This is a list of butterfly species found in the Western Ghats region. This region is a biodiversity hotspot and about 334 species of butterflies have been recorded.
Papilionidae —swallowtail butterflies (19 species)
Pieridae —yellow-white butterflies (34 species)
Nymphalidae —brush-footed butterflies (97 species)
Riodinidae —metalmark butterflies (1 species)
Lycaenidae —blues, hairstreaks and gossamer-winged butterflies (101 species)
Hesperiidae —skipper butterflies (83 species)
Subfamily Papilioninae
Genus Graphium —bluebottles and jays
Genus Papilio (Chilasa )—mimes
Genus Papilio (Papilio )—swallowtails
Malabar banded swallowtail , Papilio liomedon (Moore , 1874)
Blue Mormon , Papilio polymnestor (Cramer , 1775)
Red Helen , Papilio helenus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )
Common Mormon , Papilio polytes ( Linnaeus , 1758 )
Malabar raven , Papilio dravidarum (Wood-Mason , 1880)
Lime butterfly , Papilio demoleus ( Linnaeus , 1758 )
Common banded peacock , Papilio crino (Fabricius , 1792)
Malabar banded peacock , Papilio buddha (Westwood , 1872)
Paris peacock , Papilio paris ( Linnaeus , 1758 )
Subfamily Pierinae —whites
Genus Prioneris —sawtooths
Genus Appias —puffins and albatrosses
Spot puffin , Appias lalage (Doubleday , 1842)
Plain puffin , Appias indra Moore , 1857
Striped albatross , Appias libythea Fabricius , 1775
Chocolate albatross , Appias lyncida Cramer , 1777
Common albatross , Appias albina Felder
Lesser albatross , Appias wardii (Moore , 1884)
Genus Hebomoia —great orange tip
Genus Colotis —Arabs
Crimson-tip
Small salmon Arab , Colotis amata Fabricius , 1775
Blue-spotted Arab , Colotis phisadia (Godart , 1819)
White Arab , Colotis vestalis (Butler , 1876)
Large salmon Arab , Colotis fausta (Olivier, 1804)
Small orange-tip , Colotis etrida Boisduval , 1836
Plain orange-tip , Colotis aurora (Cramer, 1780)
Crimson-tip , Colotis danae (Fabricius , 1775)
Genus Pareronia —wanderers
Subfamily Coliadinae —yellows
Mottled emigrant
Genus Eurema —grass yellows
Small grass yellow , Eurema brigitta Cramer , 1780
Spotless grass yellow , Eurema laeta Boisduval , 1836
One-spot grass yellow , Eurema andersonii Moore
Common grass yellow , Eurema hecabe Linnaeus , 1758
Three-spot grass yellow , Eurema blanda Boisduval , 1836
Nilgiri grass yellow , Eurema nilgiriensis
Genus Colias —clouded yellows
Subfamily Morphinae
Genus Amathusia —palmking
Palmking , Amathusia phidippus Linnaeus, 1763
Subfamily Satyrinae
Whitebar bushbrown
Lethe europa
Common evening brown
Common palmfly
Genus Mycalesis —bushbrowns
Whitebar bushbrown , Mycalesis anaxias Hewitson, 1862
Small longbrand bushbrown , Mycalesis igilia Fruhstorfer , 1909
Long-brand bushbrown , Mycalesis visala Moore, 1858
Palebrand bushbrown , Mycalesis khasia Evans, 1920
Redeye bushbrown , Mycalesis adolphei (Guérin-Ménéville, 1843)
Palni bushbrown , Mycalesis mamerata davisoni
Red-disc bushbrown , Mycalesis oculus Marshall, 1880
Gladeye bushbrown , Mycalesis patnia Moore, 1857
Tamil bushbrown , Mycalesis subdita Moore
Common bushbrown , Mycalesis perseus (Fabricius, 1775)
Dark branded bushbrown , Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Genus Ypthima —rings
Common threering , Ypthima asterope
Jewel fourring , Ypthima avanta Moore, 1875
Common fivering , Ypthima baldus (Fabricius, 1775)
White fourring , Ypthima ceylonica Hewitson, 1865
Nilgiri fourring , Ypthima chenui (Guérin-Méneville, 1843)
Common fourring , Ypthima huebneri Kirby, 1871
Baby fivering , Ypthima philomela (Linnaeus, 1763)
Palni fourring , Ypthima ypthimoides Moore, 1881
Genus Orsotriaena —nigger
Nigger , Orsotriaena medus (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Melanitis —evening browns
Genus Parantirrhoea —Travancore evening brown
Subfamily Heliconiinae
Rustic
Leopard
Genus Vindula —cruiser
Cruiser , Vindula erota Fabricius, 1793
Genus Cupha —rustic
Rustic , Cupha erymanthis (Drury, 1773)
Genus Argynnis —fritillaries
Subfamily Limenitidinae
Genus Athyma —sergeants
Colour sergeant (Athyma nefte )
Genus Neptis —sailers
Neptis hylas
Pantoporia hordonia
Genus Parthenos —clipper
Clipper , Parthenos sylvia (Cramer, 1775)
Subfamily Cyrestinae
Genus Cyrestis —map butterflies
Subfamily Biblidinae
Genus Byblia —joker
Joker , Byblia ilithyia (Drury, 1773)
Subfamily Nymphalinae
Peacock pansy
Blue pansy
Genus Vanessa —admirals, painted lady
Genus Junonia —pansies
Gray pansy , Junonia atlites (Linnaeus, 1763)
Peacock pansy , Junonia almana (Linnaeus, 1758)
Yellow pansy , Junonia hierta (Fabricius, 1798)
Chocolate pansy , Junonia iphita (Cramer, 1779)
Lemon pansy , Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758)
Blue pansy , Junonia orithya (Linnaeus, 1758)
Genus Hypolimnas —eggflies
Genus Doleschallia —autumn leaf
Autumn leaf , Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica (Cramer, 1777)
Subfamily Miletinae
Genus Logania —mottles
Mottle , Logania distanti Semper, 1889.
