9-Aug-2020: Scientists find 77 new butterfly species in Matheran
After a long gap of 125 years, scientists have found 140 rare species of butterflies, including 77 new ones, in Matheran. The last time butterflies were codified in this eco-sensitive zone was in 1894, when a researcher identified 78 species.
Scientists observed a strong seasonal variation in butterfly diversity. The maximum diversity (125) of butterflies was recorded during winter, while the least (80) during monsoon. A high similarity of butterfly species composition was observed between the pairs of sites studied, tending towards perfect nestedness.
The team used biostatistical techniques. They used a barcode system to denote seasons and the activities of the butterflies.
They hope this system will help biologists studying butterflies present such data concisely and effectively.
Butterflies are not just beautiful creatures but also indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem. A long-term study of butterflies will surely help the scientific community understand and conserve the health of the ecosystem.
Matheran is a hill station in the Raigad district, Maharashtra. It is declared as an eco-sensitive region by the Union Ministry of Environment.
1-Jul-2020: Two more butterfly species discovered
Lepidopterists in Arunachal Pradesh have added two species to India’s expanding list of butterflies. India now has 1,327 species, up from 1,318 in 2015.
- Striped Hairstreak: was first recorded by Japanese entomologists in the Hainan province of China. It was located in Vijaynagar bordering Myanmar.
- Elusive Prince: has a Vietnamese connection and was thought to be the more familiar Black Prince found in the Eastern Himalayas. It was located on the periphery of the Namdapha National Park.
The recording of the two butterflies follows the rediscovery of the Assam Keelback, a non-venomous snake from the Gelling area of Arunachal Pradesh after 129 years.
