The Butterflies of Sadu-Chiru Waterfall: A Preliminary Checklist

By: Jatishwor Singh Irungbam

Sadu Chiru Waterfall:

The waterfall is located at a distance of about 25 kms from the capital city Imphal, Manipur. The waterfall is known as Sadu Chiru Falls or Leimaram Waterfall. The waterfall is located within a forested section at the base of the mountain. The forest is of sub tropical evergreen forest.

Sadu Chiru Falls with tourist during April 2017

Field Trip:

December 2015:

The first trip to Sadu Chiru falls was conducted during December 2015 for a day. Myself and Mr. Baleshwor Soibam were present in the trip. The observation started at around 9 am in the morning and lasted till evening 4 pm. During this period we have observed many species of butterflies flying in and around the falls. We also observed a group of Pieris melete montana puddle on the mud along with Appias lalage and some unknown hesperids near the stream. On this day we have recorded about 27 species of butterflies. We have observed only 1 species of Swallowtail butterfly i.e. Papilio polytes. Most common to this time of the year was Pieridae butterflies.

Mr. Baleshwor photographing butterflies during the trip, December 2015

April 2017:

The second trip to Sadu Chiru falls was conducted during April 2017 for a day. Mr. Harmenn Huidrom, Dr. Zdenek Flatynek Fric and Myself conducted the observation of butterflies around the falls. Most active were the swallowtail butterflies, we have observed about six species of swallowtails Papilio polytes, Papilio helenus, Papilio memnon, Papilio paris, Atrophaneura varuna, Atrophaneura dasarada, etc. Most of the butterflies were seen flying in the shades of the canopy.

Mr. Harmenn and Dr. Fric near Sadu Chiru fall

A complete checklist on the butterflies collected from Sadu Chiru falls are prepared based on this two trips. The checklist consist of 64 butterflies representing 6 families; Hesperiidae (9 sp.), Lycaenidae (10 sp.), Riodinidae (2 sp.), Pieridae (7 sp.), Papilionidae (10 sp.) and Nymphalidae (25 sp.).

Checklist:

Family Hesperiidae

1.      Pelopidas assamensis (de Nicéville, 1882)

Parnara assamensis de Nicéville, 1882; J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 51 Pt.II (2-3): 65; TL: Sikkim.

2.      Potanthus trachala (Mabille, 1878)

Pamphila trachala Mabille, 1878; Petites Nouvelles ent. 10 (198): 237; TL: Java.

3.      Polytremis eltola (Hewitson, 1869)

Hesperia eltola Hewitson, 1869; Ill. exot. Butts [5] (Hesperia IV): [104], pl. [52], f. 40; TL: Darjeeling.

4.      Notocrypta feisthamelii (Boisduval, 1832)

Thymele feisthamelii Boisduval, 1832; in d'Urville, Voy. Astrolabe (Faune ent. Pacif.) 1: 159, pl. 2, f. 7; TL: Amboina.

5.      Tagiades litigiosa Möschler, 1878

Tagiades litigiosa Möschler, 1878; Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien 28 (Abh.): 230; TL: Silhet.

6.      Celaenorrhinus patula de Nicéville, 1889

Celaenorrhinus patula de Nicéville, 1889; J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 4 (3): 182, pl. B, f. 4; TL: Sikkim

7.      Celaenorrhinus aurivittata (Moore, 1878)

Plesioneura aurivittata Moore, 1878; Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1878 (4): 843, pl. 53, f. 2; TL: Above Ahsown

8.      Sarangesa dasahara Moore, [1866]

Sarangesa dasahara Moore, [1866]; Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1865 (3): 787; TL: Bengal

9.      Choaspes benjaminii (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)

Hesperia benjaminii Guérin-Méneville, 1843; in Delessert, Souvenirs Voy. Inde (2): 79, pl. 22, f. 2; TL: Nilgiris, S.India

Pelopidas assamensis, December 2015

Family Lycaenidae

1.      Catochrysops strabo (Fabricius, 1793)

Hesperia strabo Fabricius, 1793; Ent. Syst. 3 (1): 287, no. 101; TL: "India orientali" [Tranquebar, S.India].

2.      Celastrina argiolus iynteana (de Nicéville, 1884)

Cyaniris iynteana de Nicéville, [1884]; J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 52 Pt.II (2/4): 69, pl. 9, f. 7 ♂, 7a ♀; TL: Sikkim.

3.      Leptotes plinius (Fabricius, 1793)

Hesperia plinius Fabricius, 1793; Ent. Syst. 3 (1): 284; TL: "Asia".

