Butterflies in Nepal
Over 600 butterflies live in Nepal. Despite the cold climate, these butterflies have been able to thrive. Notable species include the Plain Tiger, the Indian Fritillary, and the national butterfly of Nepal – the Krishna Peacock.
Butterflies in Nepal
List of Different Butterfly Species of Nepal
Brush-Footed (Nymphalidae)
- Autumn Leaf (Kallima inachus)
- Common Sergeant (Athyma perius)
- Bhutan Sergeant (Athyma jina)
- Black Prince (Rohana parisatis)
- Black Rajah (Charaxes solon)
- Blackvein Sergeant (Athyma ranga)
- Blue Admiral (Kaniska canace)
- Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya)
- Blue Spotted Crow (Euploea midamus)
- Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace)
- Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii)
- Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita)
- Chocolate Pansy (Junonia atlites)
- Chocolate Tiger (Parantica melaneus)
- Colour Sergeant (Athyma nefte)
- Common Crow (Euploea core)
- Common Cruiser (Vindula erota)
- Common Jester (Symbrenthia lilaea)
- Common Leopard (Phalanta phalantha)
- Common Maplet (Chersonesia risa)
- Common Mapwing (Cyrestis thyodamas)
- Common Nawab (Polyura athamas)
- Sergeant-major (Abrota ganga)
- Common Tiger (Danaus genutia)
- Common Yeoman (Cirrochroa tyche)
- Constable (Dichorragia nesimachus)
- Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita)
- Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis)
- Double-branded Crow (Euploea sylvester)
- Gem Silverspot (Issoria gemmata)
- Glassy Tiger (Parantica aglea)
- Golden Emperor (Dilipa morgiana)
- Gray Pansy (Junonia almana)
- Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus)
- Great Nawab (Polyura eudamippus)
- High Brown Fritillary (Fabriciana adippe)
- Himalayan Sergeant (Athyma opalina)
- Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius)
- Indian Red Admiral (Vanessa indica)
- Ladak Tortoiseshell (Aglais ladakensis)
- Large Silverstripe (Argynnis childreni)
- Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias)
- Leopard Lacewing (Cethosia cyane)
- Orange Oakleaf (Hypolimnas bolina)
- Orange Staff Sergeant (Athyma cama)
- Painted Courtesan (Euripus consimilis)
- Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
- Pallid Nawab (Polyura arja)
- Pasha (Herona marathus)
- Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)
- Popinjay (Stibochiona nicea)
- Queen of Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia)
- Red Lacewing (Cethosia biblis)
- Rustic (Cupha erymanthis)
- Small Staff Sergeant (Athyma zeroca)
- Staff Sergeant (Athyma selenophora)
- Stately Nawab (Polyura dolon)
- Striped Blue Crow (Euploea mulciber)
- Studded Sergeant (Athyma asura)
- Tabby (Pseudergolis wedah)
- Tawny Coster (Acraea violae)
- Variegated Rajah (Charaxes kahruba)
- Western Courtier (Sephisa dichroa)
- Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)
- Yellow Rajah (Charaxes marmax)
- Yellow-legged Tortoiseshell (Nymphalis xanthomelas)
- Vagrans egista
Gossamer-Winged (Lycaenidae)
- Albocerulean (Udara albocaerulea)
- Apefly (Spalgis epius)
- Azure Mountain Blue (Albulina asiatica)
- Banded Royal (Rachana jalindra)
- Bhutya Lineblue (Prosotas bhutea)
- Blue Imperial (Ticherra acte)
- Bold Line-blue (Nacaduba pactolus)
- Bright Sunbeam (Curetis bulis)
- Broad Spark (Sinthusa chandrana)
- Broadtail Royal (Creon cleobis)
- Chinese Plushblue (Flos chinensis)
- Ciliate Blue (Anthene emolus)
- Common Acacia Blue (Surendra quercetorum)
- Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno)
- Common Flash (Rapala nissa)
- Common Gem (Poritia hewitsoni)
- Common Guava Blue (Virachola isocrates)
- Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa)
- Common Pierrot (Castalius rosimon)
- Common Red Flash (Rapala iarbus)
