This is a list of butterfly species found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. In this state 329 species of butterflies are expected to be found.
Papilionidae—swallowtail butterflies (19 species) Pieridae—yellow-white butterflies (32 species) Nymphalidae—brush-footed butterflies (97 species) Lycaenidae—blues butterflies (96 species) Riodinidae—Judies butterflies (2 species) Hesperiidae—skipper butterflies (83 species)
Family Papilionidae There are 19 species recorded. Subfamily Papilioninae Genus Graphium (Pathysa)—swordtails, zebras Spot swordtail, Pathysa nomius (Esper, 1798) Fivebar swordtail, Pathysa antiphates (Cramer, 1775)
Genus Graphium (Graphium)—bluebottles and jays
Common jay, Graphium doson (C. & R. Felder, 1864) Tailed jay, Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758) Southern/ Narrow-banded bluebottle, Graphium teredon (Felder & Felder, 1864)
Genus Atrophaneura (Pachliopta)—roses Common rose, Pachliopta aristolochiae (Fabricius, 1775) Crimson rose, Pachliopta hector (Linnaeus, 1758) Malabar rose, Pachliopta pandiyana (Moore, 1881)
Genus Troides—birdwings
Southern birdwing, Troides minos (Cramer, 1779)
Genus Papilio (Chilasa)—mimes
Common mime, Papilio (Chilasa) clytia, Linnaeus, 1758
Genus Papilio (Papilio)—swallowtails Malabar banded swallowtail, Papilio liomedon (Moore, 1874) Blue Mormon, Papilio polymnestor (Cramer, 1775) Red Helen, Papilio helenus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Mormon, Papilio polytes (Linnaeus, 1758) Malabar raven, Papilio dravidarum (Wood-Mason, 1880) Lime butterfly, Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus, 1758) Common banded peacock, Papilio crino (Fabricius, 1792) Malabar banded peacock, Papilio buddha (Westwood, 1872) Paris peacock, Papilio paris (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family Pieridae
There are 32 species recorded.
Subfamily Pierinae—whites Genus Pieris—whites Indian cabbage white, Pieris canidia Linnaeus, 1768
Genus Anaphaeis—pioneers Pioneer (caper white), Anaphaeis aurota Fabricius, 1793
Genus Cepora—gulls Common gull, Cepora nerissa Fabricius, 1775 Lesser gull, Cepora nadina Lucas, 1852
Genus Ixias—Indian orange tips White orange tip, Ixias marianne Cramer, 1779 Yellow orange tip, Ixias pyrene Linnaeus, 1764
Genus Delias—Jezebels Common Jezebel, Delias eucharis Drury, 1773
Genus Prioneris—sawtooths Painted sawtooth, Prioneris sita C. Felder, 1865
Genus Appias—puffins and albatrosses Spot puffin, Appias lalage (Doubleday, 1842) Plain puffin, Appias indra Moore, 1857 Striped albatross, Appias libythea Fabricius, 1775 Chocolate albatross, Appias lyncida Cramer, 1777 Common albatross, Appias albina Felder Lesser albatross, Appias wardii (Moore, 1884)
Genus Leptosia—Psyche Psyche, Leptosia nina Fabricius, 1793
Genus Hebomoia—great orange tip Great orange-tip, Hebomoia glaucippe Linnaeus, 1758
Genus Colotis—Arabs Small salmon Arab, Colotis amata Fabricius, 1775 Large salmon Arab, Colotis fausta (Olivier, 1804) Small orange-tip, Colotis etrida Boisduval, 1836 Plain orange-tip, Colotis aurora (Cramer, 1780) Crimson-tip, Colotis danae (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Pareronia—wanderers Dark wanderer, Pareronia ceylanica (C. & R. Felder, 1865) Common wanderer, Pareronia valeria (Cramer, 1776)
Subfamily Coliadinae—yellows Genus Catopsilia—emigrants Common emigrant, Catopsilia pomona Fabricius, 1775 Mottled emigrant, Catopsilia pyranthe Latreille, 1758
Genus Eurema—grass yellows Small grass yellow, Eurema brigitta Cramer, 1780 Spotless grass yellow, Eurema laeta Boisduval, 1836 One-spot grass yellow, Eurema andersonii Moore Common grass yellow, Eurema hecabe Linnaeus, 1758 Three-spot grass yellow, Eurema blanda Boisduval, 1836 Nilgiri grass yellow, Eurema nilgiriensis
Genus Colias—clouded yellows Nilgiri clouded yellow, Colias nilgiriensis
Family Nymphalidae Subfamily Libytheinae Genus Libythea—beaks Lobed beak, Libythea laius lepitoides (Moore, 1903) Club beak, Libythea myrrha, (Godart, 1819)