4.      Pseudozizeeria maha (Kollar, [1844])

Lycaena maha Kollar, [1844]; in Hügel, Kaschmir und das Reich der Siek 4: 422; TL: Mussoorie

5.      Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767)

Papilio boeticus Linnaeus, 1767; Syst. Nat. (Edn 12) 1 (2): 789; TL: Algeria.

6.      Jamides celeno (Cramer, [1775])

Papilio celeno Cramer, [1775]; Uitl. Kapellen 1 (1-7): 51, pl. 31, f. C, D; TL: "India"

7.      Jamides alecto (Felder, 1860

Lycaena alecto Felder, 1860; Sber. Akad. Wiss. Wien 40 (11): 456; TL: Ambon

8.      Heliophorus epicles latilimbata Eliot, 1963

Ilerda epicles indicus f. latilimbata Fruhstorfer, 1908; Ent. Zs. 22 (12): 49; TL: Sikkim.

9.      Heliophorus brahma (Moore, [1858])

Ilerda brahma Moore, [1858]; in Horsfield & Moore, Cat. lep. Ins. Mus. East India Coy 1: 29, pl. 1a, f. 4.

10.  Rapala pheretima (Hewitson, 1863)

Deudorix pheretima Hewitson, 1863; Ill. diurn. Lep. Lycaenidae (1): 21, pl. 9, f. 27-29; TL: Sarawak

Celastrina lavendularis (Moore, 1877)

Family Riodinidae

1.      Abisara fylla Westwood, 1851

2.   Zemeros flegyas Cramer, 1780

Family Pieridae

1.      Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Papilio brassicae Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 467; TL: Sweden.

2.      Pieris melete montana Verity, 1908

Pieris melete montana Verity, 1908; Rhopalocera Palaearctica 1: 141, pl. 31, f. 20-21

3.      Pieris canidia (Linnaeus, 1768)

Papilio canidia Linnaeus, 1768; in Sparrman, Amoenit. acad., 7 (150): 504n; TL: S.China.

4.      Appias lalage (Doubleday, 1842)

Pieris lalage Doubleday, 1842; in Gray, Zool. Miscell.: 76; TL: Khasi Hills.

5.      Eurema blanda (Boisduval, 1836)

Terias blanda Boisduval, 1836; Hist. nat. Ins., Spec. gén. Lépid. 1: 672; TL: Java.

6.      Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus, 1758)

Papilio hecabe Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 470; TL: S.China, Hong Kong.

7.      Delias acalis pyramus (Wallace,1867)

Thyca pyramus Wallace, 1867; Trans. ent. Soc. Lond. (3) 4 (3): 347; TL: N.India

Pieris melete montana and Appias lalage, mud puddling, December 2015

Family Papilionidae

1.      Lamproptera meges (Zinken, 1831)

Papilio meges Zinken, 1831; Nova Acta physico-med. [Leop. Carol.] 15 (1): 161, pl. 15, f. 8

2.      Papilio polytes Linnaeus, 1758

Papilio polytes Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 460; TL: S.China

3.      Papilio helenus Linnaeus, 1758

Papilio helenus Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 459; TL: Canton, China

4.      Papilio nephelus Boisduval, 1836

Papilio nephelus Boisduval, 1836; Hist. nat. Ins., Spec. gén. Lépid. 1: 210; TL: Java

5.      Papilio memnon Linnaeus, 1758

Papilio memnon Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 460; TL: Asia

6.      Papilio paris Linnaeus, 1758

Papilio paris Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 459; TL: Canton, China

7.      Papilio bianor Cramer, [1777]

Papilio bianor Cramer, [1777]; Uitl. Kapellen 2 (9-16): 10; TL: Kanton, China

8.      Atrophaneura varuna (White, 1842)

Papilio varuna White, 1842; Entomologist 1: 280; TL: Penang, Malaya

9.      Atrophaneura aidoneus (Doubleday, 1845)

Papilio aidoneus Doubleday, 1845; Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (1) 16 (104): 178; TL: Himalaya

10.  Atrophaneura dasarada (Moore, 1857)

Papilio dasarada Moore, 1857; in Horsfield & Moore, Cat. lep. Ins. Mus. East India Coy 1: 96; TL: Cherra Punji

Papilio polytes 

Family Nymphalidae

1.      Parantica melaneus (Cramer, [1775])

Papilio melaneus Cramer, [1775]; Uitl. Kapellen 1 (1-7): 48, pl. 30, f. D; TL: 'Coromandel' [error] & China [?Canton].

