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Mango tree as a host plant

Mango tree as a host plant for butterflies

In the summer we all love to eat mangoes, but do you know that butterflies also love mangoes?

Yes, you read it right! There are many butterflies and their life depends on our beloved mango trees. But before getting into that, first let’s know a bit about the mango tree.

100-year-old mango tree.

I bet we all know about The Mango tree, these trees are evergreen and can grow quite tall, reaching heights of 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters) with a spread of around 30 feet (9 meters) for older, mature trees. 

Mango trees thrive in warm climates. They require well-draining soil, plenty of sunlight, and regular watering, especially during the flowering and fruiting seasons. 

Mango trees typically live well past 100 years and can produce fruit until the late stages of their life cycle. Mango trees planted from seeds will take roughly 8 years to produce fruit, while mango trees planted from saplings will take up to 5 years to produce mangoes.

Mango trees are pollinated by wind and a variety of insects like wasps, Flies, Stingless bees, Ants, Butterflies, Beetles, and Bees.

Many birds nest in mango trees like Weaver birds, Kingfishers, Mynas, Cuckoos, and Black-throated mango hummingbirds.

1. Anthene emolus – Common Ciliate Blue

Location: Commonly found throughout whole India.
Help in pollination: Mango, Amaltas, Ashok and Litchi trees.
Best time to see them: September – November

Mango tree as a host plant
Mango tree as a host plant
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
2. Cheritra freja – Common Imperial

Location: Northeast India, south India.
Help in pollination: Camphor tree, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Dalchini tree, Rugmini tree
Best time to see them: September – November

Mango tree as a host plant
Mango tree as a host plant
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
3. Horaga onyx – Common Onyx

Location: Himalayan region and Western ghats
Help in pollination: Mango tree, Masuri berry (Coriaria nepalensis)
Best time to see them: May – June and October

Mango tree as a host plant
Mango tree as a host plant
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
4. Rapala manea – Slate Flash

Location: Commonly found throughout whole India.
Help in pollination: Madhumalti, Acacia caesia, Ashoka tree
Best time to see them: September – November

Mango tree as a host plant
Mango tree as a host plant
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
5. Rathinda amor – Monkey Puzzle

Location: East India and south India.
Help in pollination: Mango tree, Meiogyne pannosa, Calophyllum, Hopea, Loranthus
Best time to see them: September – November

Mango tree as a host plant
Monkey Puzzle
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
6. Euthalia aconthea – Common Baron

Location: Commonly found throughout whole India.
Help in pollination: Cashew tree, Mango, Shahtoot (Mulberries), Bryonia, Scurrula parasitica, Streblus asper, Rose.
Best time to see them: September – October

Mango tree as a host plant
Common Baron
Mango tree as a host plant
Eggs
Mango tree as a host plant
Caterpillar
Mango tree as a host plant
Pupa
7. Euthalia phemius – White-edged Blue Baron

Location: Northeast India.
Help in pollination: Mango and Litchi tree.
Best time to see them: June – July and November.

Mango tree as a host plant
White-edged Blue Baron
Mango tree as a host plant
Eggs
Mango tree as a host plant
Caterpillar
Mango tree as a host plant
Pupa
8. Symphaedra nais – Baronet

Location: Commonly found throughout whole India.
Help in pollination: Mango tree, Oak tree, Sal tree, Tendu (Ebony), Phalsa (Grewia asiatica)
Best time to see them: September – October

Mango tree as a host plant
Baronet
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
9. Delias eucharis – Indian Jezebel

Location: commonly found throughout whole India.
Help in pollination: Palash tree (Butea monosperma), Dendrophthoe falcata, Loranthus cordifolius, Rubbery Mango Mistletoe, Taxillus vestitus, Musk Mallow or Muskdaana, Kanak-champa, Viscum album.
Best time to see them: September – October

Mango tree as a host plant
Indian Jezebel
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa
10. Junonia atlites – Grey Pansy

Location: commonly found throughout whole India.
Help in pollination: Barleria, Hygrophila auriculata
Best time to see them: September – October

Mango tree as a host plant
Grey Pansy
Eggs
Caterpillar
Pupa

Read more: What is a Host Plant?

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Data source: www.ifoundbutterflies.org
this websites have all the information we need to make our world more butterfly-friendly.