Butterflies are colourful winged insects belonging to the order Lepidoptera. There are around 1,500 butterfly species found in India across varied geographical regions, from the snow-covered Himalayas to tropical forests. India accounts for 8% to 9% of the total butterfly species in the world (18,000).
The majority of the butterflies live in the ecologically important regions like the northeastern region of the country, specifically the states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, and Western Ghats. Surprisingly, about 45% of the total butterfly species in India are found in the state of Assam only. But do you know which butterfly species in India have the most beautiful wings? Let's see!
Major Butterfly Families Found in India
The Indian butterfly population is primarily distributed across five major families:
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| Family Name | Common Description | Indian Species Count | Notable Examples |
| Nymphalidae | Brush-footed butterflies | ~521 species | Blue Tiger, Common Crow, Orange Oakleaf |
| Lycaenidae | Blues, Coppers, and Hairstreaks | ~443 species | Grass Jewel (India's smallest butterfly) |
| Hesperiidae | Skippers (swift-flying, moth-like) | ~321 species | Indian Skipper, Common Small Flat |
| Pieridae | Whites and Yellows | ~109 species | Common Jezebel, Common Grass Yellow |
| Papilionidae | Swallowtails (large, elegant tails) | ~107 species | Southern Birdwing (India's largest butterfly), Krishna Peacock |
List of Most Colourful Butterflies in India
Butterflies in India are one of the most fascinating species in the world, owing to the amazing hues they boast. They are seen across the Western Ghats to the highest altitude forests in the Himalayas. Their iridescent wings, patterns, and excellent camouflage make people admire them for the natural beauty they exhibit.
| Butterfly | Scientific Name | Family | Found In | Striking Feature |
| Malabar Banded Peacock | Papilio buddha | Papilionidae | Kerala, Karnataka | Velvety dark wings slashed with glowing, iridescent aquamarine-green bands. |
| Kaiser-i-Hind | Teinopalpus imperialis | Papilionidae | Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim | Magnificent wings decorated in deep emerald-green and contrasting neon yellow. |
| Krishna Peacock | Papilio krishna | Papilionidae | Sikkim, West Bengal | Shimmering, deep peacock-blue and green scales with a prominent pink tail-spot. |
| Bhutan Glory | Bhutanitis lidderdalii | Papilionidae | Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland | Velvety-black wings marked by elegant cream lines and large red-and-blue eyespots. |
| Orange Oakleaf | Kallima inachus | Nymphalidae | Himachal Pradesh, Assam | Dead-leaf underside that opens to reveal brilliant orange, deep blue, and black. |
| Blue Pansy | Junonia orithya | Nymphalidae | Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh | Males boast electric-blue hindwings adorned with distinct, glowing orange eyespots. |
| Common Jezebel | Delias eucharis | Pieridae | Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam | Striking bright yellow and deep orange patterns framed sharply by jet-black veins. |
| Crimson Rose | Pachliopta hector | Papilionidae | Tamil Nadu, Kerala | Velvety black forewings with white bands, contrasted against a bright crimson body and spots. |
| Blue Admiral | Kaniska canace | Nymphalidae | Uttarakhand, Sikkim | A deep, midnight-black base is dramatically bisected by an icy, bright cyan-blue band. |
| Yellow Pansy | Junonia hierta | Nymphalidae | Rajasthan, Gujarat | Golden-yellow wings with solid jet-black borders and a shimmering violet-blue spot. |
These fascinating species can be seen in various parts of India, ranging from tropical rainforests and moist deciduous forests to temperate alpine grasslands. However, there are significant risks posed by human interventions like habitat loss, deforestation, and hunting of these insects for commercial gain.
It is very essential that the host plants are conserved and corridors are created for these butterflies. Butterfly sanctuaries should be developed within the community and legislation should be enforced under the Wildlife Protection Act.