2.      Cethosia biblis (Drury, [1773])

Papilio biblis Drury, [1773]; Illust. Nat. Hist. Exot. Insects 1: 9, pl. 4, f. 2 (& Index).

3.      Pseudergolis wedah Kollar, 1844

4.      Stibochiona nicea nicea Gray, 1846

5.      Elymnias malelas (Hewitson, 1863)

Melanitis malelas Hewitson, 1863; Ill. exot. Butts [4] (Melanitis): [70], pl. [36], f. 6-7; TL: "Bengal"

6.      Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758)

Papilio orithya Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 473; TL: S.China

7.      Junonia iphita (Cramer, [1779])

Papilio iphita Cramer, [1779]; Uitl. Kapellen 3 (17-21): 30, pl. 209, f. C, D; TL: China.

8.      Junonia atlites (Linnaeus, 1763)

Papilio atlites Linnaeus, 1763; Amoenitates Acad. 6: 407; TL: "Asia" [? Canton]

9.      Junonia almana (Linnaeus, 1758)

Papilio almana Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 472; TL: Canton, China

10.  Symbrenthia lilaea (Hewitson, 1864)

Laogona lilaea Hewitson, 1864; Trans. ent. Soc. Lond. (3) 2 (3): 246, pl. 15, f. 5-6; TL: East Indies [error]

A mating pair of  Symbrenthia lilaea, December 2015

11.  Lethe sinorix (Hewitson, 1863)

Debis sinorix Hewitson, 1863; Ill. exot. Butts [4] (Debis II-III): [38], pl. [20], f. 19-20; TL: East India

12.  Lethe rohria (Fabricius, 1787)

Papilio rohria Fabricius, 1787; Mantissa Insectorum 2: 45; TL: S.India

13.  Lethe verma sintica Fruhstrofer

14.  Melanitis zitenius (Herbst, 1796)

Papilio zitenius Herbst, 1796; in Jablonsky, Naturs. Schmett. 8: p. [5]; TL: India, East coast north of Coromandel

15.  Melanitis phedima (Cramer, [1780])

Papilio phedima Cramer, [1780]; Uitl. Kapellen 4 (25-26a): 8, pl. 292, f. B; TL: Java

16.  Melanitis leda (Linnaeus, 1758)

Papilio leda Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 474

17.  Sumalia daraxa (Doubleday, [1848])

Limenitis daraxa Doubleday, [1848]; Gen. diurn. Lep. (1): pl. 34, f. 4; TL: Sylhet

18.  Neptis sappho (Pallas, 1771)

Papilio sappho Pallas, 1771; Reise Russ. Reich. 1: 471; TL: Russia [Volga]

19.  Neptis hylas (Linnaeus, 1758)

Papilio hylas Linnaeus, 1758; Syst. Nat. (Edn 10) 1: 486; TL: China

20.  Neptis nata Moore, [1858] ??

Neptis nata Moore, [1858]; in Horsfield & Moore, Cat. lep. Ins. Mus. East India Coy 1: 168, pl. 4a, f. 6; TL: Borneo

21.  Neptis clinia susruta Moore 1872

Neptis clinia Moore, 1872; Proc. zool. Soc. Lond. 1872 (2): 563, pl. 32, f. 5; TL: "Bengal" [error, = Andaman I.]

22.  Hestinalis nama (Doubleday,1844)

Diadema nama Doubleday, 1844; List. lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus. 1: 97

23.  Euploea mulciber mulciber (Cramer,1777)

Papilio mulciber Cramer, [1777]; Uitl. Kapellen 2 (9-16): 45, pl. 127, f. C, D; TL: E coast of S.India

24.  Athyma orientalis Elwes,1888

Athyma orientalis Elwes, 1888; Trans. ent. Soc. Lond. 1888: 354, pl. 9, f. 4; TL: Sikkim?

25.  Vagrans egista sinha (Kollar,1844)

Atella sinha Kollar, [1844]; in Hügel, Kaschmir und das Reich der Siek 4: 438

Author information:

Jatishwor  IRUNGBAM, M.Sc.

Doctoral Student

Biology Centre CAS

Institute of Entomology

&

Faculty of Science

University of South Bohemia

Branišovská 31

CZ - 37005 České Budějovice

Czech Republic

CZ Phone: +420-723 770 279

Email: irungj00@prf.jcu.cz or j.irungbam@entu.cas.cz

http://www.entu.cas.cz/en/staff/profile/17938/

http://www.bhutanbutterflies.org/