Butterflies

of
Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

: By :
Mr. Atul Rambhau Deokar, MFS
RFO, East Pench, PTR
Maharashtra
© Atul R. Deokar
 Foreword

Though insects are considered to be not so lovely by majority of people, a order of class insecta, ‘the
butterfly’ is much admired by everybody. Probably they are the most beautiful and common insects in the
world. One can find butterflies everywhere, from backyard garden to roadsides. During and after
monsoon the forest turns into a butterfly paradise and the colorful messengers of The God flutter around
every corner of forest spreading lovely colors of life.
Everybody has a curious corner in the heart and wishes to know the names of these beautiful little angels.
But the pictorial guides are not so easily available to a common man. This was noticed by our young
forest officer Mr. Atul Deokar. Hence, he has taken much efforts to click, collect and document the
diversity of butterfly in Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra.
The result of his hard work is in our hands and I believe that this pictorial guide will prove helpful for all
novices and curious minds.
All the Best.
M. S. Reddy, IFS
Chief Conservator of Forest (WL) & Field Director,
Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra.
Produced by :
The Office of Chief Conservator of Forest & Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, Near
Government Press, Zero Miles, Civil Lines, Nagpur - 440 001,
Ph. No. 0712-2560727 / 2560748,
Email:- [email protected]
Website :- www.mahapenchtiger.com, www.mahaecotourism.gov.in

©2016 Chief Conservator of Forest & Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

All Right Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission
of the Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra.

Photogaraph :
All photographs by Mr. Atul R. Deokar, MFS

Designed by :
M. Naveed Zafar

References :
1) The Book of Indian Butterflies, Isaac Kehimkar
2) Kunte, K., P. Roy, S. Kalesh and U. Kodandaramaiah (eds.) 2016. Butterflies of India, v. 2.23. Indian
Foundation for Butterflies.
3) Wikipedia
Map showing of Map of Pench
land use cover of PTR.

Legend
Builtup Land Crop Land
Water body Fallow Land
Forest Land
 Introduction of Butterflies

Butterfly is one of the most diverse creature of Insecta order and also most studied
insect. Conservation Biologist used butterfly as indicator of climate change and
environmental degradation. There are about 18,000 butterfly species in the world
where 1,501 species are reported from India. Out of which 177 butterflies have been
reported from Central Province of India by D'Abreau in 1931. Then many scholars and
researchers listed butterflies from this region. Tiple, A. D. (2011) compiled all such
studies and stray records from Vidarbha region and reported 167 species.
Earlier Pench Tiger Reserve had a checklist of 34 butterfly species which is extended to
75 species this year with the efforts of forest officers of this tiger reserve.

Life Cycle of Butterfly

Life cycle of a butterfly includes four stages as briefed further

First Stage (Egg) : A butterfly starts life as a very small, round, oval or cylindrical egg.
Butterfly eggs vary in texture, shape and size according to species. The egg shell is
tough and consists of chitin. A minute opening at the top of the egg called micropyle,
allows exchange of gases for development.
Cont..
Second Stage (Caterpillar / Larva) : The fertilized egg takes from three to six days to
hatch. The first food for caterpillar is the empty egg shell from which it emerged. The
caterpillar eats out every edible leaf, bud, shoot that comes in its way.

Third Stage (Pupa) : A full grown caterpillar stops feeding and regurgitates out all
undigested food. Then spins a bag around itself. This pupa is firmly anchored to some
structure. The duration of this stage depends upon weather and vegetational season.

Fourth Stage (Adult) : After completion of pupal stage a full grown butterfly emerges
out head first. Generally this happens in morning time. The wings of butterfly at this
time are crumbled. The butterfly sits steadily and pumps haemolymph (blood) into the
veins so that the wings get straightened and strong.

