List of butterflies of Sri Lanka (Nymphalidae)

This is a list of the butterflies of family Nymphalidae which are found in Sri Lanka. It is part of List of butterflies of Sri Lanka.

Subfamily Danainae

Genus Parantica – glassy tigers

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Glassy tiger

Parantica aglea Parantica aglea aglea Least concern
Ceylon tiger

Parantica taprobana Endemic. Near threatened
Ceylon blue glassy tiger Ideopsis similis Ideopsis similis exprompta Least concern

Genus Tirumala – blue tigers

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Blue tiger

Tirumala limniace Tirumala limniace leopardus Least concern
Dark blue tiger

Tirumala septentrionis Tirumala septentrionis musikanos Least concern

Genus Danaus – tigers

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Common tiger

Danaus genutia Danaus genutia genutia Least concern
Plain tiger

Danaus chrysippus Danaus chrysippus chrysippus Least concern

Genus Euploea – crows

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Double-branded crow

Euploea sylvester Euploea sylvester montana Least concern
Great crow

Euploea phaenareta Euploea phaenareta corus Least concern
Blue king crow

Euploea klugii Euploea klugii sinhala Least concern
Common Indian crow

Euploea core Euploea core asela Least concern

Genus Idea – tree nymphs

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Ceylon tree nymph Idea iasonia Near threatened

Subfamily Satyrinae

Genus Melanitis – evening browns

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Common evening brown

Melanitis leda Melanitis leda ismene Least concern
Dark evening brown

Melanitis phedima Melanitis phedima tambra Least concern

Genus Elymnias – palmflies

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Common palmfly

Elymnias hypermnestra Elymnias hypermnestra fraterna Least concern
Ceylon palmfly Elymnias singhala Endemic. Near threatened

Genus Lethe – treebrowns

Name Image Binomial Subspecies Status
Ceylon treebrown Lethe daretis Endemic
Common treebrown

Lethe rohria Lethe rohria yoga Least concern
Tamil treebrown

Lethe drypetis Lethe drypetis drypetis Least concern
Ceylon forester Lethe dynsate Endemic

Genus Mycalesis – bushbrowns

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Common bushbrown

Mycalesis perseus Mycalesis perseus typhlus Least concern
Dark-brand bushbrown

Mycalesis mineus Mycalesis mineus polydecta Not evaluated
Long-brand bushbrown

Mycalesis visala Mycalesis visala subdita Not evaluated
Cingalese bushbrown

Mycalesis rama Endemic
Glad-eye bushbrown

Mycalesis patnia Mycalesis patina junonia

Genus Orsotriaena – nigger

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Nigger

Orsotriaena medus Orsotriaena medus mandata Least concern

Genus Ypthima – rings

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Jewel four-ring

Ypthima avanta
White four-ring

Ypthima ceylonica
Sinhalese five-ring Ypthima singala Endemic

Subfamily Morphinae

Genus Discophora – duffers

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Southern duffer

Discophora lepida Discophora lepida ceylonica Least concern

Subfamily Biblidinae

Genus Ariadne – castors

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Angled castor

Ariadne ariadne Ariadne Ariadne minorata
Common castor

Ariadne merione Ariadne merione taprobana

Genus Byblia – joker

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Joker

Byblia ilithyia Least concern

Subfamily Heliconiinae

Genus Acraea – costers

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Tawny coster

Acraea terpsicore

Genus Argynnis – fritillaries

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Indian fritillary

Argynnis hyperbius Argynnis hyperbius taprobana

Genus Phalanta – leopards

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Common leopard

Phalanta phalantha Phalanta phalantha phalantha
Small leopard

Phalanta alcippe Phalanta alcippe ceylonica

Genus Cethosia – lacewings

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Tamil lacewing

Cethosia nietneri

Genus Cupha – rustic

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Rustic

Cupha erymanthis Cupha erymanthis placida

Genus Vindula – cruiser

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Cruiser

Vindula erota Vindula erota asela

Genus Cirrochroa – yeomans

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Tamil yeoman

Cirrochroa thais Cirrochroa thais lanka

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Genus Kaniska – tortoiseshells

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Blue admiral

Kaniska canace Kaniska canace haronica

Genus Vanessa – red admirals

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Indian red admiral

Vanessa indica Vanessa indica nubicola
Painted lady

Vanessa cardui

Genus Junonia – pansies

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Chocolate soldier

Junonia iphita Junonia iphita pluviatalis
Yellow pansy

Junonia hierta
Blue pansy

Junonia orithya Junonia orithya patenas
Lemon pansy

Junonia lemonias Junonia lemonias vaisya
Peacock pansy

Junonia almana Junonia almana almana
Grey pansy

Junonia atlites Junonia atlites atlites

Genus Kallima – oakleafs

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Ceylon blue oakleaf

Kallima philarchus Endemic. Near threatened

Genus Doleschallia – autumn leaf

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Autumn leaf

Doleschallia bisaltide Doleschallia bisaltide ceylonica

Genus Hypolimnas – eggflies

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Great eggfly

Hypolimnas bolina
Danaid eggfly

Hypolimnas misippus

Subfamily Limenitidinae

Genus Neptis – sailers

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Common sailer

Neptis hylas Neptis hylas varmona
Chestnut-streaked sailer

Neptis jumbah Neptis jumbah nalanda

Genus Lasippa – lascars

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Common lascar

Pantoporia hordonia Pantoporia hordonia sinuata

Genus Moduza – commander

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Commander

Moduza procris Moduza procris calidasa

Genus Parthenos – clipper

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Clipper

Parthenos sylvia Parthenos Sylvia cyaneus

Genus Dophla – redspot duke

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Redspot duke

Dophla evelina Dophla evelina evelina

Genus Euthalia – barons

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Baronet

Euthalia nais
Gaudy baron

Euthalia lubentina Euthalia lubentina sittacus
Common baron

Euthalia aconthea Euthalia aconthea vasanta

Subfamily Apaturinae

Genus Rohana – princes

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Black prince

Rohana parisatis Rohana parisatis camiba

Subfamily Charaxinae

Genus Polyura – nawabs

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Common nawab

Polyura athamas

Genus Charaxes – rajahs

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Tawny rajah

Charaxes psaphon Charaxes psaphon psaphon
Black rajah

Charaxes solon Charaxes solon cerynthus

Subfamily Libytheinae

Genus Libythea – beaks or snouts

Name Binomial Subspecies Status
Club beak

Libythea myrrha Libythea myrrha rama
European or common beak

Libythea celtis Libythea celtis lepitoides

References

  • Bernard d'Abrera, 1983. Butterflies of the Oriental Region, Part II: Nymphalidae, Satyridae, Amathusidae. 290 pp. Hill House, Melbourne.
  • D’Abrera, B.L. (1998) The Butterflies of Ceylon. Hill House: Melbourne; London. 224pp. ISBN 0-947352-35-X