Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2021 | 13(2): 17741–17752

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6122.13.2.17741-17752

#6122 | Received 08 May 2020 | Final received 14 November 2020 | Finally accepted 09 February 2021

An insight into the butterfly (Lepidoptera) diversity of an urban landscape: Guwahati, Assam, India

Sanath Chandra Bohra ¹ & Jayaditya Purkayastha ²

^1,2 Help Earth, 16, Raghunath Choudhury Path, Lachitnagar, Guwahati, Assam 781007, India.

¹ sreptilian6@gmail.com, ² mail.jayaditya@gmail.com (corresponding author)

Editor: Monsoon J. Gogoi, Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India. Date of publication: 26 February 2021 (online & print)

Citation: Bohra, S.C. & J. Purkayastha (2021). An insight into the butterfly (Lepidoptera) diversity of an urban landscape: Guwahati, Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(2): 17741–17752. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.6122.13.2.17741-17752

Copyright: © Bohra & Purkayastha 2021. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

Funding: None.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Author details: Sanath Chandra Bohra is doing his graduation in zoology. He was interested in biodiversity research and conservation since a very early age. Herpetology is his main area of interest and has so far authored eight research articles including description of a new species of Cyrtodactylus. Jayaditya Purkayastha is serving as general secretary of the organization Help Earth. He has authored more than 60 research articles and five books.

Author contribution: SCB conducted the field survey. JP was responsible for the study design and production of the manuscript.

Acknowledgements: JP is thankful to Rufford Small Grants and SB is thankful to his parents for providing a fund during the project period. We would also like to thank Kamrup Metropolitan District Administration and Assam Forest Department as this work would not have been possible without their support.

Abstract: The paper deals with the butterfly diversity of Guwahati, Assam, India which was the result of a survey conducted from April 2016 to July 2020. During the study period we recorded 249 species of butterflies belonging to six families namely Papilionidae (24 species), Pieridae (23 species), Lycaenidae (57 species), Riodinidae (two species), Nymphalidae (97 species), and Hesperiidae (46 species). Twenty-eight species were recorded from commercial areas, 74 species from residential areas, and 248 species from forested areas. Nineteen species were found to be very common, 39 species common, 50 species fairly common, 53 species uncommon, 57 species rare, and 31 species very rare. Twenty-four species and nine subspecies including Discophora sondiaca, Athyma selenophora, and Athyma kanwa phorkys are legally protected under different schedules as per the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

Keywords: Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Riodinidae.

INTRODUCTION

Guwahati (26.1859°N & 91.7477°E) is the capital city of the state of Assam having a population of around 9.6 lacs with a population density of 4,370 per sq.km with a total area of 216.79km². Guwahati is the largest metropolis of northeastern India and is also the business capital of the region. The city is ecologically very important as it enjoys being a part of the Indo-Burma global biodiversity hotspot. It has a tropical monsoon climate and receives approximately 1,600mm of rainfall annually, with an average annual temperature of 23°C. Due to rapid urbanisation, there is a continuous loss of forest cover with a loss of 160.34ha/year between 2010 and 2015 (Yadav & Barua 2016) (Figure 1). Most of the forest patches are of moist deciduous type (Purkayastha 2012, 2015). The pattern of habitat mostly present in and around the city includes forest patches, scrublands, grasslands, secondary plantations, wetlands, agricultural lands, and human habitations. The city is surrounded by eighteen hill ranges including eight reserve forests (South Kalapahar RF, Fatasil RF, Jalukbari RF, Gotanagar RF, Hengrabari RF, Sarnai Hill RF, Garbhanga RF, Rani RF) and two wildlife sanctuaries (Deeporbeel WS and Amchang WS). The Deeporbeel WS is also an internationally acclaimed wetland and has been declared as a RAMSAR site in 2002. The mighty Brahmaputra River flows through the heart of the city for about 25km eventually dividing it into northern and southern areas (Devi & Bhattacharyya 2015). Apart from butterflies, 26 species of amphibians, 57 species of reptiles, 214 species of birds, and 36 species of mammals have been recorded from the city (Purkayastha 2018).