© Atul R. Deokar
Common wanderer female laying eggs.
Nymphalidae
© Atul R. Deokar
© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Bamboo Tree Brown Common Name : Baronet Common Name : Brown King Crow
Scientific Name : Lethe europa Scientific Name : Euthalia nais Scientific Name : Euploea klugii
Wing Span : 65 - 75 mm Wing Span : 60 - 70 mm Wing Span : 85 - 100 mm

The name “Butterfly” was first used for the butter-coloured insect now known as the brimstone butterfly.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Chocolate Pansy Common Name : Grey Pansy Common Name : Lemon Pansy
Scientific Name : Junonia iphita Scientific Name : Junonia atlites Scientific Name : Junonia lemonies
Wing Span : 55 - 80 mm Wing Span : 55 - 65 mm Wing Span : 40 - 60 mm

The Painted Lady is the most commonly found butterfly in the world.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Peacock Pansy Common Name : Yellow Pansy Common Name : Blue Pansy
Scientific Name : Junonia almana Scientific Name : Junonia hierta Scientific Name : Junonia orithya
Wing Span : 60 - 65 mm Wing Span : 45 - 60 mm Wing Span : 45 - 60 mm

A butterfly's wing is formed by layers of chitin.

And the thousands of tiny scales covering the transparent chitin reflect the light in different colors.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Glassy Tiger Common Name : Commander Common Name : Common Bush Brown
Scientific Name : Parantica aglea Scientific Name : Moduza procris Scientific Name : Mycalesis perseus
Wing Span : 70 - 85 mm Wing Span : 60 - 75 mm Wing Span : 38 - 55 mm

Some butterflies are poisonous. When a predator eats one of these butterflies it becomes sick,
vomits violently, and quickly learns not to eat this type of butterfly.
The sacrifice of one butterfly will save the lives of many of its kind.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Five ring Common Name : Common Evening Common Name : Common Leopard
Scientific Name : Ypthima baldus Brown Scientific Name : Phalanta phalantha
Wing Span : 32 - 48 mm Scientific Name : Melanitis leda Wing Span : 50 - 60 mm
Wing Span : 60 - 80 mm
Some butterflies are not poisonous at all,
but they imitate the species that are renowned for being poisonous in the animal kingdom.
They repel the predators by mimicking their deadly cousins.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Danaid Eggfly Common Name : Dark Evening Brown Common Name : Striped Tiger
Scientific Name : Hypolimnas misippus Scientific Name : Melanitis phedima Scientific Name : Danaus genutia
Wing Span : 70 - 85 mm Wing Span : 60 - 85 mm Wing Span : 72 - 100 mm

Butterflies have taste receptors on their feet. It helps them to ascertain whether the leaf they are sitting on is good to lay eggs or not.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Blue Tiger Common Name : Plain Tiger Common Name : Great Eggfly
Scientific Name : Tirumala limniace Scientific Name : Danaus chrysippus Scientific Name : Hypolimnas bolina
Wing Span : 90 - 100 mm Wing Span : 70 - 80 mm Wing Span : 71 - 110 mm

Being cold-blooded animals, butterflies cannot regulate their body temperature.

So the butterflies have to warm up their flight muscles above 300 Celsius by basking in the sun.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Sergent Common Name : Common Sailer Common Name : Short-banded Sailer
Scientific Name : Athyma perius Scientific Name : Neptis hylas Scientific Name : Phaedyma columella
Wing Span : 60 - 70 mm Wing Span : 50 - 60 mm Wing Span : 60 - 70 mm

To supplement their diet, a butterfly sips occasionally from the mud puddles,
which are rich in salts and minerals. This is called as Mud puddling.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Towny Rajah Common Name : Long-brand Bushbrown Common Name : Common Crow
Scientific Name : Charaxes bernardus Scientific Name : Mycalesis visala Scientific Name : Euploea core
Wing Span : 85 - 110 mm Wing Span : 45 - 55 mm Wing Span : 85 - 95 mm

Mud puddlling helps male butterflies to incorporate the minerals into their sperm,
which are transferred to females during mating.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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 © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Tawny Coster

Scientific Name : Acraea violae
Wing Span : 50 - 65 mm

Caterpillars eat only the leaves of the plants. But their first meal is its own eggshell.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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Hespiridae
© Atul R. Deokar
© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Blank Swift Common Name : Bush Hopper Common Name : Golden Angle
Scientific Name : Caltoris kumara Scientific Name : Ampittia dioscorides Scientific Name : Carona ransonnetti
Wing Span : 40 - 46 mm Wing Span : 22 - 28 mm Wing Span : 35 - 45 mm

