Butterflies of Chhattisgarh, India: Updated Checklist with 19 Additions to the State Fauna

Following its proclamation as a separate state in 2000, Chhattisgarh, research on butterflies was undertaken by multiple researchers. They have broadened and enhanced our understanding of Chhattisgarh's butterfly diversity. So far, 182 species of butterflies have been documented in the state of Chhattisgarh, India. The Conservation and Research of Wilderness (C.R.O.W.) Foundation conducted a comprehensive field survey, encompassing all 33 districts of Chhattisgarh state, from 2019 to 2024, to update the checklist of butterflies in the state. We observed butterflies by random walk during 7:00 am to 9:00 am in and 3:00 pm to 5:00pm and photographed them. For this survey, binoculars were used for field observations, and butterflies were photographed using digital cameras, with occasional use of mobile phone cameras. A photographic documentation was conducted, and a checklist was prepared. Along with overview of previous studies, we reported a total of 201 butterfly species which updated the state's butterfly fauna by incorporating 19 species that had not been previously documented in Chhattisgarh. Lycaenidae led with 67 species from 43 genera, followed by Nymphalidae with 60 species from 28 genera, Hesperiidae with 42 species from 30 genera, Pieridae included 20 species from 10 genera, Papilionidae presented 10 species from three genera, and Riodinidae with two species from one genus. The current report also confirmed the presence of one species, Tarucus nara, which was reported by a previous study.