Some of the recent work on butterflies of Assam were based on protected areas (Karthikeyan & Venkatesh 2011; Gogoi 2013a,b, 2015; Neog 2015; Singh 2015, 2017; Singh et al. 2015). In this paper we want to extend the available knowledge on the butterflies of the region by presenting, for the first time, a publication on the checklist of butterfly diversity of the urban landscape of Guwahati city of Assam, India.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Extensive field surveys were carried out throughout all the seasons from April 2016 to July 2019 in different landscapes in and around Guwahati (Figure 1). The field study was conducted mostly during early mornings from 06.30h till 12.00h and occasionally during late afternoons till dusk from 16.30h till 17.30h. Thus, a total of five man hours was invested per survey during the study period which also includes investigating the residential localities. Pollard walk methodology (Pollard 1982) was done to spot the butterflies by walking on the trails as much as possible (3–10 trails) in the forested regions, the focus was mostly confined to the tracks/trails surrounded by flowering plants, bushes, plantations and trees present in and around the loose soils, mud, rocks and stones very close to streams such that the butterflies could be observed feeding on nectar, basking and mud-puddling respectively. The specimens were observed, photographed and identified using field literature (Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957; Kehimkar 2008; Kunte et al. 2020). Depending upon the abundance of the individuals spotted throughout the survey, the species were categorised as Very Common: 25 or more individuals recorded, Common: 15–25 individuals recorded, Fairly Common: 11–15 individuals recorded, Uncommon: 6–10 individuals recorded, Rare: 3–5 individuals recorded, Very Rare: less than three individuals recorded (Table no. 1). The following localities were selected for surveying purposes:

Commercial Areas (CA): Panbazar (26.1859°N & 91.7477°E), Fancy Bazar (26.1830°N & 91.7429°E), and Christian Basti (26.1552°N & 91.78°E).

Residential Areas (RA): Lachitnagar (26.1695°N & 91.7563°E), Lokhra (26.1106°N & 91.7465°E), Kala Pahar (26.1519°N & 91.7465°E), Bhangagarh (26.1620°N & 91.7672°E), Maligaon (26.1556°N & 91.6906°E), Hatigaon (26.1278°N & 91.7855°E), Kamakhya (26.1642°N & 91.7076°E), Rehabari (26.1733°N & 91.7471°E), Barshapara (26.1417°N & 91.7380°E), and Silpukhuri (26.1835°N & 91.7605°E).

Forested Areas (FA): Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary (26.1891°N & 91.8464°E), Hengrabari Reserve Forest (26.1618°N & 91.7843°E), Geetanagar (26.1750°N & 91.7952°E), Jalukbari Reserve Forest (26.1441°N & 91.6614°E), Deeporbeel Wildlife Sanctuary (26.13055N & 91.6591E), Rani-Garbhanga Reserve Forest (26.0419°N & 91.7056°E), Narakasur Hills (26.1499°N & 91.7643°E), Birubari Hills (26.1527°N & 91.7619°E), Khanapara Reserve Forest (26.1253°N & 91.8389°E), and Sarania Reserve Forest (26.1769°N & 91.7599°E). The classification of the commercial and residential areas was done as per Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) regulations and forest reserves are considered under forest areas.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

During the survey period, a total of 249 species of butterflies were recorded from in and around the city belonging to six different families namely Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Riodinidae, and Hesperiidae (Table 1, Image 1–100).

Account of each family from the study site

Papilionidae: A total of 24 species in this family were recorded. Among these, only one species namely the Papilio castor has legal protection and had been listed as Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (IWPA) and the rest were non-scheduled species. Papilio polytes was found to be ‘Very Common’ as it was the most encountered species in a variety of habitats (commercial residential and forested areas. Lamproptera curius and Graphium agetes were found to be ‘Very rare’ as they were spotted only twice in and around the forested regions (Amchang WS and Rani Reserve Forest) throughout the field study.

Pieridae: A total of 23 species in this family were documented during the survey and the subspecies Appias albina darada (Table 1) is legally protected as Schedule I under IWPA. Most of the species of this family were observed in and around forests and residential localities (Table 1).

Lycaenidae: For this family, 57 species have been recorded from which seven species (Anthene lycaenina, Bindahara phocides, Horaga onyx, Lampides boeticus, Poritia hewitsoni, Spindasis lohita, Suasa lisides) and four subspecies (Euchrysops cnejus cnejus, Prosotas aluta coelestis, Arhopala fulla ignara, and Jamides pura pura) (Table 1) are protected under Schedule II of the IWPA (Table 1) while the others are non-scheduled. Most of the species of this family were recorded from in and around the forest patches. During the study period, a mating pair of the Pea blue Lampides boeticus was observed late in the afternoon during April 2018 at Nilachal Hills.

Riodinidae: Only two members of this family have been recorded in the study area, namely Zemeros flegyas which was the most encountered species of this family, Abisara echerius was recorded only once during the survey from the Garbhanga-Rani reserve forest. (Table 1).

