| Chocolate albatross | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ventral view | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Genus: | Appias |
| Species: | A. lyncida |
| Binomial name | |
| Appias lyncida Cramer, 1777 | |
| Subspecies | |
| |
| Synonyms | |
Appias lyncida, [3] the chocolate albatross, [4] [5] is a butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in south and southeast Asia. [4] [5]
The chocolate albatross is found in India, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Indochina, Taiwan, Hainan and possibly South China. [4] [5]
In India, the butterfly ranges across south India, Nicobar islands, Sikkim to Assam, and onto Myanmar. [4] [5] In South India, the chocolate albatross is to be found along the foot of the Western Ghats. It is found throughout the year in the Nilgiris where it is locally common. In the northern parts of peninsular India it extends into Orissa and north up to Lucknow. [6]
In India, the northern race of the butterfly is common, while it is local and scarce in other parts of its range. [6]
The chocolate albatross has a wingspan of 55 to 70 mm. The male is white above with chocolate-brown or black margins, and, bright lemon yellow below with chocolate-coloured markings. The female is white and densely clouded with dark brown. [7]
The butterfly shows seasonal dimorphism and is very variable. The detailed descriptions are as follows: [6]
The chocolate albatross is a forest butterfly and prefers rainy highlands, up to a level of 3,000 feet (910 m). Flying strongly and swiftly close to the ground, the albatross is frequently found in jungle clearings and along stream banks. The males are often found circling around trees and bushes. The chocolate albatross often mudpuddles, sometimes in large numbers. The butterfly occasionally visits flowers and has been recorded to visit Verbena flowers in Kodagu. [6]
The larvae have been recorded on Crataeva religiosa , Capparis roxburghii and Capparis heyneana . [5]
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One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a work now in the public domain : Bingham, C.T. (1907). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. II (1st ed.). London: Taylor and Francis, Ltd. pp. 203–205.
Leptosia nina, the psyche, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae and is found in Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia and Australia. The upper forewing has a black spot on a mainly white background. The flight is weak and erratic and the body of the butterfly bobs up and down as it beats its wings. They fly low over the grass and the butterfly rarely leaves the ground level.
Hasora badra, the common awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae, which is found in India.
Hasora chromus, the common banded awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia.
Hasora taminatus, the white banded awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae, which is found in Asia.
Hasora vitta, the plain banded awl, is a butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae which is found in India and parts of Southeast Asia.
Caleta caleta, the angled Pierrot, is a species of blue butterfly found in Sulawesi.
Pieris canidia, the Indian cabbage white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in India, Nepal and Indochina. Pieris rapae is one of the most closely related species in the Pieridae.
Gandaca harina, the tree yellow, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in India, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Indonesia. The species was first described by Thomas Horsfield in 1829.
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Pareronia ceylanica, the dark wanderer, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites. It is found in Sri Lanka and India.
Prioneris sita, the painted sawtooth, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in south India and Sri Lanka.
Appias libythea, the striped albatross, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in south and southeast Asia.
Appias panda, the Nicobar albatross, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in the Nicobar Islands of India.
Colias berylla, the Everest clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is found in Sikkim (India) and Tibet.
Colias nina, Fawcett's clouded yellow, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae - that is, the yellows and whites - that is found in India.
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Cheritra freja, the common imperial, is a small butterfly found in India, Myanmar, Malaysia and Sri Lanka that belongs to the gossamer-winged butterflies family (Lycaenidae).
Azanus urios, the Siam babul blue, is a small butterfly found in India and Thailand that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
Ticherra is a monotypic genus in the lycaenid or blues family. Its sole species is Ticherra acte, the blue imperial, a small butterfly found in India and South-East Asia.