The lifespan of a butterfly depends on various factors like size, species, location and the time it turns into an adult.
However, the average lifespan is somewhere between 3 days and 11 months.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Grass Demon Common Name : Rice Swift Common Name : Malabar Spotted Flat
Scientific Name : Upaspes folus Scientific Name : Borbo cinnara Scientific Name : Celaenorrhinus ambareesa
Wing Span : 40 - 48 mm Wing Span : 30 - 36 mm Wing Span : 45 - 55 mm

Butterflies have a long and flexible tube-like tongue called proboscis that they use for sucking nectar of the flower.
The proboscis remains curled under their chin.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Spotted Angle Common Name : Small Branded Swift Common Name : Chestnut Bob
Scientific Name : Caprona agama Scientific Name : Pelopidas mathias Scientific Name : Iambrix salsala
Wing Span : 30 - 50 mm Wing Span : 32 - 38 mm Wing Span : 26 - 30 mm

The butterflies have ultraviolet markings on their wings that help them locate potential mates.
Even flowers have ultraviolet markings that signal pollinators like butterflies to come to them.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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 © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Conjoined Swift

Scientific Name : Pelopidas conjuncta
Wing Span : 45 - 52 mm

Butterflies have two antennae on their head, which they use to feel, hear and smell.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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Papilionidae
© Atul R. Deokar
© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Mormon Common Name : Common Rose Common Name : Crimson Rose
Scientific Name : Papilio polytes Scientific Name : Pachliopta aristolochiae Scientific Name : Pachliopta hector
Wing Span : 90 - 100 mm Wing Span : 80 - 110 mm Wing Span : 90 - 110 mm

A few butterfly species mimic others. The mimicry is of two types - Batesian mimicry and Müllerian mimicry.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Great Jay Common Name : Spot Swordtail Common Name : Lime Butterfly
Scientific Name : Graphium eurypylus Scientific Name : Graphium nomius Scientific Name : Papilio demoleus
Wing Span : 75 - 100 mm Wing Span : 75 - 90 mm Wing Span : 80 - 100 mm

Batesian mimicry is a form of mimicry where a harmless

species has evolved to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species directed at a predator of them both
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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Pieridae
© Atul R. Deokar
© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Emigrant Common Name : Mottled Emigrant Common Name : Indian Pioneer
Scientific Name : Catopsilia pomona Scientific Name : Catopsilia pyranthe Scientific Name : Belenois aurota
Wing Span : 55 - 80 mm Wing Span : 50 - 70 mm Wing Span : 40 - 55 mm

Müllerian mimicry is a natural phenomenon in which two or more distasteful species,

that may or may not be closely related and share one or more common predators,
have come to mimic each other's warning signals.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Albatross Common Name : Three-spot Grass Yellow Common Name : Common Grass Yellow
Scientific Name : Appias albina Scientific Name : Eurema blanda silhetana Scientific Name : Eurema hecabe
Wing Span : 60 - 75 mm Wing Span : 40 - 45 mm Wing Span : 40 - 50 mm

The Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) is the largest butterfly of India with a
wingspan of 140–190 mm, it is found in southern India.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Small Grass Yellow Common Name : Common Jezebel Common Name : Spotless Grass Yellow
Scientific Name : Eurema brigitta Scientific Name : Delias eucharis Scientific Name : Eurema laeta
Wing Span : 30 - 40 mm Wing Span : 66 - 83 mm Wing Span : 30 - 45 mm

Members of Papilionidae family like Bhutan Glory and Kaisar-E-Hind are

considered to be the most beautiful butterflies in india.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Gull Common Name : Tree Yellow Common Name : Oriental Psyche
Scientific Name : Cepora nerissa Scientific Name : Gandaca harina Scientific Name : Leptosia nina
Wing Span : 40 - 65 mm Wing Span : 35 - 45 mm Wing Span : 35 - 50 mm

The Grass Jewel is the smallest butterfly in India.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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Lycaenidae © Atul R. Deokar
© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Common Cerulean Common Name : Common Guava Blue Common Name : Grass Jewel
Scientific Name : Jamides celeno Scientific Name : Virachola isocrates Scientific Name : Freyeria trochylus
Wing Span : 27 - 40 mm Wing Span : 34 - 50 mm Wing Span : 15 - 22 mm

