Argynnis hyperbius hybrida (Nymphalideae) the Nilgiri Fritillary: A life cycle record from the Nilgiris, Southern Western Ghats, India

Author: Selvaraj Jeevith*, Sethumadhavan Manoj* and Chinnaiyan Rajasekar**

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Abstract

Argynnis hybrida Evans (1912) the Nilgiri Fritillary belongs to the family Nymphalidae, sub-family Heliconiinae. It belongs to an extremely heterogeneous group. This unique and endemic race, ‘hybrida’ is found only in the Nilgiri Hills of South India, while the other race ‘castetsi’ is found in the hills South of Nilgiris. The life cycle on its host plant Viola pilosa Blume is being reported after thirty years from the Nilgiris. The stages from egg to adult take 60-64 days at 26˚C. The taxonomic description, distribution, larval performance with host plant and ecology are also discussed.

Keywords

Biology, Nilgiri Fritillary, Argynnini, Viola pilosa, Nilgiris.

Conclusion

The present study provides first hand information on the ovipositing, larval host plant, larval performance and the length of life cycle from egg to adult eclosion of the Nilgiri Fritillary butterfly. There is no record of the butterfly species Argynnis hybrida early stages and biology reported elsewhere in India. Though Viola sp. (Violets) is host plant for Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele cybele), Aphrodite Fritillary (Speyeria aphroditei), Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene myrina), Meadow Fritillary (Boloria bellona) and species such as Viola sagittata for Regal Fritillary (Speyeria idalia), V. tricolor for Spain Fritillary (Issoria lathonia) and Variegated Fritillary (Euptoieta claudia) in Michigan, Sweden, Turkey, Finland America and United Kingdom. Valeriana species plays larval host plant for Heath Fritillary butterflies Melitaea diamina and Mellicta athalia life history and ecology reported elsewhere (Warrens, 1987; Wahlberg, 1997). Therefore further research

References

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How to cite this article

Selvaraj Jeevith, Sethumadhavan Manoj and Chinnaiyan Rajasekar (2018). Argynnis hyperbius hybrida (Nymphalideae) the Nilgiri Fritillary: A life cycle record from the Nilgiris, Southern Western Ghats, India , Biological Forum – An International Journal