List of butterflies of Pakistan
Encyclopedia
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. Twenty eight species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of Papilionidae (Swallowtail butterflies) have been identified.
Sub-Family : Parnassiinae (Apollo Butterflies)
- Hypermnestra heliosHypermnestra heliosHypermnestra helios is a species of swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Parnassinae family and is the sole member of its genus. It is found in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Kirghizstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. It is locally common in desert habitats.-Description:Male upperside:...
- Parnassius accoParnassius accoVarnished Apollo Parnassius acco is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-Description:Upperside: dull greyish white...
- Parnassius actiusParnassius actiusParnassius actius is a high altitude butterfly found in Central Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-Range:...
- Parnassius boedromiusParnassius boëdromiusParnassius boëdromius is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Asia. It has a restricted range, known only along the borders of Kirghizia, Kazakstan and Xinjiang...
- Parnassius charltoniusParnassius charltoniusRegal Apollo Parnassius charltonius is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family. This handsome butterfly is found from 9000 to 13,000 ft from Chitral to Kumaon.DescriptionMaleUpperside: creamy-white...
- Parnassius delphiusParnassius delphiusThe Banded Apollo Parnassius delphius is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family.-Status:...
- Parnassius epaphusParnassius epaphusCommon Red Apollo Parnassius epaphus is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family...
- Parnassius hardwickiiParnassius hardwickiiCommon Blue Apollo Parnassius hardwickii is a high altitude butterfly which is found in South Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family...
- Parnassius inopinatusParnassius inopinatusParnassius inopinatus is a high altitude butterfly which is found only in Afghanistan and parts of NW Pakistan.It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-References:...
- Parnassius jacquemontiiParnassius jacquemontiiKeeled Apollo Parnassius jacquemontii is a high altitude butterfly which is found in India and Pakistan. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family...
- Parnassius loxiasParnassius loxiasParnassius loxias is a high altitude butterfly which is found in Kirghizia and West China.It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family.-References:...
- Parnassius simoParnassius simoThe Black-edged Apollo Parnassius simo is a high altitude butterfly found in the Himalayas which belongs to the Papilionidae family.-Description:Male upperside: dull white, the veins black...
- Parnassius staudingeriParnassius staudingeriParnassius staudingeri is a high altitude butterfly which is found over a vast area - Pamirs, Alay Mountains, Hindu Kush, Karakorum and West Kuen-Lun.It is a member of the genus Parnassius of the swallowtail family....
- Parnassius stoliczkanusParnassius stoliczkanusLadakh Banded Apollo Parnassius stoliczkanus is a rare high-altitude butterfly which is found in Central Asia. It is a member of the Snow Apollo genus Parnassius of the Swallowtail family. It is named after the naturalist and explorer Ferdinand Stoliczka.-Description:Male upperside dull white...
- Parnassius tianschanicus
Subfamily: Papilioninae (Swallowtails, Peacocks and Mimes)
- Iphiclides podalirius
- Graphium cloanthusGraphium cloanthusThe Glassy Bluebottle is a common, non-threatened tropical butterfly.-Description:Upperside, fore wing: costal margin up to a line through the anterior half of the cell to the apex of the wing and the terminal margin broadly black; the medial portion of the wing pale hyaline greenish-yellow...
- Graphium dosonGraphium dosonThe Common Jay is a black, tropical papilionid butterfly with pale blue semi-transparent central wing bands that are formed by large spots. There is a marginal series of smaller spots. The underside of wings is brown with markings similar to upperside but whitish in color...
- Papilio agestor
- Papilio alexanorPapilio alexanorPapilio alexanor, the Alexanor, is a butterfly species in the Papilionidae or swallowtails.The insect has a wingspan of 62 – 70 mm...
- Papilio arcturusPapilio arcturusThe Blue Peacock is species of swallowtail butterfly found in India.-Description:Male has the upper wings brownish black, somewhat paler on the fore than on the hind wing...
- Papilio clytia
- Papilio demoleusPapilio demoleusPapilio demoleus, the Common Lime Butterfly, is a common and widespread Swallowtail butterfly. It gets its name from its host plants which are usually citrus species such as the cultivated lime. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies it does not have a prominent tail...
- (Lemon Butterfly)
- Papilio machaon
- Papilio polyctorPapilio polyctorThe Common Peacock is a beautiful swallowtail butterfly found in India. It is found in the Himalayas and parts of India from the foothills to 7000 feet between March and October. It has distinct dry and wet season forms. The butterfly frequents Buddleia flowers...
- Papilio polytesPapilio polytesThe Common Mormon is a common species of swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia. This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedible Red-bodied Swallowtails, such as the Common Rose and the Crimson Rose.- Names :The common name...
- Atrophaneura polyeuctesAtrophaneura polyeuctesThe Common Windmill Atrophaneura polyeuctes is the most common member in India of the Windmills group of Atrophaneura, comprising tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red submarginal crescents....
- (Common Windmill) - Pachlioptera aristolochiae
Others
- Danaus chrysippusDanaus chrysippusDanaus chrysippus, known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae...
- (Plain Tiger) - Tarucus callinaraTarucus callinara* Tarucus callinara . Pierrot The Spotted Pierrot is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the Lycaenids or Blues family.-References:* Evans, W.H. The Identification of Indian Butterflies...
- (Spotted Pierrot Butterfly) - Eurema hecabeEurema hecabeThe Large Grass Yellow or Common Grass Yellow is a small pierid butterfly species found in Asia or Africa. They are found flying close to the ground and are found in open grass and scrub habitats...
- (Grass Yellow Butterfly) - Delias descombesiDelias descombesiDelias descombesi, the Redspot Jezebel is a medium sized butterfly of the Family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites.-Male:Upperside : opaque white...
- (Red Spot Jazbel) - Catopsilia pomonaCatopsilia pomonaThe Common Emigrant or Lemon Emigrant is a medium sized pierid butterfly found in Asia and parts of Australia. The species gets its name from its habit of migration. Some early authors considered them as two distinct species Catopsilia crocale and Catopsilia pomona.-Description:The species has...
- (Lemon Emigrant) - Danaus genutiaDanaus genutiaThe Common Tiger is one of the common butterflies of India. It belongs to the "Crows and Tigers", that is, the danainae group of the Brush-footed butterflies family...
- (Common Tiger) - Ixias pyreneIxias pyreneYellow Orange Tip , Ixias pyrene is a small butterfly of the Family Pieridae, that is, the Yellows and Whites, which is found in India.-Description:Dry-season brood. Male upperside: deep sulphur-yellow...
- (Yellow Orange Tip) - Phalanta phalantha - (Leopard)
- Pieris brassicae - (Cabbage White Butterfly)
Further reading
- Roberts, T. J. "The Butterflies of Pakistan." Oxford University Press, Karachi