Friday, October 16, 2015

Familiar Butterflies of Jaipur

Jaipur is not exactly a hotspot for butterflies in India. True hotspots would naturally include areas in the Western Ghats or in North Eastern India. However, lest the seasoned observer scoff at a checklist of the butterflies of Jaipur, do remember that a few species found here are not quite so common in the rest of the country. In particular the Arabs, several of which are indeed (as the name suggests) 'desert specialists'. Their distribution extends from the Thar desert to the Arabian peninsula.

I have been working on a checklist of the butterflies of Rajasthan (and not just of Jaipur) for several years now. Of course the lament is similar as that for other creatures of the wild: dwindling numbers and fewer sightings over time of the more interesting species. It is not for me to conjecture why in this blogpost.

Curiously enough, news fitfully trickles out that a 'butterfly park' will soon commence in Jaipur. This has been in the works for years. A few of the butterfly species being mentioned, that the authorities plan to 'catch and release' in the park, have me baffled.

For what it is worth, here are some of the familiar butterflies of Jaipur that I have observed and photographed. This is not an exhaustive list (deliberately so!), and I would look forward to hearing from you of any additions by email at sahdevsingh2004@yahoo.co.in


Blue Pansy - Junonia orithya

Yellow Pansy - Junonia hierta
Lemon Pansy - Junonia lemonias
Peacock Pansy - Junonia almana
Blue Tiger - Tirumala limniace
Plain Tiger - Danaus chrysippus
Striped Tiger - Danaus genutia
Common Jay - Graphium doson
Tailed Jay - Graphium agamemnon
Common Mormon - Papilio polytes
Common Rose - Pachliopta aristolochiae
Lime Butterfly - Papilio demoleus
Common Crow - Euploea core
Common Emigrant - Catopsilia pomona
Mottled Emigrant - Catopsilia pyranthe
Danaid Eggfly - Hypolimnas misippus
Great Eggfly - Hypolimnas bolina
Common Gull -Cepora nerissa
Common Jezebel - Delias eucharis
Pioneer - Belenois aurota
Small Salmon Arab - Colotis amata
Large Salmon Arab - Colotis fausta
Small Orange Tip - Colotis etrida
White Orange Tip - Ixias marianne
Common Evening Brown - Melanitis leda
Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui
African Babul Blue - Azanus jesous
Bright Babul Blue - Azanus ubaldus
Oriental Grass Jewel - Freyeria putli
Zebra Blue - Leptotes plinius
Common Grass Yellow - Eurema hecabe
Spotless Grass Yellow - Eurema laeta
Rounded Pierrot - Tarucus nara
Common Banded Awl - Hasora chromus
Indian Red Flash - Rapala iarbus
Indian Palm Bob - Suastus gremius

Copyright Reserved.
Please do not share or use the checklist and pictures in any publication or forum without my permission.

Sahdev Singh
16th October 2015

3 comments:

  1. Is these all butterflies found in all area of Rajsthan? ??

    ReplyDelete
  2. Butterfly only from Jaipur are included or whole Rajasthan butterfly covered

    ReplyDelete
  3. Obviously pls read the title..
    Btw, amazing blog!!

    ReplyDelete