Butterflies of Sri Lanka

With the two recently recorded species by Dr. Michael van der Poorten known butterfly fauna of Sri Lanka consists of 245/246 species. 20 out of them are endemic to the island.

	Family: Papilionidae
1	Tailed Jay/Green Jay (Graphium agamemnon menides)	LC
2	Five bar Swordtail (Pathysa antiphates ceylonicus)	EN
3	Common Jay (Graphium doson)	LC
4	Spot Swordtail (Pathysa nomius nomius)	VU
5	Common Bluebottle (Graphium sarpedon teredon)	LC
6	Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae ceylonica )	LC
7	Crimson Rose (Pachliopta hector)	LC
8	Ceylon Rose  (Pachliopta jophon jophon)	EN
9	Common Mime (Chilasa clytia lankeswara)	LC
10	Common Banded Peacock (Papilio crino)	VU
11	Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus demoleus)	LC
12	Red Helen (Papilio helenus mooreanus)	VU
13	Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor parinda)	LC
14	Common Mormon (Papilio polytes  romulus)	LC
15	Common Birdwing /Ceylon Birdwing (Troides darsius)	LC
	Family: Pieridae
16	Common Albatross (Appias albina darada)	LC
17	Lesser Albatross (Appias galene)	LC
18	Plain Puffin (Appias indra narendra)	CR
19	Striped Albatross (Appias libythea libythea)	LC
20	Chocolate  Albatross (Appias lyncida taprobana)	LC
21	Pioneer (Belenois  aurota taprobana)	LC
22	Lemon Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona)	LC
23	Mottled Emigrant/African Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe minna)	LC
24	Orange Migrant (Catopsilia scylla)	LC
25	Lesser Gull (Cepora nadina cingala)	CR
26	Common Gull (Cepora nerissa evagete)	LC
27	Small Salmon Arab (Colotis amata  modestus)	LC
28	Crimson Tip (Colotis danae danae)	VU
29	Little Orange Tip (Colotis etrida limbata)	NT
30	Plain Orange Tip (Colotis aurora)	VU
31	Large Salmon Arab (Colotis fausta fulvia)	VU
32	Common Jezebel (Delias eucharis)	LC
33	Three Spot Grass Yellow (Eurema blanda silhetana)	LC
34	Small Grass Yellow (Eurema brigitta rubella)	LC
35	Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe simulata)	LC
36	Spotless Grass  Yellow (Eurema laeta laeta)	VU
37	One-Spot Grass Yellow(Eurema ormistoni)	VU
38	Great Orange Tip/Giant Orange Tip (Hebomoia glaucippe ceylonica)	LC
39	White Orange Tip (Ixias marianne)	LC
40	Yellow Orange Tip (Ixias pyrene cingalensis)	LC
41	Psyche (Leptosia nina nina)	LC
42	Dark Wanderer/Blue Wanderer(Pareronia ceylanica ceylanica)	LC
43	Painted Sawtooth (Prioneris sita)	EN
	Family: Nymphalidae
44	Tawny Coster (Acraea violae)	LC
45	Indian Fritillary (Argynnis hyperbius taprobana)	EN
46	Angled Castor (Ariadne ariadne  minorata)	LC
47	Common Castor (Ariadne merione taprobana)	VU
48	Joker (Byblia ilithyia)	VU
49	Ceylon lacewing/Tamil Lacewing (Cethosia nietneri nietneri)	LC
50	Tawny Rajah (Charaxes psaphon)	NT
51	Black Rajah (Charaxes solon cerynthus)	NT
52	Tamil Yeoman/Yeoman (Cirrochroa thais lanka)	LC
53	Rustic (Cupha erymanthis placida)	LC
54	Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus)	LC
55	Common Tiger (Danaus genutia)	LC
56	Southern Duffer (Discophora lepida ceylonica)	VU
57	Autumn Leaf (Doleschallia bisaltide ceylonica)	EN
58	Redspot Duke (Dophla evelina  evelina)	LC
59	Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra fraterna)	LC
60	Ceylon Palmfly (Elymnias singala)	EN
61	Common Crow/Indian Crow (Euploea core asela)	LC
