| Malabar tree-nymph | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Idea |
| Species: | I. malabarica |
| Binomial name | |
| Idea malabarica Moore, 1877 | |
Idea malabarica, the Malabar tree nymph, [2] is a large butterfly found in peninsular India. [2] that belongs to the danaid group of the family Nymphalidae. [3] It is found in forest clearings and above the forest canopy.
The Malabar tree nymph has a wingspan of 120–154 mm. It appears as a mostly white butterfly with black markings. Upperside semitransparent white, sometimes slightly infuscate with a powdering of black scales. Forewing with the following black marks: narrow margins on both sides of the veins, a dusky streak along dorsum, large sub-basal spots in interspaces 1 and 2 (produced inwardly in former), a large oval spot crossing three streaks in discoidal cell, a spot above it in interspace 11, a broad margin to the discocellulars and three rows of spots on outer half of wing, the discal series outwardly conical and curved sharply inwards opposite apex, the subterminal series in pairs coalescent on the veins, the terminal series elongate on veins and in interspaces; costa with a black streak at base, beyond black and white alternately. Hindwing with similar markings; cell with two streaks, the upper forked towards apex; costa white, two spots not touching the vein below in interspace 8; paired spots on veins 5, 8, and 7 not coalescent but one behind the other, black. Underside similar. Antennae black; head and thorax streaked and spotted with black; abdomen white, with broad dusky black streak above. [4] [5]
A variety kanarensis, Moore, has been noted to be identical in markings but always smaller. It was recorded from the Konkan and North Kanara. [4]
In December 2021, The Malabar Tree Nymph was declared the state butterfly of Goa, India. [6]
This species is listed as "Near Threatened" [7] on the IUCN Red List of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, threated by habitat loss due to deforestation, pesticides, and herbicides.
Within India, the species is found in South India especially in the Western Ghats. [4] [2] The species is endemic to the Western Ghats and though it is found in southern Maharashtra, its real distribution starts from Goa. [8]
Their flight is slow, weak and fluttery. They glide a lot, giving members of this genus the other name of paperkite. They often glide above the tree canopy but every now and then move lower down in forest openings. They are unpalatable like other members of the Danainae.
The larvae are known to feed on plants of the species Aganosma cymosa (Apocynaceae). [9] Another species of Apocynaceae, Parsonsia spiralis (now recognised as a synonym of Parsonsia alboflavescens ) [10] has also been noted as a larval host plant and it is believed that many more species in the family may be discovered. [11]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain : Bingham, Charles Thomas (1905). Fauna of British India. Butterflies Vol. 1. p. 4. One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain : Moore, Frederic (1890–1892). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. I. Vol. 1. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. pp. 18–22.
Euploea core, also known as the common crow, is a common butterfly found in South Asia to Australia. In India it is also sometimes referred to as the common Indian crow, and in Australia as the Australian crow. It belongs to the crows and tigers subfamily Danainae.
Parantica aglea, commonly known as the glassy tiger, is a butterfly found in the Indomalayan realm. The species is a member of the Danainae subfamily of the Nymphalidae family.
Cepora nerissa, the common gull, is a small to medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, which is native to Sri Lanka, India, China, southeast Asia, and Indonesia.
Pareronia valeria, the common wanderer or Malayan wanderer, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites, and is found in India and Southeast Asia. The butterfly found in India is sometimes considered as a separate species, Pareronia hippia.
Papilio castor, the common raven, is a species of swallowtail butterfly found in Cambodia and South Asia.
Losaria coon, the common clubtail, is a butterfly belonging to the swallowtail family, Papilionidae. The butterfly belongs to the clubtails, genus Losaria. It includes several subspecies and is found from the Nicobar Islands and Assam in India, east to Hainan in China, and south through Indochina, to Java and other islands of Indonesia and Bangladesh.
Papilio clytia, the common mime, is a swallowtail butterfly found in south and southeast Asia. The butterfly belongs to the subgenus Chilasa, the black-bodied swallowtails. It serves as an excellent example of a Batesian mimic among the Indian butterflies.
Papilio (Chilasa) epycides, the lesser mime, is a swallowtail butterfly found in India and parts of South-East Asia. The butterfly belongs to the mime (Chilasa) subgenus or the black-bodied swallowtails. It is a mimic of a common Indian Danainae, the glassy tiger butterfly.
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.
Parantica nilgiriensis, the Nilgiri tiger, is a butterfly found in the Western Ghats of India south of the Konkan. It belongs to the danaid group of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Euploea sylvester, the double-branded crow, also known as the two-brand crow in Australia, is a butterfly found in South Asia, Southeast Asia and parts of Australia that belongs to the crows and tigers, that is, the danaid group of the brush-footed butterflies family.
Euploea klugii, the brown king crow or king crow, is a butterfly from the family Nymphalidae found in India and Southeast Asia. The species was first described by the entomologist Frederic Moore in 1858.
Castalius rosimon, the common Pierrot, is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the lycaenids, or blues family.
Tarucus theophrastus, the common tiger blue, pointed Pierrot or African Pierrot, is a small butterfly found in the Old World tropics. It belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.
Idea is a genus of butterflies known as tree nymphs or paper butterflies. The member species are concentrated around South-East Asia. See Sevenia for the genus of African tree nymphs. These slender butterflies have very large, papery white wings with black veins and markings. They stay high up in the treetops where they flap around in slow flight. Like most other monarch butterflies, wood nymphs are poisonous, and the striking colour patterns signal this. Several butterflies from other groups mimic these patterns.
Ideopsis vulgaris, the blue glassy tiger, is a butterfly that belongs to the crows and tigers, that is, the danaid group of the brush-footed butterflies family.
The Indian fritillary is a species of butterfly of the nymphalid or brush-footed family. It is usually found from south and southeast Asia to Australia.
Pareronia hippia, the common wanderer or Indian wanderer, is a medium-sized butterfly of the family Pieridae, that is, the yellows and whites. It is found in India. Some authors consider this as a subspecies of Pareronia valeria.
Calinaga aborica, the dark freak or Abor freak, is a species of butterfly in the Calinaginae subfamily that is found in India and the Abor Hills of northern Burma.
