butterflies of lingmethang -...
TRANSCRIPT
Butterflies of Lingmethang
A preliminary checklist of species
December 2016
Piet van der Poel
Leopard Lacewing
(Cethosia cyane, female)
Introduction
From mid May till late August 2016, I worked for the Mountain Hazelnut project in Lingmethang and
used the opportunity to carry out butterfly surveys in the lower Lingmethang valley, between
Menchugang, Masangdaza and the confluence of the Lingmethang and the Kuri Chhus. The area
covers agricultural land, scrub and broadleaved forest along the Lingmethang Chu and some of its
side streams. Inventories were normally done once a week for full day. Between 55 and 85 species
were encountered during one day of survey, not counting a few species that disappeared before
their identity could be established. The checklist contains scientific names and common English
names and a rough preliminary status. Scientific names were taken from the documents used to
identify the species or from one of the preliminary checklists of species of Bhutan. These names may
be not up-to-date. Common names are an even bigger problem as different authors may use the
same name for different species. The sullied sailer may refer to Neptis soma, Neptis clinia or Neptis
nata , while the Clear Sailer may refer to Neptis nata or Neptis clinia. More confusing is that the
pictures presented for one species in different books appear to belong to two different species, not
different sub-species. Once a more complete species list of butterflies of Bhutan and an accepted list
of common names for the butterflies of Bhutan has been published, this preliminary list can be
updated. To get a better picture of the diversity of butterflies in the Lingmethang area, surveys
would also need to be carried out in other months, which now were not or hardly covered: January
to April (one day of survey in 2015 and September-December (a few observations while passing
through Lingmethang in 2014 and 2015).
Results
A total of 201 species were recorded, with a some species remaining unidentified as either the
pictures did not show the distinctive characteristics or the species can only be identified accurately
after catching and dissecting it, a practice I have refrained from and is of little interest to amateur
field lepidopterists and of none to strict Buddhists. It is however of value to science.
The number of species of the 6 families that occur in Bhutan and their percentages of the presently
known total number of species of these families in Bhutan are presented in the table below. The
total number of species is based on combining two checklists of species that have been published
until now (Wangdi, 2015 and 2016 and Singh, 2015) and eliminating at least a number of the
synonyms, doubles and misidentified species. One such misidentified species is my record of a Dingy
Lineblue, which I later reclassified as Orthomiella pontis, the Straightwing Blue. I do not claim that all
of the species in this list have been correctly identified as some species are very confusing and
variation in individuals are often quite large, making some individual look more like another species
than the standard picture of the species it actually belongs to. Sometimes, elevation has been
included as a factor in identifying a species, but butterflies are regularly encountered above or below
their reported range. Climate change may make species move to higher elevations, but there are
also plenty of records of species below their reported range. For example, Kehimkhar (The Book of
Butterflies of India) indicates the range for the Paris Peacock to be 1520 (not 1500!) to 2135m (not
2146.7!), but is has been observed regularly at around 650m (between 619 and 657m).
Family - scientific Family - English No. of species in Lingmethang
No. of listed species in Bhutan
% of the species of Bhutan in Lmt
Papillioniidae Swallowtails 22 57 39
Pieridae Whites & Yellows 24 61 39
Lycanidae Blues 44 169 26
Rhionidae Judies & Punches 3 12 25
Nymphalidae Brushy-footsies 80 275 29
Hesperidae Skippers 28 141 20
Total 201 715 28
Observations of interest
Some rare or new or remarkable observations
Atrophaneura polla, the crimson bordered or De Niceville’s
Windmill. This beautiful and reportedly very rare species was
observed twice at the end of July and on 12 August mudpuddling
for a short while near the bridge at Masangdaza.
Great Zebra and Five-bar Swordtail. These were both first
observed mudpuddling below the cliff on the opposite sited of
the river. I bushwhacked twice to the site, got scratched, stung
by nettles and lost my water bottle, but managed to get a good
picture of a Great Zebra.
Appias nero, the Orange Albatross was seen once flying along the
road just above Lingmethang town and very briefly landing on a
flower before taking off again. Only a vague picture was taken,
but good enough for identification.
Una usta, the Singleton. As the name suggest a single individual
was seen and photographed on 12 August 2016, mudpuddling
near the bridge at Masangdaza. This appears to be a new record
for Bhutan.