- Common Silverline (Cigaritis vulcanus)
- Common Tinsel (Catapaecilma major)
- Common Tit (Hypolycaena erylus)
- Copper Flash (Rapala pheretima)
- Dark Cornelian (Deudorix epijarbas)
- Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)
- Dark Himalayan Oakblue (Arhopala rama)
- Dark Pierrot (Tarucus ananda)
- Dingy Lineblue (Petrelaea dana)
- Doherty’s Dull Oakblue (Arhopala khamti)
- Dull Babul Blue (Azanus uranus)
- Dull-green Hairstreak (Esakiozephyrus icana)
- Eastern Blue Sapphire (Heliophorus oda)
- Elbowed Pierrot (Caleta elna)
- Falcate Oak Blue (Mahathala ameria)
- Fluffy Tit (Zeltus amasa)
- Forest Quaker (Pithecops corvus)
- Forget-me-not (Catochrysops strabo)
- Gram Blue (Euchrysops cnejus)
- Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochylus)
- Green Flash (Artipe eryx)
- Green Oakblue (Arhopala eumolphus)
- Green Sapphire (Heliophorus androcles)
- Hewitson’s Dull Oakblue (Arhopala oenea)
- Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
- Indian Oakblue (Arhopala atrax)
- Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna)
- Jewelled Grass-blue (Freyeria putli)
- King Cerulean (Jamides bochus)
- Large Guava Blue (Virachola perse)
- Lesser Grass-blue (Zizina otis)
- Lime Blue (Chilades lajus)
- Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus)
- Long-tailed Line-blue (Prosotas nora)
- Malay Red Flash (Rapala damona)
- Malayan (Megisba malaya)
- Mandarin Blue (Charana mandarinus)
- Margined Hedge Blue (Celatoxia marginata)
- Margined Lineblue (Prosotas pia)
- Metallic Cerulean (Jamides alecto)
- Metallic Green Hairstreak (Chrysozephyrus duma)
- Moth Butterfly (Liphyra brassolis)
- Narrow Spark (Sinthusa nasaka)
- Orange-tipped Pea-blue (Everes lacturnus)
- Orchid Tit (Chliaria othona)
- Pale Grand Imperial (Neocheritra fabronia)
- Pale Hedge Blue (Udara dilecta)
- Pale Pea-blue (Catochrysops panormus)
- Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus)
- Plain Hedge Blue (Celastrina lavendularis)
- Plains Cupid (Luthrodes pandava)
- Pointed Ciliate Blue (Anthene lycaenina)
- Pointed Lineblue (Ionolyce helicon)
- Pointed Oakblue (Arhopala singla)
- Powdered Oakblue (Arhopala bazalus)
- Purple Line-blue (Prosotas dubiosa)
- Purple Sapphire (Heliophorus epicles)
- Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora)
- Redspot (Zesius chrysomallus)
- Scarce Slate Flash (Rapala scintilla)
- Scarlet Flash (Rapala dieneces)
- Shining Plushblue (Flos fulgida)
- Silver Streaked Acacia Blue (Zinaspa todara)
- Silverstreak Blue (Iraota timoleon)
- Slate Flash (Rapala manea)
- Small Copper (Lycaena phlaeas)
- Small Cupid (Chilades parrhasius)
- Spangled Plushblue (Flos asoka)
- Spotted Pierrot (Tarucus callinara)
- Spotted Royal (Tajuria maculata)
- Straightwing Blue (Orthomiella pontis)
- Tailless Plushblue (Flos areste)
- Tamil Oakblue (Arhopala bazaloides)
- White Royal (Tajuria illurgis)
- White-banded Hedge Blue (Lestranicus transpectus)
- White-banded Line-blue (Nacaduba kurava)
- White-banded Royal (Dacalana cotys)
- White-bordered Copper (Lycaena pavana)
- Yellow-disk Tailless Oakblue (Arhopala perimuta)
- Zizula hylax
Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)
- Bath White (Pontia daplidice)
- Black-spotted White (Leptosia nina)
- Butler’s Dwarf (Baltia butleri)
- Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae)
- Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida)
- Common Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
- Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)
- Common Gull (Cepora nerissa)
- Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis)
- Dark Clouded Yellow (Colias fieldii)
- Dark Jezebel (Delias berinda)
- Eastern Pale Clouded Yellow (Colias erate)
- Everest Clouded Yellow (Colias berylla)
- Great Blackvein (Metaporia agathon)
