Common Tinsel
Silver Forget-me-not
Forget-me-not
Plain Hedge Blue
Common Imperial
Lime Blue
Plains Cupid
Small Cupid
Indian Sunbeam
Cornelian
Banded Blue Pierrot
Gram Blue
Indian Cupid
Grass Jewel
Brown Onyx
Nilgiri Tit
Common Onyx
Pointed Lineblue
Silver Streak Blue
Metallic Cerulean
Dark Cerulean
Common Cerulean
Ceylon Cerulean*
Milky Cerulean*
Pea Blue
Yamfly
Malayan
Rounded Six Lineblue
Opaque Six Lineblue
Dark Ceylon Six Lineblue
Pale Four Lineblue
Transparent Six Lineblue
Woodhouse's Four Lineblue*
Pale Ceylon Six Lineblue*
Large Four Lineblue
Quaker
Dingy Lineblue
White Southern Royal
Tailless Lineblue
Common Lineblue
White-tipped Lineblue
Indian Red Flash
Malabar Flash
Slate Flash
Indigo Flash
Monkey-puzzle
Apefly
Ceylon Silverline
Long-banded Silverline
Scarce Shot Silverline
Clouded Silverline*
Plumbeous Silverline
Common Acacia Blue
Common Silverline
Zebra Blue
Ceylon Indigo Royal*
Peacock Royal
Plains Blue Royal
Red Pierrot
Butler’s Spotted Pierrot
Striped Pierrot
White Hedge Blue
Ceylon Hedge Blue*
Singalese Hedge Blue
Common Guava Blue
Large Guava Blue
Redspot
Dark Grass Blue
Lesser Grass Blue
Tiny Grass Blue

Ceylon Silver Line

Dark Grass Blue

Butler's Spotted Pierrot

Dingy Line Blue

Pea Blue

Grass Jewel


Pieridae
Appias albina darada
Appias indra narendra
Appias libythea libythea
Appias lyncida taprobana
Appias galene
Belenois aurota taprobana
Catopsilia crocale
Catopsilia pyranthe minna
Catopsilia pomona
Cepora nerissa evagete
Cepora nadina cingala
Colotis amata modestus
Colotis aurora
Colotis danae danae
Colotis etrida limbata
Colotis fausta fulvia
Delias eucharis
Eurema ormistoni
Eurema blanda silhetana
Eurema brigitta rubella
Eurema hecabe simulata
Eurema laeta laeta
Hebomoia glaucippe ceylonica
Ixias marianne
Ixias pyrene cingalensis
Leptosia nina nina
Pareronia ceylanica ceylanica
Prioneris sita
Common Albatross
Plain Puffin
Striped Albatross
Chocolate Albatross
Lesser Albatross*
Pioneer
Common Emigrant
Mottled Emigrant
Lemon Emigrant
Common Gull
Lesser Gull
Small Salmon Arab
Plain Orange Tip
Crimson Tip
Little Orange Tip
Large Salmon Arab
Common Jezebel
One-Spot Grass Yellow
Three Spot Grass Yellow
Small Grass Yellow
Common Grass Yellow
Spotless Grass Yellow
Great Orange Tip
White Orange Tip
Yellow Orange Tip
Psyche
Dark Wanderer
Painted Sawtooth

Common Jezebel

Small Salmon Arab


Papilionidae
Chilasa clytia lankeswara
Graphium sarpedon teredon
Graphium doson
Graphium agamemnon menides
Pathysa nomius nomius
Pathysa antiphates ceylonicus
Papilio crino
Papilio demoleus demoleus
Papilio helenus mooreanus
Papilio polymnestor parinda
Papilio polytes romulus
Pachliopta aristolochiae ceylonica
Pachliopta hector
Pachliopta jophon jophon
Troides darsius
Common Mime
Common Bluebottle
Common Jay
Tailed Jay
Spot Swordtail
Five bar Swordtail
Common Banded Peacock
Lime Butterfly
Red Helen
Blue Mormon
Common Mormon
Common Rose
Crimson Rose
Ceylon Rose*
Common Birdwing*

   
Common Banded Peacock


Hesperiidae General Characteristics
Ampittia dioscorides singa
Badamia exclamationis
Baracus vittatus vittatus
Baoris penicillata
Bibasis oedipodea ataphus
Bibasis sena sena
Borbo cinnara
Caprona alida lanka
Caprona ransonnettii
Catloris kumara lanka
Catloris philippina seriata
Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus
Choaspes benjaminii 
Coladenia indrani tissa
Gangara lebadea subfasciata
Gangara thyrsis clothild
Gomalia elma albofasciata
Thoressa decorata
Halpe homolea ceylonica
Halpe homolea egena
Hasora badra lanka
Hasora chromus chromus
Hasora taminatus taminatus
Hyarotis adrastus adrastus
Iambrix salsala luteipalpus
Matapa aria
Notocrypta curvifascia
Notocrypta paralysos alysia
Oriens goloides
Panara bada bada
Pelopidas agna agna
Pelopidas conjuncta narooa
Pelopidas mathias mathias
Pelopidas thrax subochracea
Potanthus confucius satra
Potanthus pallida
Potanthus pseudomaesa
Sarangesa dasahara albicilia
Spialia galba
Suastus gremius subgrisea
Suastus minuta minuta
Tagiades japetus obscurus
Tagiades litigiosa ceylonica
Tapena thwaitesi thwaitesi
Taractrocera maevius
Telicota ancilla lanka
Telicota colon amba
Udaspes folus
Bush Hopper
Brown Awl
Hedge Hopper
Paint Brush Swift
Branded Orange Awlet
Orange-Tailed Awl
Wallace's  Swift
Ceylon Golden Angle
Golden Angle
Blank Swift
Philippine Swift
Black Flat*
Indian Awl King
Tricolor Pied Flat
Banded Red Eye
Giant Red Eye
African Marbled Skipper
Decorated Ace*
Ceylon Ace
Rare Ace
Ceylon Banded Awl
Common Banded Awl
White Banded Awl
Tree Flitter
Chestnut Bob
Common Red Eye
Restricted Demon
Common Banded Demon
Common Dartlet
Smallest Swift
Little Branded Swift
Conjoined Swift
Small Branded Swift
Large Branded Swift
Tropic Dart
Indian Dart
Common Dart
Common Small Flat
Indian Skipper
Indian Palm Bob
Ceylon Palm Bob
Ceylon Snow Flat
Water Snow Flat
Black Angle
Common Grass Dart
Dark Palm Dart
Pale Palm Dart
Grass Demon
 


Ceylon Snow Flat


Decorated Ace

Small Branded Swift


All material protected by copyright. If you need to use any of the material here for personal use, please ask. Endemics (pers comm, Harish Gaonkar, in prep, The Atlas of the Butterflies of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, The Natural History Museum, London)