butterflies of andaman

BUTTERFLIES OF ANDAMAN

• High degree of Endemism i.e. Species found here are found nowhere else in the world.

•Butterflies face a high risk of Extinction due to deforestation and Habitat loss.

•Most of the species are classified as Rare and Endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN)

• IUCN is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species.

Yamfly is a beautiful butterfly belonging to Family:-Lycaenidae, one of the commonest butterflies observed in Andamans.It has an association with ants and can be seen in small groups feeding on plant sap.

Yellow Orange Tip is a medium sized butterfly belonging to Family:-Pieridae. They are so called due to the characteristic orange tips on their forewings and is an Endemic Sub-species. Here a pair of butterflies can be seen mating...

Common Snow Flat is a peculiar butterfly belonging to Family:- Hesperiidae. It’s one of the few butterflies which cannot fold its wings.

Tree Yellow is yet another endemic sub-species found on these islands belonging to Family:- Pieridae.

Small Leopard is one of the most abundant butterflies found here it belongs to Family:- Nymphalidae. It’s Locally common and its name comes due to the characteristic leopard like spots on the wings.

Small Leopard Mating

Yellow Pansy prefers dry and grass habitats, has a swift and direct flight. It can be commonly seen basking in patches of sunlight.

Andaman Palmfly and Andaman Palmking both belong to Family:-Nymphalidae and both of them are a Rare site. They can be seen flying around palm trees in dense forests.

Great Orange Tip can be seen in thick forests flying high up in the trees. This individual was Mud-puddling near a stream. Mud-puddling is a activity in which butterflies obtain salts which accumulate on banks of river.

Leopard Lacewing is a big butterfly seen in thick forests, belonging to Family:- Nymphalidae. The flight is slow and the male is darker than the female.