Project butterfly Mankulam Division

Parantica aglea aglea (Stoll, [1782])  Malayalam Name  : തെളി നീലക്കടുവ Family  : Nyphalidae Sub-family              : Danaidae Tribe                      :  Leptociaini Order : Lepidoptera DIST RIBUTION                Indo Malayan Realm STATUS:    No HABITAT The HABITS T ts IDENTIFICATION  FEATURES Ground color is fuliginous black with subhyaline bluish-white streaks and spots. Upperside: forewing—interspace 1 with two comparatively long, broad streaks united at base, truncate exteriorly; cell with a very broad, somewhat clavate streak traversed by two fine black lines; basal spots in interspaces 2 and 3; an irregular discal series of three spots and two elongate streaks and a subterminal series of spots, the two series curved inwards opposite apex of wing, the latter continued along the apical half of the costa; final...

Parantica nilgiriensis (Moore, 1877)  Malayalam Name  : നീലഗിരി കടുവ Family  : Nyphalidae Sub-family              : Danaidae Tribe                      :  Leptociaini Order : Lepidoptera DIST RIBUTION                  Endemic to the high altitudes of the Western Ghats of southern India STATUS:     Endemic HABITAT It is restricted to the  shola  forests, south of Nilgiri Hills, in the temperate zones of the mountains, above 1500 m HABITS T ts IDENTIFICATION  FEATURES Small size Black and white butterfly with wingspan 25-30 mm.     SIMILAR SPECIES    Similar to Glassy Blue Tiger but more blackshade. LARVAL HOST PLANTS Tylophora indica, T. flexuosa (Apocynaceae). LIFE CYCLE MORE IMAGES Courtesy  Write up:Wikipaedia Images: TNHS കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ്   മാങ്കുള...

Danaus genutia genutia (Cramer, [1779]) Malayalam Name  : വരയൻ കടുവ Family  : Nyphalidae Sub-family              : Danainae Tribe                      :  Leptociaini Order : Lepidoptera DIST RIBUTION                   Pe STATUS:    No HABITAT This butterfly occurs in scrub jungles, fallowland adjacent to habitation, dry and moist deciduous forests, preferring areas of moderate to heavy rainfall. Also occurs in degraded hill slopes and ridges, both, bare or denuded, and, those covered with secondary growth HABITS Members of this genus are leathery, tough to kill and fake death. Since they are unpleasant to smell and taste, they are soon released by the predators, recover and fly off soon thereafter. The butterfly sequesters toxins from plants of the family  Asclepiadaceae . The butterflies also congregate with othe...

Danaus chrysippus chrysippus (Linnaeus, 1758)  എരുക്കുതപ്പി Malayalam Name  : എരുക്കുതപ്പി/ നാട്ടുകടുവ Family  : Nyphalidae Sub-family              : Danainae Tribe                      :  Leptociaini Order : Lepidoptera DIST RIBUTION                    medium-sized  butterfly  widespread in  Asia ,  Australia  and  Africa STATUS:    HABITAT The plain tiger prefers  arid , open areas, and is found in a variety of habitats, including  deserts ,  mountains ,  deciduous  forests, and human-tended  gardens  in cities and parks. It is comfortable at altitudes ranging from sea level to around 1,500 m  HABITS Danainae primarily consume plants in the genus  Asclepias , more commonly called milkweed. Milkweed contains toxic compounds,  card...