A species provisionally identified as Bothrinia chennelli, the
Hedge Cupid, was observed in the Mountain Hazelnut area in
late May 2016, June 2016 and early July 2014. As only pictures of
the underside showing a small portion of the upper side were
obtained, this observation needs confirmation by either a picture
of the upper side of this species or a specimen. This would be the
first record from Bhutan. The July 2014 individual was not
identified until June 2016.
Childrena childreni, the Large Silverstripe, was observed near the confluence of the Lingmethang and
the Kuri Chus on 21 May 2016 at an elevation off about 590m. Isaac Kehimkhar indicates “this
species is never observed below 1200m”. I guess he is wrong by more than 600 m. A second
1 Crimson-bordered Windmill
2 Great Zebra
3 Singleton
4 Large Silverstripe
individual was observed not far from the road bridge near Masangdaza at roughly 900m elevation in
June.
Rajahs, Calyph and Nawabs
Rajahs and Calyphs are in general rare or fairly rare. Some of the Nawabs are much more common.
The common Nawab was seen in small numbers during 4 months, while the Great Nawab was seen
in larger numbers during fewer (2) months. The Tawny, Yellow, Black and Variegated Rajah showed
up once or twice and the Red Calyph once, all in late July or August, and usually they did not hang
around for very long.
There are many more species of interest, but I suppose this gives an idea of what a butterfly watcher
may encounter in the area. Many species were only observed once, indicating that probably many
other species that roam in the area, but seldom sit down in visible places, are present. Some of these
are rare species, some are shy species and others may be common species but at the edge or even
outside their normal habitat range.
8 Tawny Rajah 7 Yellow Rajah 6 Black Rajah 5 Variegated Rajah
10 Red Calyph 9 Great Nawabs
11 Hedge Cupid probably
Papilioniidae Swallowtails Stat
Byasa dasarada Great Windmill fR
Byasa polyeuctes Common Windmill C
Byasa polla De Nicevilli’s Windmill R
Chilasa clytia Common Mime C
Graphium agamemnon Tailed Jay C
Graphium antiphates Five-bar Swordtail fR
Graphium chironides Veined Jay C
Graphium cloanthus Glassy Bluebottle C
Graphium doson Common Jay fC
Graphium sarpedon Common Bluebottle vC
Graphium xenocles Great Zebra fC
Papilio alcmenor Redbreast C
Papilio bianor Common Peacock vC
Papilio castor Common Raven C
Papilio demoleus Lime Swallowtail fC
Papilio helenus Red Helen C
Papilio memnon Great Mormon fC
Papilio nephelus Yellow Helen C
Papilio paris Paris Peacock C
Papilio polytes Common Mormon vC
Papilio protenor Spangle C
Troides aeacus Golden Birdwing fR
Pieridae Whites &Yellows Appias indra Plain Puffin fC
Appias lalage Spot Puffin C
Appias lyncida Chocolate Albatross fC
Appias galba, A. nero Orange Albatross R
Catopsilia pomona Common/Lemon Emigrant vC
Catopsilia pyranthe Mottled Emigrant vC
Cepora nadina Lesser Gull C
Cepora nerissa Common Gull vC
Delias acalis Red-breast Jezebel fC
Delias agostina Yellow Jezebel fR
Delias belladonna Hill Jezebel fC
Delias descombesi Red-Spot Jezebel fC
Delias pasithoe Red-base Jezebel vC
Dercas verhuelli Tailed Sulphur fR
Eurema andersoni One-spot Grass Yellow C
Eurema blanda Three-spot Grass Yellow vC
Euremahecabe Common Grass Yellow vC
Eurema laeta Spotless Grass Yellow C
Gandaca harina Tree Yellow C
Hebomoia glaucippe Great Orangetip C
Ixias pyrene Yellow Orangetip vC
Pieris brassicae Large Cabbage White C
Pieris canidia Indian Cabbage White vC
Prioneris thestylis Spotted Sawtooth C
Lycaenidae Blues Stat
Acytolepis puspa Common Hedge Blue C
Allotinus drumila Great Darkie fR
Ancema ctesia Bi-spot Royal fC
Anthene emolus Ciliate Blue fC