Nymphalidae: Nymphalidae comprises the most diverse group of butterflies representing 97 species recorded in and around the city, some of which are legally protected under IWPA, 1972 which includes one species listed in Schedule I, 11 species listed in Schedule II, two species listed in Schedule IV ( Table 1), subspecies Euripus nyctelius nycteliu, Euploea midamus rogenhoferi, and Athyma kanwa phorkys (Table 1) are listed in Schedule II of the IWPA while the others are non-scheduled. Some of the members of this family were found to be ‘Very Rare’ and were recorded only twice within the study period which includes Melanitis zitenius, Charaxes arja, Athyma ranga, Rohana parisatis, Athyma kanwa, Stibochiona nicea, Kallima inachus, Dichorragia nesimachus, Thaumantis diores, Lexias dirtea, and Herona marathus.

Hesperiidae: During the study, 46 species of this family were recorded (Table 1) out of which only two of them namely Pelopidas assamensis and Hyarotis adrastus are legally protected (Schedule IV of IWPA) while the others are non-scheduled. Most of the members of this family were found in and around the forest patches including the Scobura isota recorded from the Hengrabari Reserve Forest. Other interesting findings include Zographetus satwa, Aretta atkinsoni, and Burara jaina from the Rani Reserve Forest, Halpe aucma and Odontoptilum angulata from the Amchang WS and a Pelopidas assamesis from Geetanagar area. From the Geetanagar area itself a mating pair of Lambrix salsala was also observed late in the afternoon during the month of March in 2018.

Threats

The major threats perceived to the butterfly population in the study are

Habitat alteration: Due to development activities the prime habitat and host plants of butterflies are fast vanishing and are replaced by human settlements. Due to scarcity in living space within Guwahati, small kitchen gardens are being lost at a rapid pace which once harboured a sustainable population of butterflies. Again in urban landscape most of the roads are tarred or made of concrete making it hard for butterflies to seek nutrients from the mud (mud-puddling).

Agriculture: As the city expands, it is eating into its peripheral agricultural land, which in-turn is eating into adjacent forested areas, a prime habitat for butterflies. To suffice need of ever rising population, the agricultural land are using fertilizers and pesticide more than ever before, creating a negative impact on butterfly population.

Invasive species: Invasive species of both plant and animal are impacting butterfly population in a negative way. Plants like Mimosa pudica are competing with native plant species whereas introduced lizard species Hemidactylus flaviviridis are eating into butterfly and other insect population. Feral species of cats also hunt butterflies.

Climate change: Urban areas are the prime generators of climate change and thus the effect of climate change are felt more in urban landscape. The ever increasing heat gradient along with urban heat island effect is presenting challenges to wide range of biodiversity including butterflies.

Lack of public awareness: Most urban dwellers are totally unaware of the importance of butterflies in their ecosystem. An average urban dweller’s mindset has been calibrated as such that only larger mammals conservation concerns holds importance to him if at all.

Table 1. Checklist of butterflies of Guwahati, Assam, India.

