Monograph Series 1

The butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of Kerala: Status and distribution

Abstract

The butterfly fauna of Kerala state in southern India with respect to taxonomy, population status, and distribution is discussed. The recent taxonomic changes and justifications for the same are mentioned. The current checklist of butterflies of the Western Ghats stands at 337 species, including 41 endemics while that of Kerala stands at 328 species with 40 WG endemics. Amongst the states lying along the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, Kerala has the highest butterfly diversity with 19 Papilionidae, 32 Pieridae, 97 Nymphalidae, two Riodinidae, 96 Lycaenidae, and 82 Hesperiidae species. Twenty-two butterflies are in the IUCN Red List of threatened species, of which two are Near Threatened and the rest are in the Least Concern category. Regarding WLPA 1972 and its amendments, it was observed that of the 70 species listed from Kerala, four are protected under Schedule I only, one species under Schedule I & II, one under Schedule II and IV, one under Schedule IV, and 63 species under Schedule II. Thirty-six species are migratory. Taxonomic evidences for splitting of the two Western Ghat Argynnis into A. hybrida Evans, 1912 and A. castetsi Oberthür, 1891; distinguishing Elymnias caudata Butler, 1871 from E. hypermnestra undularis (Drury, 1773); separating Abisara bifasciata suffusa Moore, 1882 from A. echerius prunosa Moore, 1879, Baracus hampsoni Elwes & Edwards, 1897 from B. subditus Moore, [1884]; and the species level elevation of Western Ghat taxa namely Bindahara moorei Fruhstorfer, 1904, Ancema sudica (Evans, 1926), Halpe hindu Evans, 1937, and Hyarotis coorga Evans, 1949, from the northeast Indian taxa are provided. A subspecies of Spotted Royal–Tajuria maculata sureshi ssp. nov., is described from Kerala. In addition, an updated checklist of the known larval hostplants of butterflies of Kerala is provided containing more than 1800 larval feeding records with over 350 new observations, and about 800 species of plants.