English: Common Name: Common Map

Scientific name: Cyrestis thyodamas Family: Nymphalidae Subfamily - CYRESTINAE Tribe – CYRESTINI

I have found this butterfly inside the core area of Deomali Mountain. This butterfly is confined to the cool moist forests of the Eastern Ghats. It visits flowers as well as damp patches. The map-like markings and slow sailing, and jerky flight make it easy to identify this fragile butterfly. It is having a wingspan of 50-60mm and prefers hills having evergreen forests, come to water and rarely seen in flowers.

Introduction The Cyrestis Mapwings and their small orange-winged relatives the Chersonesia Maplets are noted for their attractive patterns of fine lines and their short-tailed hindwings. They are closely related to the Marpesia Daggerwings of the neotropical region. Taxonomists differ regarding the higher level taxonomy of these butterflies. Some workers allocate them to the tribe Cyrestini which they include within the subfamily Biblidinae. Others place them in their own subfamily Cyrestinae.

Habitats Habitat: Subtropical mountainous area, hot & humid, thick trees and brush, close to running water.This is a common and widespread butterfly in India, and is found in primary and secondary forest at elevations between about 100-900m.

Identification

Semitransparent white wings with irregular vertical dark lines across them. Under forewings pale white in male and pale yellow in female with black veins.