New larval host plants for the Slate flash, Black rajah and Tiny grass blue butterflies (Insecta: Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae) from Bankura, West Bengal, India

A survey was carried out studying the life cycle of butterflies in the Bankura district, West Bengal, India. Four new larval host plants of three different species of butterflies, together with their life cycles, were observed during this survey: Calliandra heamatocephala (Hassk) as new larval host plant of Charaxes solon (Fabricius) and Rapala manea (Hewitson). Litchi chinensis (Sonn) as new larval host plant of Rapala manea and Hemigraphis hirta (Vahl) (T. Anders) as new larval host plant of Zizula hylax (Fabricius).

Keywords:

Diversity , Kotulpur , life cycle , new food plants , new report , South Bengal