	Scientific name	Common name	Local status	CA	RA	FA	IWPA
	Family: Papilionidae
1	Atrophaneura varuna White, 1842	Common Batwing	Uncommon		+	+
2	Byasa polyeuctes Doubleday, 1842	Common Windmill	Uncommon			+
3	Graphium agamemnon Linnaeus, 1758	Tailed Jay	Common	+	+	+
4	Graphium agetes Westwood, 1843	Four-bar Swordtail	Very rare			+
5	Graphium antiphates Cramer, 1775	Five-bar Swordtail	Rare			+
6	Graphium cloanthus Westwood, 1841	Glassy Bluebottle	Uncommon			+
7	Graphium doson C. & R. Felder, 1864	Common Jay	Common	+	+	+
8	Graphium macareus Godart, 1819	Lesser Zebra	Rare			+
9	Graphium sarpedon Linnaeus, 1758	Common Bluebottle	Common	+	+	+
10	Lamproptera curius Fabricius, 1787	White Dragontail	Very rare			+
11	Pachliopta aristolochiae Fabricius, 1775	Common Rose	Fairly common			+
12	Papilio castor Westwood, 1842	Common Raven	Uncommon			+
13	Papilio clytia Linnaeus, 1758	Common Mime	Fairly common		+	+	Schedule I
14	Papilio eurypylus Linnaeus, 1758	Great Jay	Rare			+
15	Papilio demoleus Linnaeus, 1758	Lime Butterfly	Common	+	+	+
16	Papilio helenus Linnaeus, 1758	Red Helen	Common			+
17	Papilio memnon Linnaeus, 1758	Great Mormon	Fairly common		+	+
18	Papilio nephelus Boisduval, 1836	Yellow Helen	Fairly common			+
19	Papilio paris Linnaeus, 1758	Paris Peacock	Rare			+
20	Papilio polytes Linnaeus, 1758	Common Mormon	Very common	+	+	+
21	Papilio protenor Cramer, 1775	Spangle	Rare			+
22	Troides aeacus C.& R. Felder, 1860	Golden Birdwing	Fairly common			+
23	Troides helena Linnaeus, 1758	Common Birdwing	Rare			+
24	Byasa dasarada Moore, 1858	Great Windmill	Very Rare			+
	Family: Pieridae
25	Appias albina Boisduval, 1836	Common Albatross	Fairly common			+	Schedule II
26	Appias indra Moore, 1858	Plain Puffin	Rare			+
27	Appias lalage Doubleday, 1842	Spot Puffin	Rare			+
28	Appias lyncida Cramer, 1777	Chocolate Albatross	Uncommon			+
29	Appias olferna Swinhoe, 1890	Striped Albatross	Fairly common		+	+
30	Catopsilia pomona Fabricius, 1775	Common Emigrant	Common	+	+	+
31	Catopsilia pyranthe (Linnaeus, 1758)	Mottled Emigrant	Fairly common			+
32	Cepora nadina Lucas, 1852	Lesser Gull	Uncommon			+
33	Cepora nerissa Fabricius, 1775	Common Gull	Uncommon			+
34	Delias descombesi Boisduval, 1836	Red spot Jezebel	Fairly common	+	+	+
35	Delias pasithoe Linnaeus, 1767	Red base Jezebel	Uncommon	+	+	+
36	Dercas verhuelli Hoeven, 1839	Tailed Sulpher	Rare			+
37	Eurema andersonii Moore, 1886	One-spot Grass Yellow	Fairly common		+	+
38	Eurema blanda Boisduval, 1836	Three-spot Grass Yellow	Common	+	+	+
39	Eurema brigitta Stoll, 1780	Small Grass Yellow	Common		+	+
40	Eurema hecabe Linnaeus, 1758	Common Grass Yellow	Common	+	+	+
41	Gandaca harina Horsfield, 1829	Tree Yellow	Uncommon			+
42	Hebomoia glaucippe Linnaeus, 1758	Great Orange Tip	Rare			+
43	Ixias pyrene Linnaeus, 1764	Yellow Orange Tip	Rare		+	+
44	Leptosia nina Fabricius, 1793	Psyche	Very common	+	+	+
45	Pareronia hippia Fabricius, 1787	Common Wanderer	Fairly common			+
46	Pieris brassicae Linnaeus, 1758	Large Cabbage White	Uncommon			+
47	Pieris canidia Linnaeus, 1768	Indian Cabbage White	Very common	+	+	+
	Family: Lycaenidae
48	Acetolepis puspa Horsfield, 1828	Common Hedge Blue	Common	+	+	+
49	Anthene emolus Godart, 1824	Common Ciliate Blue	Common			+
50	Anthene lycaenina Felder, 1868	Pointed Ciliate Blue	Uncommon			+	Schedule II
51	Arhopala atrax Hewitson, 1862	Indian Oakblue	Rare			+
52	Arhopala camdeo Moore, 1858	Lilac Oakblue	Uncommon			+
53	Arhopala centaurus Fabricius, 1775	Centaur Oakblue	Rare			+
54	Arhopala eumolphus Cramer, 1780	Green Oakblue	Very rare			+
55	Arhopala fulla Hewitson, 1862	Spotless Oakblue	Rare			+	Schedule II
56	Arhopala perimuta Moore, 1858	Yellowdisc Tailless Oakblue	Very rare			+
57	Bindahara phocides Fabricius, 1793	Plane	Rare			+	Schedule II
58	Caleta decidia Hewitson, 1876	Angled Pierrot	Uncommon			+
59	Caleta elna Hewitson, 1876	Elbowed Pierrot	Rare			+
60	Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775	Common Pierrot	Very common	+	+	+
61	Catapaecilma major Druce, 1895	Common Tinsel	Rare			+
62	Catochrysops panormus C. Felder, 1860	Silver Forget-me-not	Uncommon			+
