A taxonomic study of six species of the genus Junonia Hübner, [1819] (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) from the northwestern Himalayan region in India

Abstract

Characters of external genitalia are considered as one of the important criteria to understand the taxonomy of insects. In the present study, various taxonomic characters of the male and female external genitalia and wing venation of six species under the genus Junonia Hübner viz., orythia (Linnaeus, 1758), iphita (Cramer, [1779]), almana (Linnaeus, 1758), lemonias (Linnaeus, 1758), hierta (Fabricius, 1798), atlites (Linnaeus, 1763), have been described and illustrated in detail. Besides, brief diagnoses and identification keys based on external genitalia, morphological variations and taxonomic remarks have been given for all taxa.

Keywords

• external genitalia
• old and new world tropics
• taxonomy
• western himalaya.