With more than
18,000 species of butterflies in the world, India is known to have 1501+
species. Today butterfly watching has become a major hobby for many and
information about these beautiful flyer is available from many books and
online through net. We can see almost 200+ butterflies in forests of Central
India. Butterflies can be seen in open grasslands, thick forests, bushes and
especially around flowers and water bodies.
Butterflies fall
under insect order Lepidoptera, have 4 wings, 6 legs, 3 parted main body
comprising of head, thorax and abdomen, compound eyes, exo skeleton and a pair
of antennae. They are classified into two Super families: Hesperioidea and
Papilionoidea. It is a pleasure to see these beautiful creations of god.
Kanha National Park is a very good place to observe
and study butterflies and is known to have more than 117 species. Satpura national park can though boast of more than 200 soecies and
is more famous for watching these silent flyers. Kanha Village Eco Resort
at Kanha national park has planted host plants which help to attract native butterflies species. They
have spots with flowers, grassland, trees and shrubs which act as perfect hosts
for our colored friends.
For guests who want
to do photography of butterflies or are interested in studying them should
carry a binocular and good guide book on butterflies of Central India and for
photography a good macro lens with flash and an sturdy tripod or monopod.
Here is a list of
some Butterflies found in Tiger reserves of Central India.
1) Swallowtails
(Common Rose, Pachliopta arstolochiae, Crimson Rose, Pachliopta
hector, Common Mime
, Papilio clytia, Lime Butterfly, Papilio demoleus, Common Mormon ,Papilio
polytes),
2) Whites &
Yellows (Common Jezebel, Delias eucharis, Yellow Orange Tip, lxias pyrene,
Lemon Emigrant , Catopsilia crocale , Common Grass Yellow, Eurema hecabe, Small
Grass Yellow, Eurema brigitta, rubella
3) Blues (Zebra Blue
, Leptotes plinius, Pale Grass Blue , Pseudoziziria maha, Gram Blue ,
Euchrysops Cnejus, Common Silverline , Spindasis vulcanus, Plum Judy , Abisara
echerius),
4) Milkweed butterflies
(Plain Tiger , Danaus chrysippus, Common Tiger, Danaus genutia, Glassy Tiger, Parantica
aglea, Indian Common Crow , Euploea core) ;
5) Browns (Common
Evening Brown, Melanites leda, is meme Dark Evening Brown, Melanitis phedima))
;
6.) Nymph Lids
(Angled Castor, Ariadne ariadne, Common Castor , Ariadne merione , Common
Leopard , Phalanta phalantha, Lemon Pansy , Junonia lemonia, Yellow Pansy ,
Junonia hiertas, Peacock Pansy, Junonia almanac, Chocolate Pansy, Precis
iphita, Blue Pansy ,Junonia orithya, Grey Pansy, Junonia atlites, Danaid Eggfly,
Hylpolimnas missipus, Orange Oakleaf , Kallima inachus, Common Sailor ,Neptis
hylas, varmona, Baronet, Euthalia nais Synphaedra nais, Tawny Coster ,Acraea
violated.
7) Skipers (Indian
Grass Demon , Edaspes folcus).
