Economically important families of Lepidoptera

a. Pieridae:

• Cabbage or white or sulfur or orange tip butterfly e.g. Pieris brassicae nepalensis. Larvae feed on leaves of Cole-crops. Other example: Pieris canidia.

b. Papilionidae

• Examples: Papilio demoleus (lemon butterfly). Brightly colored, dark-blue black, or dark with bright yellow or orange red green marks on the body of the insects.
• They are serious pest of citrus fruits. Larvae feed on leaves. Hind wing is extended into a tail-like projection.
• Eg: Swallow tailed butterfly.

c. Nymphalidae

• Brush footed or four footed butterflies. Examples: Nymphalis spp.; Peacoc pansy.

d. Hesperiidae

• Skipper – pest of several crops. Antennae widely separated at base, clubbed hooked at the tip.
• Head is as quite as or even wider- than the thorax. Hold wings at different angles. E.g. Pelopedas mathias (Rice-skipper).

e. Danaidae

• Milk-weed butterfly or Monarch butterfly (Plain tiger). Larvae of this insect feed on milk fluid of different plants. Examples: Danaus plexippus.

f. Satyridae: Rice green horned caterpillar

• Example: Melanitis leda ismene (Rice green horned caterpillar) Feed on leaves of rice.