62	Brown King Crow (Euploea klugii sinhala)	LC
63	The Great Crow/King Crow (Euploea phaenareta corus)	EN
64	Double Branded  Crow (Euploea sylvester montana)	NT
65	Baron (Euthalia aconthea vasanta)	LC
66	Gaudy Baron (Euthalia lubentina psittacus)	VU
67	Great Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)	LC
68	Danaid Eggfly (Hypolimnas misippus)	LC
69	Ceylon Tree Nymph  (Idea iasonia)	VU
70	Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis similis exprompta)	VU
71	Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana  almana)	LC
72	Grey Pansy (Junonia atlites)	LC
73	Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)	CR
74	Chocolate Soldier (Junonia iphita pluviatalis)	LC
75	Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias vaisya)	LC
76	Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya patenas)	NT
77	Blue Oak Leaf  (Kallima philarchus philarchus)	EN
78	Blue Admiral (Kaniska canace haronica)	LC
79	Ceylon Treebrown  (Lethe daretis)	EN
80	Tamil Treebrown (Lethe drypetis)	EN
81	Ceylon Forester  (Lethe dynsate)	EN
82	Common Treebrown (Lethe rohria yoga)	EN
83	Beak (Libythea celtis lepitoides)	EN
84	Club Beak (Libythea myrrha rama)	VU
85	Common Evening Brown (Melanitis leda ismene)	LC
86	Dark Evening Brown (Melanitis phedima tambra)	NT
87	Commander (Moduza procris calidasa)	LC
88	Dark-Brand  Bushbrown (Mycalesis mineus polydecta)	LC
89	Gladeye Bushbrown (Mycalesis patnia  patnia)na.html	LC
90	Common Bushbrown (Mycalesis perseus typhlus)	LC
91	Cingalese Bushbrown  (Mycalesis rama)	EN
92	Tamil Bushbrown (Mycalesis subdita)	LC
93	Common Sailor (Neptis hylas  varmona)	LC
94	Chestnut Streaked Sailor (Neptis  jumbah nalanda)	LC
95	Nigger  (Orsotriaena medus mandata)	LC
96	Common Lascar (Pantoporia hordonia sinuata)	NT
97	Glassy Tiger (Parantica aglea)	LC
98	Ceylon Tiger  (Parantica taprobana)	EN
99	Clipper (Parthenos sylvia cyaneus)	LC
100	Small Leopard (Phalanta alcippe ceylonica)	CR
101	Common Leopard (Phalanta phalantha)	LC
102	Common Nawab/Nawab (Polyura  athamas)	LC
103	Black Prince (Rohana parisatis camiba)	VU
104	Baronnet (Symphaedra nais)	EN
105	Blue Tiger (Tirumala limniace leopardus)	LC
106	Dark Blue Tiger (Tirumala septentrionis  musikanos)	NT
107	Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)	VU
108	Indian Red Admiral (Vanessa indica nubicola)	EN
109	Cruiser (Vindula erota asela)	NT
110	White Four-ring (Ypthima ceylonica)	LC
111	Jewel Four-ring  (Ypthima singala)	EN
	Family: Lycaenidae
112	Hampson's Hedge Blue (Acytolepis lilacea moorei)	EN
113	Common Hedge Blue (Acytolepis puspa felderi)	LC
114	Purple Leaf Blue (Amblypodia anita naradoides)	NT
115	Pointed Ciliate Blue (Anthene lycaenina lycaenina)	LC
116	Aberrant Bushblue (Arhopala abseus  mackwoodi)	EN
117	Large Oakblue (Arhopala amantes amantes)	LC
118	Centaur Oakblue (Arhopala pseudocentaurus pirama)	LC
119	Ormiston's Oakblue  (Arhopala ormistoni)	CR
120	African Babul Blue (Azanus jesous gamra)	LC
121	Bright Babul Blue (Azanus ubaldus)	CR
122	Plane (Bindahara phocides)	EN
123	Angled Pierrot (Caleta decidia)	LC
124	Common Pierrot (Castalius rosimon)	LC
125	Common Tinsel (Catapaecilma major myositina)	EN
126	Silver Forget-me-not (Catochrysops panormus)	CR
127	Forget-me-not  (Catochrysops strabo)	LC
128	Plain Hedge Blue (Celestrina lavendularis)	CR
