The first record of the genus Belenois (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from China

Abstract

Family Pieridae is a large group of butterflies which contains many important pollinators as well as potential pests. Pieridae is a cosmopolitan family while the tropics harbour higher species richness. In a very recent expedition to the China-Indian border area in Tibet Autonomous Region, a migratory species, Belenois aurota (Fabricius, 1793), was discovered for the first time, which comprises the first record of the genus Belenois in China and the highest altitude record of this species.The species B. aurota (Fabricius, 1793) is the first record of the genus Belenois from China. The specimen was collected at an altitude about 3,000 m in Tibet Autonomous Region. Relevant details are presented for the species.

Keywords

• <i>Belenois aurota</i>
• Tibet
• new record
• high al