Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell) - Sikkim Butterfly

Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:November 24, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Aglais kaschmirensis (Indian Tortoiseshell)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim,

Date:December 14, 2014
Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:             Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                    Insecta

Order:                  Lepidoptera

Family:                 Nymphalidae

Genus:                  Aglais

Species:                 A. caschmirensis

Binomial name:    Aglais caschmirensis (Kollar, 1848)

Other Names: Indian Tortoiseshell

Special feature:  There are 3 species found in Himalaya.

Aglais caschmirensis are found across the foothills of the Himalaya from Kashmir to Sikkim, Bhutan and Tibet.

Hestina nama (Circe) - Sikkim Butterfly

Hestina nama  (Circe)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim

Date: November 14,  2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Hestina nama  (Circe)

Place : Chisopani, Singtam, East Sikkim

Date: November 14,  2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:             Animalia

Phylum:               Arthropoda

Class:                    Insecta

Order:                  Lepidoptera

Family:                 Nymphalidae

Sub-Family:         Apaturinae

Genus:                  Hestina

Species:                 H. nama

Binomial name:    Hestina nama (Westwood, 1850)

Other Names: Circe

Special feature:  The genus Hestina consists of 11 species including several which were formerly included in Diagora or Diadema. Most are Batesian mimics of toxic Danaines - Hestina nama for example is a mimic of the Chocolate Tiger Parantica sita. (http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/)

Euthalia phemius (White-Edged Blue Baron) - Sikkim Butterfly

Euthalia phemius (White-Edged Blue Baron)

Place : Namthang, South Sikkim

Date: Septermber 30, 2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:             Insecta

Order:            Lepidoptera

Family:           Nymphalidae

Genus:            Euthalia

Species:           E. phemius

Binomial name: Euthalia phemius (Doubleday, 1848)

Other Names:  White-Edged Blue Baron

Special feature:  The male and female of this species look very different - the male is smaller and has large blue patches on its hindwings.

Banded Treebrown (Lethe confuse) - Sikkim Butterfly

Banded Treebrown (Lethe confuse)

Place : Sungdung, Rongli, East Sikkim

Date: October 4,  2014

Pic: Shital Pradhan

Scientific classification

Kingdom:       Animalia

Phylum:          Arthropoda

Class:              Insecta

Order:            Lepidoptera

Family:           Nymphalidae

Genus:            Lethe

Species:           L. confusa

Binomial name: Lethe confuse (Aurivillius, 1897)

Other Names: Banded Treebrown

Special feature: It is s found mainly in Southeast Asia and in parts of South Asia.

“This species is found in forested habitats, at altitudes between about 100-1000m. Males settle on rocks or bare earth to imbibe mineralised moisture. (http://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com)”.