63	Catochrysops strabo Fabricius, 1793	Forget -me –not	Fairly common			+
64	Cheritra freja Fabricius, 1793	Common Imperial	Uncommon			+
65	Chilades lajus Stoll, 1780	Lime Blue	Common	+	+	+
66	Chilades pandava Horsfield, 1829	Plains Cupid	Fairly common		+	+
67	Creon cleobis Godart, 1824	Broad Tail Royal	Very rare			+
68	Curetis acuta Moore, 1877	Angled Sunbeam	Uncommon			+
69	Curetis saronis Moore, 1877	Saronis Sunbeam	Rare			+
70	Deudorix epijarbas Moore, 1858	Cornelian	Very rare			+
71	Discolampa ethion Westwood, 1851	Banded Blue Pierrot	Rare			+
72	Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius, 1798	Gram Blue	Fairly common		+	+	Schedule II
73	Heliophorus epicles Godart, 1824	Purple Sapphire	Fairly common		+	+
74	Horaga onyx Moore, 1857	Common Onyx	Uncommon			+	Schedule II
75	Hypolycaena erylus Godart, 1824	Common Tit	Common			+
76	Iraota timoleon Stoll, 1790	Silver Streak Blue	Rare			+
77	Jamides alecto C.Felder, 1860	Metallic Cerulean	Common			+
78	Jamides bochus Stoll, 1782	Dark Cerulean	Common			+
79	Jamides celeno Cramer, 1775	Common Cerulean	Common		+	+
80	Jamides elpis Godart, 1824	Glistening Cerulean	Common			+
81	Jamides pura Moore, 1886	White Cerulean	Rare			+	Schedule II
82	Lampides boeticus Linnaeus, 1767	Peablue	Common	+	+	+	Schedule II
83	Loxura atymnus Stoll, 1780	Yamfly	Uncommon			+
84	Megisba malaya Horsfield, 1828	Malayan	Fairly common			+
85	Miletus chinensis C. Felder, 1862	Common Mottle	Uncommon			+
86	Neopithecops zalmora Butler, 1870	Common Quaker	Common			+
87	Poritia hewitsoni Moore, 1866	Common Gem	Rare			+	Schedule II
88	Prosotas aluta Druce, 1873	Banded Lineblue	Very rare			+	Schedule II
89	Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, [1879])	Tailless Lineblue	Fairly common			+
90	Prosotas nora (C. Felder, 1860)	Common Lineblue	Fairly common			+
91	Pseudozizeeria maha Kollar, 1844	Pale Grass Blue	Very common	+	+	+
92	Rapala iarbas Fabricius, 1787	Common Red Flash	Uncommon			+
93	Rapala manea Hewitson, 1863	State Flash	Uncommon			+
94	Rapala pheretima Hewitson, 1863	Copper Flash	Fairly common			+
95	Remelana jangala (Horsfield, [1829])	Chocolate Royal	Uncommon			+
96	Spalgis epius Westwood, 1851	Apefly	Fairly common		+	+
97	Spindasis lohita Horsfield, 1829	Long Banded Silverline	Rare			+	Schedule II
98	Suasa lisides Hewitson, 1863	Red Imperial	Very rare			+	Schedule II
99	Surendra quercetorum Moore, 1858	Common Acacia Blue	Fairly common		+	+
100	Leptotes plinius Fabricius, 1793	Zebra Blue	Common	+	+	+
101	Taraka hamada Druce, 1875	Forest Pierrot	Rare			+
102	Virachola isocrates Fabricius, 1793	Common Guava Blue	Fairly common			+
103	Zeltus amasa Hewitson, 1865	Fluffy Tit	Fairly common			+
104	Zizeeria karsandra Moore, 1865	Dark Grass Blue	Common	+	+	+
	Family: Riodinidae
105	Abisara echerius Stoll, 1790	Plum Judy	Uncommon			+
106	Zemeros flegyas Cramer, 1780	Punchinello	Very common		+	+
	Family: Nymphalidae
107	Acraea issoria Hübner, 1818	Yellow Coster	Uncommon		+	+
108	Acraea terpsicore Linnaeus, 1758	Tawny Coster	Fairly common		+	+
109	Ariadne ariadne Linnaeus, 1763	Angled Castor	Common			+
110	Ariadne merione Cramer, 1777	Common Castor	Fairly common		+	+
111	Athyma inara Westwood, 1850	Colour Sergeant	Fairly common		+	+
112	Athyma kanwa Moore, 1858	Dot Dash Sergeant	Very rare			+	Schedule II
113	Athyma perius Linnaeus, 1758	Common Sergeant	Common		+	+
114	Athyma ranga Moore, 1857	Blackvein Sergeant	Rare			+	Schedule II
115	Athyma selenophora Kollar, 1844	Staff Sergeant	Rare			+
116	Auzakia danava Moore, 1857	Commodore	Rare			+	Schedule II
117	Cethosia biblis Drury, 1770	Red Lacewing	Uncommon			+
118	Cethosia cyane Drury, 1770	Leopard Lacewing	Uncommon			+
119	Charaxes arja Felder & Felder, 1866	Pallid Nawab	Very rare			+
120	Charaxes bernardes Fabricius, 1793	Tawny Rajah	Uncommon			+
121	Charaxes bharata Felder & Felder, 1867	Common Nawab	Common		+	+
122	Charaxes dolon Westwood, 1848	Stately Nawab	Very rare			+	Schedule II
123	Charaxes kahruba Moore, 1895	Variegated Rajah	Rare			+	Schedule II
124	Charaxes marmax Westwood, 1847	Yellow Rajah	Uncommon			+	Schedule II
125	Charaxes solon Fabricius, 1793	Black Rajah	Uncommon			+
