Biosystematic study of the Satyrinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) fauna of Kerala, India

Abstract

A general survey was carried out on the Satyrine fauna of the Kerala Western Ghats recording 27 species compared to 29 species recorded from the Western Ghats. External genitalial morphology of fourteen species under 6 genera was studied. Based on an evaluation of resemblances of the genital parts, particularly of the valvae, uncus and phallus of the male external genitalia, these species were categorised under two separate groups. The first group contained Melanitis leda, Melanitis (phedima) varaha, Mycalesis anaxias, Mycalesis oculus, Lethe (drypetis) todara, Lethe (rohria) neelgheriensis and Zipaetis saitis.Of these, Mycalesis anaxias, Mycalesis oculus and Lethe (rohria) neelgheriensis formed a subgroup distinct from the others.  The second group contained Mycalesis (perseus) tabitha and M. igilia. These species shared resemblance with Lethe rohria, Mycalesis oculus, Mycalesis (perseus) tabitha, Mycalesis subdita, Mycalesis igilia and Mycalesis adolphei. Each of the remaining species viz., Mycalesis (Patnia) junonia, Mycalesis subdita and Ypthima (baldus) madrasa showed distinctness in their identity. Among these, Y. (baldus) madrasa stood out separately from all the rest. The study shows the heterogeneity of taxa included under the various satyrine genera suggesting the need for a detailed taxonomic revision of the group. Information generated in this study has also shown very good survival of most of the satyrine species in the Kerala part of the Western Ghats mainly due to protection of the natural habitats.