Common Butterflies I

Contribution and Photo credits

Deep Jyoti Roy, B. Sc 6^th Semester Major,

Dept. of Zoology, Darrang College, Tezpur

                                  Common Evening Brown. Melanitis leda

This is an inconspicuous brown butterfly. The upperside is dark brown with an eye-spot and a white pupil on the forewings surrounded by orange patches (especially in the dry season form). The underside is very much variable. In the wet season forms, the wings are marked with small eye spots and black streaks and the ground colour is yellowish-brown. The dry season forms are pale brown with a few obscure markings. The apex of the fore wing is produced and angular only in the wet season forms. The sexes are similar in appearance. It has a wingspan of 60-80 mm.

Online Resources

Images: https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/503/Melanitis-leda

           Asian Cabbage White, Pieris canidia

  This a predominantly white butterfly. The apex of forewing on the upperside is black with a few terminal black spots. There are black marginal spots on the hindwing also. A large black spot is present in the outer half of forewing, on both the surfaces. The underside of the hindwing is dirty white, densely dusted with dirty yellow, grey and greenish scales. The female has an additional black spot on the upperside of the forewing. It has wing span of 45-60 mm.

Online Resources

Images:https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/876/Pieris-canidia

                                     Striped Tiger. Danaus genutia

 

It is a medium-sized butterfly with tawny (light brown to brownish-orange coloured) wings and black veins, giving it a striped appearance. The apical half of the forewing is black with a white band. The wings are bordered in black and outlined with semi-circular white spots. The male has a black-and-white spot on the underside of the hindwing. It has a wingspan of about 7-8 cm.

Online Resources

Images: https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/699/Danaus-genutia

  

                         

                    Lemon Pansy. Junonia lemonias

It is a brown butterfly with numerous eye-spots as well as black and lemon-yellow spots and lines on the forewing and hindwing. In the dry season, the markings are reduced and in the wet season, they are more prominent and larger. The colouration on the underside of the forewing is also variable. In the wet season, the markings are distinct and vivid, in the dry season, they are obscure and pale, thus aiding the butterfly in camouflage among dried leaf- litter. The male and female look similar. It has a wingspan of about 45- 60 mm.

Online Resources

Images:https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/772/Junonia-lemonias

                                     Common Sailer. Neptis hylas

The wings are black with two white bands composed of spots. The cell of the forewing is almost entirely white, with a triangular white mark in front of it. The underside is chestnut and the central white band is outwardly edged in black. The wings are narrow. The body is metallic green with a brown sheen. The male and female have similar markings.

Online Resources  

Images: https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/#!/sp/480/Neptis-hylas

Reference

Kunte, K. (2000). India- A lifescape: Butterflies of Peninsular India. Indian Academy of Science, Universities Press, Hyderabad, India.