126	Chersonesia rahrioides Martin, 1895	Indian Red Maplet	Uncommon			+	Schedule II
127	Chersonesia risa Doubleday, 1848	Common Maplet	Fairly common			+
128	Cirrochroa aoris Doubleday, 1847	Large Yeoman	Fairly common			+
129	Cirrochroa tyche Felder & Felder, 1861	Common Yeoman	Uncommon			+
130	Cupha erymanthis Drury, 1773	Rustic	Rare			+
131	Cyrestis thyodamas Doyère, 1840	Common Map	Rare		+	+
132	Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus, 1758	Plain Tiger	Very common	+	+	+
133	Danaus genutia Cramer 1779	Common Tiger	Common	+	+	+
134	Dichorragia nesimachus Doyère, 1840	Constable	Very rare			+
135	Discophora sondiaca Boisduval, 1836	Common Duffer	Fairly common		+	+	Schedule I
136	Doleschallia bisaltide Cramer, 1777	Autumn Leaf	Very rare			+
137	Elymnias hypermnestra Linnaeus, 1763	Common Palmfly	Very common	+	+	+
138	Elymnias malelas Hewitson, 1863	Spotted Palmfly	Rare			+
139	Elymnias patna Westwood, 1851	Blue striped Palmfly	Rare			+
140	Ethope himachala Moore, 1857	Dusky Diadem	Rare			+
141	Euploea algea Godart, 1819	Long Branded Blue Crow	Uncommon			+
142	Euploea core Cramer, 1780	Common Crow	Very common		+	+
143	Euploea midamus Linnaeus, 1758	Blue Spotted Crow	Uncommon			+	Schedule II
144	Euploea mulciber Cramer, 1777	Striped Blue Crow	Uncommon			+	Schedule IV
145	Euploea sylvester Fabricius, 1793	Double Branded Crow	Uncommon			+
146	Euripus nyctelius Doubleday, 1845	Courtesan	Very rare			+	Schedule II
147	Euthalia aconthea Cramer, 1777	Common Baron	Common	+	+	+
148	Euthalia anosia Moore, 1858	Grey Baron	Rare			+	Schedule II
149	Euthalia lubentina Cramer, 1777	Gaudy Baron	Rare			+	Schedule IV
150	Euthalia monina Fabricius, 1787	Powdered Baron	Rare			+
151	Euthalia phemius Doubleday, 1848	White-edged Blue Baron	Very rare			+
152	Faunis canens Hübner, 1826	Common Faun	Uncommon			+
153	Herona marathus Doubleday, 1848	Pasha	Very rare			+
154	Hypolimnas bolina Linnaeus, 1758	Great Eggfly	Fairly common			+
155	Junonia almana Linnaeus, 1758	Peacock Pansy	Very common	+	+	+
156	Junonia atlites Linnaeus, 1763	Grey Pansy	Common	+	+	+
157	Junonia hierta Fabricius, 1798	Yellow Pansy	Fairly common		+	+
158	Junonia iphita Cramer, 1779	Chocolate Pansy	Very common		+	+
159	Junonia lemonias Linnaeus, 1758	Lemon Pansy	Very common		+	+
160	Junonia orithya Linnaeus, 1758	Blue Pansy	Fairly common			+
161	Kallima inachus Doyere, 1840	Orange Oakleaf	Very rare			+
162	Kaniska canace (Linnaeus, 1763)	Blue Admiral	Uncommon			+
163	Lebadea martha Fabricius, 1787	Knight	Common			+
164	Lethe chandica Moore, 1857	Angled Red Forester	Fairly common			+
165	Lethe confusa Aurivillius, 1898	Banded Treebrown	Fairly common			+
166	Lethe europa Fabricius, 1775	Bamboo Treebrown	Common		+	+
167	Lethe mekara Moore, 1857	Common Red Forester	Fairly common			+
168	Lethe rhoria Fabricius, 1787	Common Treebrown	Common		+	+
169	Lexias dirtea Fabricius, 1793	Dark Archduke	Very rare			+	Schedule II
170	Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758	Common Evening Brown	Very common	+	+	+
171	Melanitis phedima Cramer, 1780	Dark Evening Brown	Uncommon			+
172	Melanitis zitenius Herbst, 1796	Great Evening Brown	Very Rare			+
173	Mimathyma ambica Kollar, 1844	Purple Emperor	Rare			+
174	Moduza procris Cramer, 1777	Commander	Uncommon			+
175	Mycalesis anaxias Hewitson, 1862	White-bar Bushbrown	Rare			+	Schedule II
176	Mycalesis mineus Linnaeus, 1758	Dark Brand Bushbrown	Fairly common		+	+
177	Mycalesis perseus Fabricius, 1775	Common Bushbrown	Very common		+	+
178	Mycalesis visala Moore, 1857	Long Brand Bushbrown	Uncommon			+
179	Neptis clinia Moore, 1872	Sullied Sailor	Fairly common			+
180	Neptis hylas Linnaeus, 1758	Common Sailor	Very common	+	+	+
181	Neptis nata Moore, 1857	Clear Sailor	Uncommon			+
182	Neptis pseudovikasi Moore, 1899	False Dingy Sailor	Rare			+
183	Orsotrioena medus Fabricius, 1775	Nigger	Common			+
184	Pantoporia hordonia Stoll, 1790	Common Lascar	Common	+	+	+
185	Parantica aglea Stoll, 1782	Glassy Tiger	Fairly common			+
186	Parantica sita Kollar, 1844	Chestnut Tiger	Rare			+
187	Parthenos sylvia Cramer, 1775	Clipper	Rare			+	Schedule II