- Great Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe)
- Hill Jezebel (Delias belladonna)
- Himalayan Blackvein (Metaporia leucodice)
- Indian Cabbage White (Pieris canidia)
- Ladakh Clouded Yellow (Colias ladakensis)
- Lemon Migrant (Catopsilia pomona)
- Lesser Gull (Cepora nadina)
- Lined Grass-yellow (Eurema laeta)
- Lofty Bath White (Synchloe callidice)
- No-brand Grass-yellow (Eurema brigitta)
- Orange Clouded Yellow (Colias stoliczkana)
- Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete)
- Pale Wanderer (Pareronia avatar)
- Pioneer White (Belenois aurota)
- Plain Puffin (Appias indra)
- Redbase Jezebel (Delias pasithoe)
- Redbreast Jezebel (Delias acalis)
- Redspot Jezebel (Delias descombesi)
- Spot Puffin (Appias lalage)
- Spotted Sawtooth (Prioneris thestylis)
- Striped Albatross (Appias libythea)
- Three-spot Grass Yellow (Eurema blanda)
- Tibetan Blackvein (Mesapia peloria)
- Tree Yellow (Gandaca harina)
- White Albatross (Appias albina)
- White Migrant (Catopsilia pyranthe)
- White Orangetip (Ixias marianne)
- Yellow Jezebel (Delias agostina)
- Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene)
Metalmark (Riodinidae)
- Common Punch (Dodona durga)
- Lesser Punch (Dodona dipoea)
- Tailed Punch (Dodona eugenes)
- Orange Punch (Dodona egeon)
- Mixed Punch (Dodona ouida)
- Striped Punch (Dodona adonira)
- Dark Judy (Abisara fylla)
- Spot Judy (Abisara chela)
Swallowtail (Papilionidae)
- Black-and-white Helen Swallowtail (Papilio nephelus)
- Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor)
- Blue Peacock (Papilio arcturus)
- Blue Triangle (Graphium sarpedon)
- Brown Gorgon (Meandrusa gyas)
- Chequered Swallowtail (Papilio demoleus)
- Chinese Windmill (Atrophaneura alcinous)
- Common Birdwing (Troides helena)
- Common Blue Apollo (Parnassius hardwickii)
- Common Jay (Graphium doson)
- Common Mime (Chilasa clytia)
- Common Mormon (Papilio polytes)
- Common Peacock (Papilio polyctor)
- Common Raven (Papilio castor)
- Common Red Apollo (Parnassius epaphus)
- Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae)
- Common Windmill (Atrophaneura polyeuctes)
- Glassy Bluebottle (Graphium cloanthus)
- Golden Birdwing (Troides aeacus)
- Great Mormon (Papilio memnon)
- Great Windmill (Atrophaneura dasarada)
- Great Zebra (Graphium xenocles)
- Green-spotted Triangle (Graphium agamemnon)
- Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis)
- Krishna Peacock (Papilio krishna)
- Ladak Banded Apollo (Parnassius stoliczkanus)
- Lesser Batwing (Atrophaneura aidoneus)
- Lesser Mime (Chilasa epycides)
- Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)
- Paris Peacock (Papilio paris)
- Redbreast (Papilio alcmenor)
- Red Helen (Papilio helenus)
- Rose Windmill (Atrophaneura latreillei)
- Spangle Swallowtail (Papilio protenor)
- Spectacle Swordtail (Pathysa glycerion)
- Spot Swordtail (Pathysa nomius)
- Tailed Redbreast (Papilio janaka)
- Tawny Mime (Chilasa agestor)
- Varnished Apollo (Parnassius acco)
Skipper (Hesperiidae)
- Atkinson’s Bob (Arnetta atkinsoni)
- Bengal Spotted Flat (Celaenorrhinus putra)
- Blue-spotted Scrub Hopper (Aeromachus kali)
- Branded Orange Awlet (Burara oedipodea)
- Brown Bush Bob (Pedesta pandita)
- Ceylon Dartlet (Oriens goloides)
- Chestnut Angle (Odontoptilum angulata)
- Common Awl (Hasora badra)
- Common Banded Awl (Hasora chromus)
- Common Bush Hopper (Ampittia dioscorides)
- Common Redeye (Matapa aria)
- Common Small Flat (Sarangesa dasahara)
- Common Yellow-breast Flat (Gerosis bhagava)
- Giant Redeye (Gangara thyrsis)
- Grass Demon (Udaspes folus)
- Green Awlet (Burara vasutana)
- Grey-banded Redeye (Matapa druna)
- Himalayan Grass Dart (Taractrocera danna)
- Hooked Awlking (Choaspes furcata)
- Immaculate Snow Flat (Tagiades gana)
- Indian Awlking (Choaspes benjaminii)