129	Common Imperial (Cheritra freja pseudojaffra)	VU
130	Lime Blue (Chilades lajus lajus)	LC
131	Plains Cupid (Chilades pandava lanka)	LC
132	Small Cupid (Chilades parrhasius nila)	LC
133	Indian Sunbeam (Curetis thetis)	LC
134	Cornelian (Deudorix epijarbas epijarbus)	VU
135	Banded Blue Pierrot (Discolampa ethion ethion)	LC
136	Gram Blue (Euchrysops cnejus)	LC
137	Indian Cupid (Everes lacturnus parrhasius)	LC
138	Grass Jewel (Freyeria trochilus)	LC
139	Blue Onyx/Common Onyx (Horaga onyx cingalensis)	CR
140	Brown Onyx (Horaga albimacula viola)	CR
141	Nilgiri Tit (Hypolycaena nilgirica)	LC
142	Pointed Lineblue (Ionolyce helicon viola)	CR
143	Silver Streak Blue (Iraota timoleon nicevillei)	NT
144	Metallic Cerulean (Jamides alecto meilichius)	LC
145	Dark Cerulean (Jamides bochus bochus)	LC
146	Common Cerulean (Jamides celeno tissama)	LC
147	Ceylon Cerulean/Sri lanka Cerulean (Jamides coruscans)	VU
148	Milky Cerulean (Jamides lacteata)	VU
149	Pea Blue (Lampides boeticus)	LC
150	Zebra Blue (Syntarucus plinius)	LC
151	Yamfly (Loxura atymnus arcuata)	LC
152	Malayan (Megisba malaya)	LC
153	Rounded 6-Lineblue (Nacaduba berenice ormistoni)	DD
154	Opaque 6-Lineblue (Nacaduba beroe minima)	EN
155	Dark Ceylon 6-Lineblue (Nacaduba calauria toxopeus)	DD
156	Pale 4-Lineblue (Nacaduba hermus sidoma)	NT
157	Transparent 6-Lineblue (Nacaduba kurava prominens)	VU
158	Woodhouse's 4-Lineblue  (Nacaduba ollyetti)	CR
159	Large 4-Lineblue (Nacaduba pactolus ceylonica)	NT
160	Pale Ceylon 6-Lineblue  (Nacaduba sinhala)	VU
161	Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora)	LC
162	Dingy Lineblue (Petrelaea dana)	EN
163	White Southern Royal/White Royal (Pratapa deva deva)	EN
164	Tailless Lineblue (Prosotas dubiosa indica)	LC
165	Common Lineblue (Prosotas nora ardates)	LC
166	White-tipped Lineblue (Prosotas noreia noreia)	EN
167	Indian Red Flash (Rapala iarbus sorya)	DD
168	Malabar Flash (Rapala lankana)	CR
169	Slate Flash (Rapala manea schistacea)	LC
170	Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna lazulina)	VU
171	Monkey-puzzle (Rathinda amor)	LC
172	Apefly (Spalgis epeus epeus)	LC
173	Scarce Shot Silverline (Spindasis lunulifera fairliei)	DD
174	Green’s Silverline (Spindasis greeni)	CR
175	Ceylon Silverline (Spindasis ictis ceylanica)	LC
176	Long-banded Silverline (Spindasis lohita lazularia)	VU
177	Clouded Silverline  (Spindasis nubilis)	DD
178	Plumbeous  Silverline (Spindasis schistacea)	VU
179	Common Silverline (Spindasis vulcanus fusca)	LC
180	Common Acacia Blue (Surendra vivarna discalis)	LC
181	Ceylon Indigo Royal  (Tajuria arida)	CR
182	Peacock Royal (Tajuria cippus longinu)	LC
183	Plains Blue Royal (Tajuria jehana ceylonicas)	CR
184	Red Pierrot (Talicada nyseus nyseus)	LC
185	Butler’s Spotted Pierrot (Tarucus callinara)	EN
186	Striped Pierrot (Tarucus nara)	LC
187	White Hedge Blue (Udara akasa mavisa)	EN
188	Ceylon Hedge Blue  (Udara lanka)	EN
189	Singalese Hedge Blue (Udara singalensis)	EN
190	Common Guava Blue (Virachola isocrates)	LC
191	Large Guava Blue (Virachola perse ghela)	VU
192	Redspot (Zesius chrysomallus)	LC
193	Dark Grass Blue (Zizeeria karsandra)	LC
194	Lesser Grass Blue  (Zizina otis decreta)	LC
195	Tiny Grass Blue (Zizula hylax hylax)	LC
	Family: Riodinidae
196	Plum Judy (Abisara echerius prunosa)	LC
	Family: Hesperiidae
