Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.26, No.2, 2010 THE GENUS JUNONIA (LEPIDOPTERRA: NYMPHALIDAE) IN PAKISTAN FALAK NAZ*, MUHAMMAD ILYAS*, MUHAMMAD ASHFAQUE** and ANJUM SHAHZAD* * National Insect Museum, Institute of Plant & Environmental Protection, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad – Pakistan. ** Insect Pest Management Programme, Institute of Plant & Environmental Protection, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad – Pakistan. ABSTRACT A checklist of butterflies of the genus Junonia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) of Pakistan is presented with a new record for Pakistan i.e. Junonia (Precis) atlites. In total six species of genus Junonia are recorded from Pakistan. A key to the butterfly species of the genus Junonia of Pakistan and their distribution is given. Key Words: Genus Junonia, Checklist, Pakistan, key, Junonia (Precis) atlites Citation: Naz, F., M. Ilyas, M. Ashfaque and A. Shahzad. 2010. The genus Junonia (Lepidoptera: nymphalidae) in Pakistan. Sarhad J. Agric. 26(2): 267-270. INTRODUCTION The Pansies butterflies belong to genus Junonia of family Nymphalidae. The Nymphalid butterflies are diverse and also called brush-footed butterflies as the males have the first pair of legs reduced to brush-like structure. Genus Junonia is pretty patterned on the upper wings with bright colour and prominent ocelli. They are often abundant and have the habit of flying low to the ground. Up till now 33 species of genus Junonia have been reported all over the world. Among these species five have been reported to occur in Pakistan (Robert, 2001). Nymphalid butterflies of Pakistan have been investigated by Lesilie and Evens (1903), Puri (1931), Malik (1970 and 1973), Ahsan and Iqbal (1975), Iqbal (1978), Arshad et al. (1983), Hassan (1994), Smith and Hassan (1997), Robert (2001), Naz et al. (2001), Khan et al. (2004) and Khan et al. (2007). Among these, Iqbal (1978), Hassan (1994) and Robert (2001) especially focused on the butterflies of Islamabad and adjacent areas. However, these authors have not recorded Junonia atlites from Pakistan although it has been reported from India by Bingham (1905). In the present study, this species Junonia atlites is also recorded from Pakistan and hence the new checklist and revised key of the genus Junonia is prepared. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present checklist of genus Junonia is prepared after studying the butterfly collection of National Insect Museum NARC, Islamabd, Pakistan and the work of other authors on these butterflies. During the present survey of butterflies in September 2006, a Junonia species was collected on the flowers of Lantana camara plant in National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad. It was found that this species is different to the previously recorded Junonia species from the country. It was identified with the help of “Butterfly Encyclopaedia” by Landmand (1999) as Junonia atlites (Linnaeus). It is housed in the butterfly collection of National Insect Museum, NARC, Islamabad, Pakistan. Material Examined: 2 females, Islamabad, September 18, 2006. World Distribution: South West Asia, from India to Southern China. The Islamabad city is situated at the edge of the Pothohar plateau, south of the Margalla hills with latitude 33 ◦ North and longitude 73 ◦ East. The altitude of Islamabad ranges from 457-610 meter. The area's micro-climate is regulated by three man-made lakes (Rawal, Simli and Khanpur). The city overall has an extreme climate with hot summers with monsoon rains occurring during July and August, and fairly cold winters with sparse snowfall over the hills and sleet in the city. The weather ranges from a minimum of -4 °C in January to a maximum of 45 °C in June (http://en/wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad#External) RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Key to the butterflies of the genus Junonia in Pakistan 1. Upper side ground colour yellow………………………………………..Junonia hierta 1’. Upper side ground colour not yellow……….…………………………………………2