- Indian Grizzled Skipper (Spialia galba)
- Lidderdale’s Dawnfly (Capila lidderdali)
- Light Straw Ace (Pithauria stramineipennis)
- Marbled Flat (Lobocla liliana)
- Moore’s Ace (Halpe porus)
- Multi-spotted Snow Flat (Tagiades parra)
- Orange Awlet (Burara jaina)
- Orangetail Awl (Bibasis sena)
- Pallid Dart (Potanthus pallida)
- Pava Dart (Potanthus pava)
- Pied Flat (Tagiades japetus)
- Rounded Palm-redeye (Erionota torus)
- Similar Awlking (Choaspes xanthopogon)
- Slate Awl (Hasora anura)
- Small Green Awlet (Burara amara)
- Small-banded Flat (Celaenorrhinus nigricans)
- Spotted Angle (Caprona agama)
- Spotted Snow Flat (Tagiades menaka)
- Striped Dawnfly (Capila jayadeva)
- Tricolour Pied Flat (Coladenia indrani)
- Water Snow Flat (Tagiades litigiosa)
- Wax Dart (Cupitha purreea)
- Yellow Flat (Mooreana trichoneura)
There are several places that butterfly enthusiasts can visit in search of butterflies, including Shivapuri National Park, Annapurna Butterfly Museum, and Chitwan National Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many species of butterflies are found in Nepal?
Nepal is home to over 600 documented species of butterflies. This rich biodiversity is supported by the country’s varied topography and climate zones, ranging from subtropical lowlands to high-altitude Himalayan regions. The diverse flora provides ample food sources and habitats, allowing a wide array of species to thrive.
What is the national butterfly of Nepal?
The national butterfly of Nepal is the Krishna Peacock (Papilio krishna). This large, striking swallowtail is known for its iridescent blue and green markings on dark wings. It is primarily found in the Himalayan region and was designated to highlight the country’s unique and rich entomological diversity.
What are some common Tiger butterflies found in Nepal?
Nepal hosts several species of Tiger butterflies, known for their distinct striped patterns. Common examples include the Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus), the Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace), the Chestnut Tiger (Parantica sita), and the Common Tiger (Danaus genutia). These are often seen in the country’s lower to mid-altitude regions.
Why do so many butterflies thrive in Nepal’s climate?
Butterflies thrive in Nepal due to its extreme altitudinal variation, which creates diverse microclimates. From the tropical Terai lowlands to temperate mid-hills and alpine zones, these varied ecosystems support a wide range of host plants. This allows different species to flourish in their specific ecological niches throughout the country.
Are Brush-Footed butterflies common in Nepal?
Yes, Brush-Footed butterflies (family Nymphalidae) are very common and represent a significant portion of Nepal’s butterfly population. The group includes well-known species like the Indian Fritillary, Blue Pansy, Common Leopard, and various Sergeant butterflies, which are widespread across different habitats and elevations within the country.
What is the scientific name for the Autumn Leaf butterfly in Nepal?
The scientific name for the Autumn Leaf butterfly found in Nepal is *Kallima inachus*. This species is a member of the Brush-Footed family and is renowned for its incredible camouflage. When its wings are closed, it perfectly resembles a dry leaf, providing excellent protection from potential predators in forest environments.
Can you find the Painted Lady butterfly in Nepal?
Yes, the Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) is found in Nepal. This highly migratory species is one of the most widespread butterflies in the world, and its range includes the Himalayan region. It can be spotted in various habitats, from gardens to open meadows across different altitudes within the country.