Distribution of butterflies is highly related with the phenological stages of the plants,
the three types of plant population categories are larval food plants, nectar plants, and shade plants.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Lesser Grass Blue Common Name : Indian Cupid Common Name : Forget-me-not
Scientific Name : Zizina otis Scientific Name : Chilades parrhasius Scientific Name : Catochrysops strabo
Wing Span : 19 - 26 mm Wing Span : 22 - 28 mm Wing Span : 25 - 35 mm

Colour helps the butterfly with their temperature control. Dark colours absorb more heat, than light colours.
Some butterflies such as the Blues have a shiny underside to their wing, which can help them reflect heat.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Plains Cupid Common Name : Gram Blue Common Name : Dark Grass Blue
Scientific Name : Chilades pandava Scientific Name : Euchrysops cnejus Scientific Name : Zizeeria karsandra
Wing Span : 25 - 35 mm Wing Span : 25 - 33 mm Wing Span : 18 - 24 mm

Many butterflies have developed interesting ways of defending themselves from predators.
One method is disguise, or “cryptic coloration”, where the butterfly has the ability to look like a leaf
or blend into the bark of a tree to hide from predators.
Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Rounded Pierrot Common Name : Common Lineblue Common Name : Dark Cerulean
Scientific Name : Tarucus extricatus Scientific Name : Prosolas nora Scientific Name : Jamides bochus
Wing Span : 23 - 28 mm Wing Span : 18 - 25 mm Wing Span : 25 - 34 mm

Some caterpillars can emit very bad smell through a special gland to ward off predators.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Lime Blue Common Name : Common Silverline Common Name : Common Pierrot
Scientific Name : Chilades lajus Scientific Name : Spindasis vulcanus Scientific Name : Castalius rosmion
Wing Span : 26 - 30 mm Wing Span : 26 - 34 mm Wing Span : 24 - 34 mm

A larva can grow more than 3,000 times heavier since birth.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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© Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Tiny Grass Blue Common Name : Zebra Blue Common Name : Tailless Lineblue
Scientific Name : Zizula hylax Scientific Name : Leptotes plinius Scientific Name : Prosotas dubiosa
Wing Span : 16 - 24 mm Wing Span : 22 - 30 mm Wing Span : 22 - 26 mm

Poisonous butterflies get their toxicity from the plants they eat in larval stage.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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 © Atul R. Deokar

Common Name : Indian Sunbeam

Scientific Name : Cureties thetis
Wing Span : 40 - 48 mm

Butterflies can often detect the approach of rain before it’s arrival and take shelter well in advance.

Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra

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 Acknowledgment
“Butterflies of Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharshtra”, is my 2nd book after the “Treasure of
Kolamarka”.
Pench Tiger Reserve has great diversity & ecological value. It’s dense forests & wild
animals are believed to have inspired Rudyard Kipling to write his very popular “ The
Jungle Book”.
Butterflies adding most important role for the beauty of Pench Tiger Reserve. Earlier 34
no. of Butterfly species listed form this park & now it’s 75 no. of species identified so far.
I have immense pleasure in expressing my deep sense of gratitude indebtness & sincere thanks to Mr. M.
S. Reddy (IFS) sir, Chief Conservator of Forest (WL) & Field Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, Nagpur for
his continues support & gratitude in field work.
I would like to thanks to Mr. A. W. Nimje, Deputy Director, Pench Tiger Reserve, for his help & support
in work.
I also thanks to ACF team of PTR, Mr. Sawant, Mr. Kale & Mrs. Talmale for their motivation of guidance
in work. Special thanks to Mr. Bhagwat and Mr. Kare sir for their help in editing this book.
I would like to express the deepest appreciation to all my RFO colleagues, BCRLIP Team & my dear
field staff.
This work is dedicated to my family for motivating to do such a work. The last but not the least I would
like to thanks & appreciate my wife, Deepali & my daughter, Adhira for their kind support and
understanding me in every step of this work.
I will always welcome your suggestions & corrections to improve the work.
Thank you.
Mr. Atul Rambhau Deokar (MFS)
email : [email protected]