188	Phalanta alcippe Stoll, 1782	Small Leopard	Fairly common			+	Schedule II
189	Phalanta phalantha Drury, 1773	Common Leopard	Fairly common			+
190	Pseudergolis wedah Kollar, 1844	Tabby	Uncommon			+
191	Rohana parisatis Westwood, 1851	Black Prince	Very rare			+
192	Stibochiona nicea (Gray, 1846)	Popinjay	Rare			+
193	Stichophthalma camadeva Westwood, 1848	Northern Jungle Queen	Rare			+
194	Symbrenthia hypselis Godart, 1823	Spotted Jester	Rare			+
195	Symbrenthia lilaea Hewitson, 1864	Common jester	Fairly common		+	+
196	Tanaecia julii Lesson, 1837	Common Earl	Uncommon			+
197	Tanaecia lepidea Butler, 1868	Grey Count	Very common		+	+	Schedule II
198	Thaumantis diores Doubleday, 1845	Jungle Glory	Rare			+
199	Vagrans egista Cramer, 1780	Vagrant	Uncommon			+
200	Vanessa cardui Linnaeus, 1758	Painted Lady	Uncommon			+
201	Vanessa indica Herbst, 1794	Indian Red Admiral	Rare		+	+
202	Ypthima baldus Fabricius, 1775	Common Fivering	Very common			+
203	Ypthima hubenri Kirby, 1871	Common Fourring	Very common			+
	Family: Hesperiidae
204	Ancistroides nigrita Latreille, 1824	Chocolate Demon	Common			+
205	Arnetta atkinsoni Moore, 1878	Atkinson's Bob	Rare			+
206	Astictopterus jama Felder & Felder, 1860	Forest Hopper	Fairly common		+	+
207	Baoris chapmani Evans, 1937	Small Paint-brush Swift	Common			+
208	Baoris unicolor Moore, (1884)	Black Paint-brush Swift	Fairly common			+
209	Burara amara Moore, [1866]	Small Green Awlet	Rare			+
210	Burara harisa Moore, 1865	Harisa Orange Awlet	Very rare			+
211	Burara oedipodea (Swainson, 1820)	Branded Orange Awlet	Very rare			+
212	Celaenorrhinus leucocera Kollar, 1844	Common Spotted Flat	Fairly common		+	+
213	Cephrenes acalle (Höpffer, 1874)	Plain Palm Dart	Uncommon		+	+
214	Choaspes benjaminii (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)	Indian Awlking	Very rare			+
215	Cupitha purreea Moore, 1877	Wax Dart	Rare			+
216	Gerosis bhagava Moore, 1866	Common Yellow-breast Flat	Rare			+
217	Gerosis phisara Moore, 1884	Dusky Yellow-breasted Flat	Very Rare			+
218	Gerosis sinica C. & R. Felder, 1862	White Yellow-breasted Flat	Very Rare			+
219	Halpe homolea aucma Swinhoe, 1893	Gold-spotted Ace	Rare			+
220	Halpe porus Mabille, 1877	Moore's Ace	Uncommon			+
221	Halpe zema (Hewitson, 1877)	Banded ace	Rare			+
222	Hasora chromus (Cramer, [1780])	Common Banded Awl	Very rare		+
223	Hyarotis adrastus Stoll,1780	Tree Flitter	Rare			+	Schedule IV
224	Koruthaialos butleri de Nicéville, 1883	Dark Velvet Bob	Uncommon			+
225	Lambrix salsala Moore, 1866	Chestnut Bob	Common		+	+
226	Matapa aria Moore, 1866	Common Redeye	Fairly common		+	+
227	Matapa sasivarna Moore, 1865	Black Veined Redeye	Uncommon			+
228	Notocrypta curvifascia (C. & R. Felder, 1862)	Restricted Demon	Rare			+
229	Notocrypta paralysos (Wood-Mason & de Nicéville, 1881)	Common Banded Demon	Common		+	+
230	Ochus subvittatus Moore, 1878	Tiger Hopper	Rare			+
231	Odontoptilum angulata C. Felder, 1862	Chestnut Angle	Very rare			+
232	Oriens gola Moore, 1877	Common Dartlet	Common			+
233	Parnara sp.		Uncommon			+
234	Pelopidas assamensis de Nicéville, 1882	Great Swift	Rare			+	Schedule IV
235	Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798)	Small Branded Swift	Very common		+	+
236	Pelopidas subochracea (Moore, 1878)	Large Branded Swift	Uncommon		+	+
237	Ponthanus sp.		Fairly common			+
238	Pseudocoladenia dan Fabricius, 1787	Fulvous Pied Flat	Common			+
239	Sarangesa dasahara Moore, 1866	Common Small Flat	Common		+	+
240	Scobura isota Swinhoe, 1893	Khasi Hills Bob	Very rare			+
241	Scobura phiditia (Hewitson, [1866])	Malay Forest Bob	Very rare			+
242	Spialia galba Fabricius, 1793	Indian Skipper	Fairly common			+
243	Suastus gremius (Fabricius, 1798)	Indian Palm Bob	Uncommon			+
244	Tagiades gana Moore,1866	Suffused Snow Flat	Fairly common		+	+
245	Tagiades japetus Stoll, 1781	Common Snow Flat	Fairly common		+	+
246	Tagiades litigiosa Möschler, 1878	Water Snow Flat	Rare			+
247	Telicota colon (Fabricius, 1775)	Pale Palm Dart	Uncommon			+
248	Udaspes folus Cramer, 1775	Grass Demon	Fairly common		+	+
249	Zographetus satwa de Nicéville, 1884	Purple and Gold Flitter	Very rare			+