Anthene lycaenina Pointed Ciliate Blue C
Arhopala centaurus Centaur Oakblue C
Arhopala rama Dark Himalayan Oakblue fR Bothrinia chennelli PROVISIONALLY^
Hedge Cupid fR
Castalius rosimon Common Pierrot C
Catochrysops strabo Forget-Me-Not Blue C
Celastrina argiolus Hill Hedge Blue C
Charana mandarinus Mandarin Blue fC
Chilades pandava Plains Cupid C
Chliaria kina Blue Tit C
Cigaritis lohita Long-banded Silverline fC
Cupido lacturnus Indian Cupid C
Curetis acuta Angled Sunbeam fC
Curetis bulis Bright Sunbeam C
Euchrysops cnejus Gram Blue C
Heliophorus epicles Purple Sapphire C
Jamides alecto Metallic Cerulean C
Jamides bochus Dark Cerulean C
Lampides boeticus Pea Blue vC
Leptotes plinius Zebra Blue vC
Lestranicus transpectus White-banded Hedge Blue C
Megisba malaya Malayan C
Miletus chinensis Common Brownie fR
Nacaduba kurava Transparent Six-Lineblue C
Nacaduba pactolus Large Fourline-Blue fC
Prosotas nora Common Lineblue vC
Pseudozizeeria maha Pale Grass Blue vC
Rapala manea Slate Flash fC
Rapala nissa Common Flash fC
Rapala varuna Indigo Flash fR
Remelana jangala Chocolate Royal fC
Sinthusa nasaka Narrow Spark fR
Spalgis epeus Apefly fC
Surendra quercetorum Common Acacia Blue C
Tarucus ananda Dark Pierrot C
Udara albocaerulea Albocerulean fC
Udara dilectus Pale Hedge Blue C
Una usta Singleton vR
Virachola isocrates Common Guava Blue fR
Zeltus amasa Fluffy Tit C
Rionidae Punches & Judies Abisara fylla Dark Judy fC
Dodona egeon Orange Punch C
Zemeros flegyas Punchinello C
Nymphalidae Brushy-footed Abrota ganga Sergeant Major fR
Ariadne merione Common Castor C
Athyma cama Orange Staff Sergeant fC
Athyma perius Common Sergeant fC
Athyma ranga Blackvein Sergeant fC
Athyma selenophora Staff Sergeant C
Athyma zeroca Small Staff Sergeant fC
Auzakia danava Commodore fC
Callerebia hybrida Hybrid Argus fC
Cethosia biblis Red Lacewing fC
Cethosia cyane Leopard Lacewing fR
Charaxes bernardus Tawny Rajah R
Charaxes kahruba Variegated Rajah R
Charaxes marmax Yellow Rajah fR
Charaxes solon Black Rajah R
Chersonesia risa Common Maplet fR
Childrena childreni Large Silverstripe fR
Cirrochroa tyche Common Yeoman fR
Cyrestis thyodamas Common Map C
Danaus chrysippus Plain Tiger C
Danaus genutia Common Tiger vC
Dichorragia nesimachus Constable fR
Doleschallia bisaltide Autumn Leaf fC
Elymnias vasudeva Jezebel Palmfly fR
Enispe euthymius Red Caliph R
Euploea algea Long-branded Blue Crow fR
Euploea core Common Indian Crow fC
Euploea mulciber Striped Blue Crow vC
Euthalia monina Powdered Baron fR
Euthalia phemius White-edged Blue Baron fR
Hestina nama Circe C
Hestina persimilis Siren fR
Hypolimnas bolina Great Eggfly C
Junonia atlites Grey Pansy C
Junonia hierta Yellow Pansy C
Junonia iphita Chocolate Pansy vC
Junonia lemonias Lemon Pansy C
Junonia orithya Blue Pansy C
Kallima inachus Orange Oakleaf C
Lasippa viraja Yellowjack Sailer fR
Lethe confusa Banded Treebrown fC
Lethe mekara Straight Red Forester 0
Lethe rohria Common Treebrown fC
Libythea myrrha Club Beak C
Libythea lepita lepita Common Beak C
Melanitis leda Common Evening Brown vC
Melanitis phedima Dark Evening Brown fC
Mimathyma ambica Indian Purple Emperor C
Moduza procris Commander fR
Mycalesis mineus Dark-branded Bushbrown C
Mycalesis perseus Common Bushbrown vC
Neope pulahoides Veined Labyrinth fR
Neptis cartica Plain Sailer fC
Neptis clinia Sailer (Dirty White) C
Neptis hylas Common Sailer vC
Neptis miah Small Yellow Sailer fR
Neptis pseudovikasi False Dingy Sailer C
Neptis sappho Pallas’s Sailer fC
Neptis soma Creamy Sailer C
Nymphalis canace Blue Admiral C
Aglais cashmiriensis Indian Tortoiseshell fC
Pantoporia hordonia Common Lascar C
Parantica aglea Glassy Tiger vC
Parantica melaneus Chocolate Tiger fC
