Early stages and larval host plants of some northeastern Indian butterflies

Abstract

Eastern Himalaya and northeastern India are part of two global biodiversity hotspots, yet the critical butterfly-plant associations and early stages of most butterfly species in this region are poorly recorded. We have reported early stages and larval host plants of 78 butterfly species, some of which are rare and endemic, providing specific information on spatial and temporal details associated with these records. These records contribute region-specific information on Indian butterflies, which may be useful in basic ecological and conservation studies in the future.

Keywords

• eastern himalaya
• indo-burma biodiversity hotspot
• larval ecology
• lepidoptera