CA—Commercial Areas | RA—Residential Areas | FA— Forested Areas | IWPA— Indian Wildlife Protection Act.

For figure & images - - click here

REFERENCES

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Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies - 1^st Edition. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India, 302pp+32plts.

Gogoi, M.J. (2013a). A preliminary checklist of butterflies recorded from Jeypore-Dehing forest, eastern Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(2): 3684–3696. http://doi.org/JoTT.o3022.3684-96

Gogoi, M.J. (2013b). Notes on some skipper butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) from Panbari Forest and its adjoining areas, Kaziranga Karbi Anglong, upper Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(13): 4759–4768. http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3340.4759-68

Gogoi, M.J. (2015). Observations on lycaenid butterflies from Panbari Reserve Forest and adjoining areas, Kaziranga, Assam, northeastern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(15): 8259–8271. http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2467.7.15.8259-8171

Karthikeyan, S. & V. Venkatesh (2011). “Snowy Angle Darpa pteria”. The Wild Wanderer, 07 September2011 (Retrieved on 09 July 2013 from http://www. wildwanderer. com /journal/?p= 435).

Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society, Oxford University Press, Mumbai, 497pp.

Kunte, K., S. Sondhi & P. Roy. (2020). Butterflies of India, v. 2.78. Indian Foundation for Butterflies. http://www.ifoundbutterflies.org,  accessed 17 April 2020.

Neog, S. (2015). Butterflies of Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. Bhabani Books, Guwahati, 112pp.

Pollard, E. (1982). Monitoring butterfly abundance in relation to the management of a nature reserve. Biological Conservation 24: 317–328.

Purkayastha, J. (2012). Urban Herpetofauna, Amphibian and Reptiles of Guwahati - A Pictorial Guide. Students’ store, Guwahati, 64pp.

Purkayastha, J. (2015). An Amateur’s Guide to Birds of Assam. EBH Publisher, Guwahati, 144pp.

Purkayastha, J. (2018). Urban biodiversity: an insight into the terrestrial vertebrate diversity of Guwahati, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 10(10): 12299–12316. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3721.10.10.12299-12316

Singh, A.P. (2015). Recent record of a rarely recorded species, the Veined Palmer Hidari bhawani de Nicéville, 1888 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae: Aeromachini) from Jorhat, Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(1): 6839–6840. http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o4031. 6839-40.

Singh, A.P. (2017). Butterflies of eastern Assam, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 9(7): 10396–10420. http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3177.9.7.10396-10420

Singh, A.P., L. Gogoi & J. Sebastain (2015). The seasonality of butterflies in a semi-evergreen forest: Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, northeastern India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 7(1): 6774–6787. http://doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3742.6774-87

Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay, 523pp.

Yadav, R. & A. Barua (2016). Study of Urbanization and Ecosystem Services of Guwahati City from Forest Footprint Perspective. Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography S5: 1. http://doi.org/10.4172/2157-7625.S5-004