Phalanta phalantha Common Leopard C
Polyura athamas Common Nawab C
Polyura eudamippus Great Nawab C
Pseudergolis wedah Tabby C
Rohana parisatis Black Prince fC
Sephisa chandra Eastern Courtier C
Stibochiona nicea Popinjay C
Symbrenthia hypselis Spotted Jester fC
Symbrenthia lilaea Common Jester vC
Symbrenthia niphanda Blue-tail Jester fR
Tanaecia julii Common Earl fC
Tirumala septentrionis Dark Blue Tiger C
Vanessa cardui Painted Lady fC
Vanessa indica Indian Red Admiral C
Ypthima baldus Common Five-ring vC
Ypthima newara Newar Three-ring fC
Hesperidae Skippers Aeromachus stigmata Veined Scrub Hopper C
Badamia exclamationis Brown Awl fC
Bibasis sena Orangetail Awl fC
Caltoris tulsi Purple Swift fC
Celaenorrhinus leucocera Common Spotted Flat C
Celaenorrhinus putra Bengal Spotted Flat fC
Dharpa hanria Hairy Angle fR
Halpe homolea* Indian Ace* fC
Hasora badra Common Awl fR
Hasora chromus Common Banded Awl fR
Iambrix salsala Chestnut Bob C
Mooreana trichoneura Yellow Flat fR
Notocrypta curvifascia Restricted Demon fC
Odontoptilum angulata Chestnut Angle C
Oriens gola Common Dartlet fC
Oriens goloides Ceylon Dartlet C
Pelopidas mathias Small Branded Swift C
Pelopidas sinensis Large Branded Swift fC
Pithauria stramineipennis Light Straw Ace fC
Notes:
*1. Review of the pictures taken led to a reclassification
of some species. A few genera and species are difficult or
impossible to identify based on pictures. They may
require the dissection of specimen to correctly identify
the species. Species marked with * belong to this group.
^2. Provisionally. This appears to be a new species for
Bhutan, but it requires specimens or pictures of the
upperside for confirmation.
3. Common names may be very confusing if you use
different guidebooks for identification. Here, I have
followed mainly Singh’s checklist (Bhutan Ecological
Society Journal, 2015), but some of these are Indian
names and not always proper for Bhutan. Besides there is
a second very different set of names for Indian butterflies
(Ifoundbutterflies website). And there are guidebooks for
Nepal and Sikkim in which some names are again
different. Bhutan should come up with its own list of
common English names for its butterflies.
4. Just for those naturalists who look for anything moving,
not only butterflies, I add a list with some of the birds
that have been seen around Lingmethang. There are
many more, but I did not carry binoculars and am not
much of a birder anymore. In addition, there are
monkeys, deer, squirrels, snakes and all kind of other
creepy crawlies and flying invertebrates.
5. The status is a rough preliminary estimate of the frequency of spotting a species in the Lingmethang area. It includes very common (vC), common (C), fairly common (fC), fairly rare (fR), rare (R) and very rare (vR). This status is likely to change when more observations and surveys are done.
Potanthus confucius* Chinese Dart* C
Potanthus nesta* Sikkim Dart* C
Potanthus pseudomaesa* Indian Dart* C
Pseudoborbo bevani* Bevan’s Swift* C
Tagiades litigiosa Water Snow Flat fC
Tagiades menaka Spotted Snow Flat fC
Thoressa hyrie Variable/Large-spotted Ace fC
Thoressa masuriensis Mussoorie Bush Bob C Udaspes folus Grass Demon C
Ashy Bulbul
Black Bulbul
Blue Whistling Thrush
Blue-throated Barbet
Brown Dipper
Common Hoopoe
Common Kingfisher
Common Tailorbird
Crested Kingfisher
Crimson Sunbird
Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Greater Yellownape
Grey Bushchat
Grey Treepie
Himalayan Bulbul
Little Forktail
Oriental Magpie Robin
Oriental White-Eye
Plumbeous Water Redstart
Red-vented Bulbul
Scaly-breasted Munia
Slaty-backed Forktail
Spotted Dove
Spotted Nutcracker
White-capped Water Redstart
White-crested Laughing thrush