Genus Spalgis —apefly
Apefly , Spalgis epius (Westwood, 1851) (L6.1)
Subfamily Polyommatinae
Genus Talicada —red Pierrot
Genus Castalius —common Pierrot
Common Pierrot , Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775. (L9.1)
Dark Pierrot , Castalius ananda de Nicéville, 1884 previously Tarucus ananda de Nicéville (L10.1)
Genus Caleta —angled Pierrot
Angled Pierrot , Caleta caleta Hewitson, 1876 earlier Castalius caleta Moore (L9.2)
Genus Discolampa —banded blue Pierrot
Banded blue Pierrot , Discolampa ethion Westwood, 1851 earlier Castalius ethion Doubleday & Hewitson (L9.3)
Genus Tarucus —blue Pierrots
Genus Syntarucus —zebra blue
Zebra blue , Syntarucus plinius (Fabricius, 1793) (L11.1) (synonyms Leptotus plinius , Tarucus plinius )
Genus Neopithecops —Quaker
Quaker , Neopithecops zalmora Butler 1870 (L15.1)
Genus Megisba —Malayan
Malayan , Megisba malaya (Horsfield, 1828) (H20.1, p. 220)
Genus Celastrina —hedge blues
Plain hedge blue , Celastrina lavendularis (Moore , 1877) previously Lycaenopsis lavendularis Moore (L19.15)
Genus Acytolepis —hedge blues
Common hedge blue , Acytolepis puspa (Horsfield, 1828) previously Lycaenopsis puspa (Toxopeus ) (L19.1)
Hampson's hedge blue , Acytolepis lilacea (Hampson, 1889) previously Lycaenopsis lilacea Hampson (L19.2)
Genus Akasinula —white hedge blue
Genus Cyaniris —hedge blues
Genus Polyommatus —meadow blues
Genus Chilades —lime blue
Lime blue , Chilades lajus (Stoll, [1780]) (L21.1)
Indian Cupid , Chilades parrhasius (Fabricius, 1793) previously Everes parrhasius Fabricius (L16.4)
Genus Luthrodes —Cupids
Small Cupid , Luthrodes contracta (Butler, 1880) previously Euchrysops contracta Butler (L23.2)?
Plains Cupid , Luthrodes pandava (Horsfield, 1829) previously Euchrysops pandava Horsfield (L23.3)
Genus Zizeeria —grass blues
Genus Pseudozizeeria —pale grass blue
Genus Zizula —tiny grass blue
Tiny grass blue , Zizula gaika (Trimen, 1862) synonym Zizula hylax (Fabricius 1775) (now suppressed) (L22.4)
Genus Freyeria —grass jewel
Grass jewel , Freyeria trochylus (Freyer, 1845) previously Zizeeria trochilus Freyer (L22.1)
Genus Euchrysops —gram blues
Gram blue , Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius, 1798) (L23.1)
Genus Anthene —ciliate blues
Genus Catachrysops —forget-me-nots
Genus Lampides —ceruleans and the peablue
Peablue , Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) (L26.1)
Genus Nacaduba —lineblues
Large four-line blue , Nacaduba pactolus (Felder, 1860) (L30.2)
Pale four-line blue , Nacaduba hermus (Felder, 1860) (L30.3)
Pointed lineblue , Nacaduba helicon Felder,? (L30.7)
Transparent six-line blue , Nacaduba kurava (Moore , 1857) (L30.8)
Opaque six-line blue , Nacaduba beroe (Felder & Felder, 1865) (L30.9)
Rounded six-line blue , Nacaduba berenice (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869) (L30.10)
Dark Ceylon six-line blue , Nacaduba calauria (C. Felder, 1860)
Genus Prosotas —lineblues
Common Lineblue , Prosotas nora (Felder, 1860) previously Nacaduba nora Felder (L30.13)
Tailless lineblue , Prosotas dubiosa (Semper, 1879) previously Nacaduba dubiosa Evans (L30.14)
White-tipped lineblue , Prosotas noreia (Felder, 1868) previously Nacaduba noreia Felder (L30.15)
Genus Petrelea —dingy lineblue
Dingy lineblue , Petrelea dana (De Nicéville, 1884) previously Nacaduba dana de Nicéville (L30.16)
Subfamily Theclinae
Genus Iraota —silverstreak blues
Genus Horsfieldia —leaf blue
Genus Thaduka —many-tailed oak-blue
Genus Nilasera —oakblues
Centaur oakblue , Nilasera centaurus (Fabricius, 1775) previously Amblypodia centaurus Moore (L45.16)
Genus Panchala —oakblues