Subfamily Danainae Genus Parantica—glassy tigers Glassy tiger, Parantica aglea (Stoll, 1782) Nilgiri tiger, Parantica nilgiriensis (Moore, 1877)
Genus Tirumala—blue tigers Dark blue tiger, Tirumala septentrionis (Butler, 1874) Blue tiger, Tirumala limniace Cramer, 1775
Genus Danaus—tigers Plain tiger, Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus, 1758 Common or striped tiger, Danaus genutia Cramer, 1779
Genus Euploea—crows Common Indian crow, Euploea core (Cramer, 1780) Double-branded crow, Euploea sylvester (Fabricius, 1793) Blue king crow, Euploea klugii Moore, 1858
Genus Idea—tree nymphs Malabar tree nymph, Idea malabarica Moore, 1877
Subfamily Charaxinae Genus Charaxes—rajahs Tawny rajah, Charaxes bernardus (Fabricius, 1793) Black rajah, Charaxes solon (Fabricius, 1793)
Genus Polyura—nawabs Blue nawab, Polyura schreiberi (Godart, 1819) Common nawab, Polyura athamas (Drury, 1773) Anomalous nawab, Polyura agraria
Subfamily Morphinae Genus Discophora—duffers Southern duffer, Discophora lepida (Moore, 1857)
Subfamily Satyrinae Genus Mycalesis—bushbrowns Whitebar bushbrown, Mycalesis anaxias Hewitson, 1862 Small longbrand bushbrown, Mycalesis igilia Fruhstorfer, 1909 Long-brand bushbrown, Mycalesis visala Moore, 1858 Palebrand bushbrown, Mycalesis khasia Evans, 1920 Redeye bushbrown, Mycalesis adolphei (Guérin-Ménéville, 1843) Palni bushbrown, Mycalesis mamerata davisoni Red-disc bushbrown, Mycalesis oculus Marshall, 1880 Gladeye bushbrown, Mycalesis patnia Moore, 1857 Tamil bushbrown, Mycalesis subdita Moore Common bushbrown, Mycalesis perseus (Fabricius, 1775) Dark branded bushbrown, Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Genus Lethe—treebrowns Common treebrown, Lethe rohria (Fabricius, 1787) Tamil treebrown, Lethe drypetis (Hewitson, ?1868) Bamboo treebrown, Lethe europa (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Ypthima—rings Common threering, Ypthima asterope Jewel fourring, Ypthima avanta Moore, 1875 Common fivering, Ypthima baldus (Fabricius, 1775) White fourring, Ypthima ceylonica Hewitson, 1865 Nilgiri fourring, Ypthima chenui (Guérin-Méneville, 1843) Common fourring, Ypthima huebneri Kirby, 1871 Baby fivering, Ypthima philomela (Linnaeus, 1763) Palni fourring, Ypthima ypthimoides Moore, 1881
Genus Zipaetis—catseyes Tamil catseye, Zipaetis saitis Hewitson, 1863
Genus Orsotriaena—nigger Nigger, Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Melanitis—evening browns Common evening brown, Melanitis leda (Linnaeus, 1758) Dark evening brown, Melanitis phedima (Cramer, 1780) Great evening brown, Melanitis zitenius (Herbst, 1796)
Genus Elymnias—palmflies Common palmfly, Elymnias hypermnestra (Linnaeus, 1763) Tailed palmfly, Elymnias hypermnestra (Butler, 1871)
Subfamily Heliconiinae Genus Vindula—cruiser Cruiser, Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793
Genus Cirrochroa—yeomen Tamil yeoman, Cirrochroa thais (Fabricius, 1787)
Genus Cupha—rustic Rustic, Cupha erymanthis (Drury, 1773)
Genus Phalanta—leopards Small leopard, Phalanta alcippe Stoll, 1782 Leopard, Phalanta phalantha Drury, 1773
Genus Argynnis—fritillaries Indian fritillary, Argynnis hyperbius Linnaeus, 1763
Genus Cethosia—lacewings Tamil lacewing, Cethosia nietneri Felder & Felder, 1867
Subfamily Acraeinae Genus Acraea—tawny coster Tawny coster, Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758)
Subfamily Limenitidinae Genus Limenitis—admirals Commander, Limenitis procris (Cramer, 1777)
Genus Athyma—sergeants Common sergeant, Athyma perius (Linnaeus, 1758) Blackvein sergeant, Athyma ranga Moore, 1857 Staff sergeant, Athyma selenophora (Kollar, 1844) Colour sergeant, Athyma nefte (Cramer, 1780)
Genus Pantoporia—lascars Common lascar, Pantoporia hordonia (Stoll, 1790) Extra lascar, Pantoporia sandaka (Butler, 1892)
Genus Neptis—sailers Common sailer, Neptis hylas Linnaeus, 1758 Shortbanded sailer, Neptis columella Chestnut-streaked sailer, Neptis jumbah Moore, 1857 Yellowback sailer, Neptis viraja Sullied sailer, Neptis soma Clear sailer, Neptis nata Southern sullied sailer, Neptis clinia