197	Bush Hopper (Ampittia dioscorides singa )	LC
198	Brown Awl (Badamia exclamationis)	LC
199	Paint Brush Swift (Baoris penicillata)	CR
200	Hedge Hopper (Baracus vittatus vittatus)	VU
201	Orange-Tailed Awl (Bibasis sena sena)	EN
202	Wallace's  Swift (Borbo cinnara)	LC
203	Branded Orange Awlet (Bibasis oedipodea ataphus)	EN
204	Blank Swift (Catloris kumara lanka)	VU
205	Philippine Swift (Catloris philippina seriata)	CR
206	Ceylon Golden Angle (Caprona alida lanka)	CR
207	Golden Angle (Caprona ransonnettii)	LC
208	Black Flat  (Celaenorrhinus spilothyrus)	VU
209	Yellow Palm Dart (Cephrenes trichopepla)	LC
210	Indian Awl King (Choaspes benjaminii)	VU
211	Tricolor Pied Flat (Coladenia indrani tissa )	NT
212	Banded Red Eye (Gangara lebadea subfasciata)	CR
213	Giant Red Eye (Gangara thyrsis clothild)	VU
214	African Marbled Skipper (Gomalia elma albofasciata)	CR
215	Ceylon Ace (Halpe homolea ceylonica )	EN
216	Rare Ace (Halpe homolea egena)	EN
217	Ceylon Banded Awl/Ceylon Awl (Hasora badra lanka)	EN
218	Common Banded Awl (Hasora chromus chromus)	LC
219	White Banded Awl (Hasora taminatus taminatus)	NT
220	Tree Flitter (Hyarotis adrastus adrastus)	LC
221	Chestnut Bob (Iambrix salsala luteipalpus)	LC
222	Common Red Eye (Matapa aria)	VU
223	Restricted Demon (Notocrypta curvifascia )	VU
224	Common Banded Demon (Notocrypta paralysos alysia )	VU
225	Common Dartlet (Oriens goloides )	NT
226	Smallest Swift (Panara bada bada )	NT
227	Little Branded Swift (Pelopidas agna agna )	NT
228	Conjoined Swift (Pelopidas conjuncta narooa)	VU
229	Small Branded Swift (Pelopidas mathias mathias)	NT
230	Large Branded Swift (Pelopidas thrax subochracea)	VU
231	Tropic Dart (Potanthus confucius satra)	LC
232	Indian Dart (Potanthus pallida)	DD
233	Common Dart (Potanthus pseudomaesa)	VU
234	Common Small Flat (Sarangesa dasahara albicilia)	NT
235	Indian Skipper (Spialia galba )	LC
236	Indian Palm Bob (Suastus gremius subgrisea)	LC
237	Ceylon Palm Bob (Suastus minuta minuta)	EN
238	Ceylon Snow Flat (Tagiades japetus obscurus)	LC
239	Water Snow Flat (Tagiades litigiosa ceylonica)	VU
240	Black Angle (Tapena thwaitesi thwaitesi)	EN
241	Common Grass Dart (Taractrocera maevius)	LC
242	Dark Palm Dart (Telicota ancilla lanka )	VU
243	Pale Palm Dart (Telicota colon amba)	NT
244	Decorated Ace  (Thoressa decorata )	EN
245	Grass Demon (Udaspes folus)	LC

References and Literature cited:

Gamage Rajika (2007) An Illustrated guide to the Butterflies of Sri Lanka, Author Publication.

Gamage Rajika (2008) Samanalunta enna kiyamu (Text in Sinhala), Author Publication.

Ormiston  W. (1924) The Butterflies of Ceylon, H.W.Cave & Co., Colombo 1924, AES Reprint New Delhi, 2003

d' Abrera Bernard (1998) The Butterflies of Ceylon, WHT Publications : Colombo.

Banks John & Judy (1985) A Selection of the Butterflies of Sri Lanka, Lake House Investments, Colombo 1985, Reprinted 1999 Stamford lake (pvt) ltd

Woodhouse L.G.O. (1950) The Butterfly Fauna of Ceylon, Ceylon Government Press, Colombo, 2nd (Abriged) Edition.  1950.

Perera W.P.N. & Bambaradeniya C.N.B. (2006) Species richness, distribution and conservation status of butterflies in Sri Lanka IN: The fauna of Sri lanka:  status of taxonomy, research and conservation. IUCN, Sri lanka: 53-65.

Ranasinghe Douglas (2008) Asirimath Samanala Lokaya (Text in Sinhala), Author Publication.