Rosy oakblue , Panchala alea (Hewitson, 1862) previously Amblypodia alea Hewitson (L45.11)
Genus Narathura —Tamil oakblue
Tamil oakblue , Narathura bazaloides (Hewitson, 1878) previously Amblypodia bazaloides Hewitson (L45.23)
Genus Surendra —acacia blue
Genus Zinaspa —silver streaked acacia blue
Genus Loxura —yamfly
Yamfly , Loxura atymnus (Cramer, 1782) (L48.1)
Genus Pratapa —tufted royals
Genus Creon —broadtail royal
Genus Ops —branded royal
Branded royal , Ops melastigma (De Nicéville, 1887) previously Tajuria melastigma de Nicéville (L55.4)
Genus Charana —mandarin blues
Genus Cheritra —common imperial
Genus Rathinda —monkeypuzzle
Genus Catapaecilma —common tinsel
Genus Chliaria —tits
Orchid tit , Chliaria othona (Hewitson, 1865) (L66.1)
Nilgiri tit , Chliaria nilgirica (Moore , 1883) previously Hypolycaena nilgirica Moore (L67.1)
Genus Deudorix —cornelians
Genus Virachola —guava blues
Genus Vadebra —Malabar flash
Genus Bindahara —plane
Plane , Bindahara phocides (Fabricius, 1793) (L74.1)
Subfamily Aphnaeinae
Genus Cigaritis —silverlines
Tawny silverline , Cigaritis acamas (Klug, 1834) (L51.1)
Common silverline , Cigaritis vulcanus (Fabricius, 1775) (L52.1)
Long-banded silverline , Cigaritis lohita (Horsfield, [1829]) (L52.11)
Plumbeous silverline , Cigaritis schistacea (Moore, [1881]) (L52.2)
Abnormal silverline , Cigaritis abnormis (Moore, [1884]) (L52.4)
Common shot silverline , Cigaritis ictis (Hewitson, [1865]) (L52.5)
Scarce shot silverline , Cigaritis elima (Moore, 1877) (L52.6)
Lilac silverline , Cigaritis lilacinus (Moore, 1884) (L51.2)
Subfamily Coeliadinae
Genus Badamia —brown awl
Brown awl , Badamia exclamationis (Fabricius, 1775)
Genus Bibasis —orange tailed awl
Subfamily Hesperiinae
Genus Aeromachus —scrub hoppers
Genus Ampittia —bush hoppers
Genus Baracus —hedge hoppers
Genus Pseudoborbo —Bevan's swift
Genus Erionota —palm redeye
Genus Matapa —branded redeye
Genus Pelopidas —branded swifts
Dark branded swift , Pelopidas agna (Moore, 1865)
Great swift , Pelopidas assamensis (De Nicéville, 1882)
Conjoined swift , Pelopidas conjuncta (Herrich-Schäffer, 1869)
Dark small-branded swift , Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius, 1798)
Large branded swift , Pelopidas subochracea (Moore, 1878)
Pale small-branded swift , Pelopidas thrax (Hübner, 1821)
Genus Potanthus —darts
Confucian dart or Chinese dart , Potanthus confucius (Felder & Felder, 1862)
Pallied dart , Potanthus pallida (Evans, 1932)
Palni dart , Potanthus palnia (Evans, 1914)
Pava dart , Potanthus pava (Fruhstorfer, 1911)
Pseudomaesa or common dart , Potanthus pseudomaesa (Moore, 1881)
Genus Psolos —coon
Coon , Psolos fuligo (Mabille, 1876)
Genus Taractrocera —grass darts
Genus Telicota —palm darts
Subfamily Pyrginae
Genus Celaenorrhinus —flat
Genus Coladenia —pied flats
Genus Odontoptilum —angles
Genus Sarangesa —small flats
Genus Spialia —grizzled skippers
Kunte, K. (In press.) Checklist of the Butterflies of the Western Ghats, Southwestern India. In K. A. Subramanian (ed.) Diversity and Conservation of Invertebrates in the Western Ghats.
Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identification of Indian Butterflies (2nd ed.). Mumbai, India: Bombay Natural History Society .
Wynter-Blyth, Mark Alexander (1957). Butterflies of the Indian Region . Bombay, India: Bombay Natural History Society . ISBN 978-8170192329 .
Gaonkar, Harish (1996). Butterflies of the Western Ghats, India (including Sri Lanka) - A Biodiversity Assessment of a Threatened Mountain System . Bangalore, India: Centre for Ecological Sciences.
Larsen, T. B. 1987–88. The butterflies of the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society , vol 84 & 85.