Genus Parthenos—clipper Clipper, Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)
Genus Euthalia—barons Common baron, Euthalia aconthea (Cramer, 1777) Gaudy baron, Euthalia lubentina (Cramer, 1777) Baronet, Euthalia nais (Forster, 1771) Blue baron, Euthalia telchinia (Ménétriés, 1857)
Genus Tanaecia—counts Grey count, Tanaecia lepidea (Butler, 1868)
Genus Dophla—dukes Redspot duke, Dophla evelina (Stoll, 1790)
Subfamily Cyrestinae Genus Cyrestis—map butterflies Common map, Cyrestis thyodamas Boisduval, 1836
Subfamily Biblidinae Genus Ariadne—castors Angled castor, Ariadne ariadne Linnaeus, 1763 Common castor, Ariadne merione
Genus Byblia—joker Joker, Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)
Subfamily Apaturinae Genus Rohana Black prince, Rohana parisatis (Westwood, 1850)
Genus Euripus—courtesans Painted courtesan, Euripus consimilis (Westwood, 1850)
Subfamily Nymphalinae Genus Vanessa—admirals, painted lady Indian red admiral, Vanessa indica (Herbst, 1794) Painted lady, Vanessa cardui
Genus Kaniska Blue admiral, Kaniska canace (Linnaeus, 1763)
Genus Junonia—pansies Gray pansy, Junonia atlites (Linnaeus, 1763) Peacock pansy, Junonia (Precis) almana (Linnaeus, 1758) Yellow pansy, Junonia (Precis) hierta (Fabricius, 1798) Chocolate pansy, Junonia (Precis) iphita (Cramer, 1779) Lemon pansy, Junonia (Precis) lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758) Blue pansy, Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758)
Genus Hypolimnas—eggflies Great eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus, 1758) Danaid eggfly, Hypolimnas misippus (Linnaeus, 1764)
Genus Kallima—oakleafs South Indian blue oakleaf, Kallima horsfieldii Kollar, 1844
Genus Doleschallia—autumn leaf Autumn leaf, Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica (Cramer, 1777)
Family Riodinidae
Subfamily Nemeobiinae
Genus Abisara—Judies Plum Judy, Abisara echerius (Moore, 1901)
Family Lycaenidae
Subfamily Curetinae
Genus Curetis—sunbeams Indian sunbeam, Curetis thetis (Drury, 1773) (L40.1) Shiva's sunbeam, Curetis siva Evans, 1954 Toothed sunbeam, Curetis dentata Moore, 1879
Subfamily Miletinae
Genus Spalgis—apefly Apefly, Spalgis epius (Westwood, 1851) (L6.1)
Subfamily Polyommatinae
Genus Talicada—red Pierrot Red Pierrot, Talicada nyseus Guérin, 1843. (L8.1)
Genus Castalius—common Pierrot Common Pierrot, Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775. (L9.1) Dark Pierrot, Castalius ananda de Nicéville, 1884 previously Tarucus ananda de Nicéville (L10.1)
Genus Caleta—angled Pierrot Angled Pierrot, Caleta caleta Hewitson, 1876 earlier Castalius caleta Moore (L9.2)
Genus Discolampa—banded blue Pierrot Banded blue Pierrot, Discolampa ethion Westwood, 1851 earlier Castalius ethion Doubleday & Hewitson (L9.3)
Genus Tarucus—blue Pierrots Spotted Pierrot, Tarucus callinara Butler, 1886 (L10.4) Striped Pierrot, Tarucus nara Kollar, 1848 (L10.9) Indian Pierrot, Tarucus indica Evans, 1932
Genus Syntarucus—zebra blue Zebra blue, Syntarucus plinius (Fabricius, 1793) (L11.1) (synonyms Leptotus plinius, Tarucus plinius)
Genus Azanus—babul blues Bright babul blue, Azanus ubaldus Cramer, 1782 (L12.1) Dull babul blue, Azanus uranus Butler, 1886 (L12.2) African babul blue, Azanus jesous Guérin-Meneville, 1847 (L12.4)
Genus Neopithecops—Quaker Quaker, Neopithecops zalmora Butler 1870 (L15.1)
Genus Megisba—Malayan Malayan, Megisba malaya (Horsfield, 1828) (H20.1, p. 220)
Genus Celastrina—hedge blues Plain hedge blue, Celastrina lavendularis (Moore, 1877) previously Lycaenopsis lavendularis Moore (L19.15)
Genus Acytolepis—hedge blues Common hedge blue, Acytolepis puspa (Horsfield, 1828) previously Lycaenopsis puspa (Toxopeus) (L19.1) Hampson's hedge blue, Acytolepis lilacea (Hampson, 1889) Lycaenopsis lilacea Hampson (L19.2)
Genus Akasinula—white hedge blue White hedge blue, Akasinula akasa (Horsfield, 1828) previously Lycaenopsis akasa Frühstorfer (L19.10)
Genus Cyaniris—hedge blues Whitedisc hedge blue, Cyaniris albidisca Moore, 1883 previously Lycaenopsis albidisca Moore (L19.6)