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Western Ghats still home to a rich stock of butterflies
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- Western Ghats is still home to a rich stock of butterflies, a survey that ended in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) on 11 Nov has found.
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- About the survey:
(1) 3-day survey, done jointly by Forest and Wildlife Department in association with Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS).
(2) The survey was conducted in all the four forest ranges under the sanctuary, including Muthanga, Tholpetty, Kurichyad and Sulthan Bathery forest ranges, simultaneously.
(3) Survey was aimed at assessing the butterfly diversity in the region, which is vulnerable to climatic changes.
(4) It was also to assess the availability of nectar plant and larval host plant, essential for the survival of butterflies.
(5) As many as 18 camps were set up in the way of the annual migration of butterflies.
- Butterfly Sighted:
(1) There were sightings of 191 species of butterflies, 12 of which are endemic to the biodiversity-rich region.
(2) The first-time sighting of Silver forget me not, Common three ring, and Brown onyx was also recorded.
(3) The sighting of Silver forget me not was reported only from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki district of Kerala.
- Low diversity
(1) The diversity of butterflies was very low in the forest areas where the alien invasive plant like Senna spectabilis invades other endemic plants.
(2) The diversity was very rich in areas where plants like Mikania micrantha and Lantana.
(3) The team reported 60 species of Nymphalidae; 49 Lycanidae; 45 Hesperidae; 21 Pieridae; 14 Papplionedae and 2 species of Riodinidae.
- Conclusion form the survey:
(1) The sighting of 191 species of butterflies is an evidence of a healthy butterfly habitat in the region, but the degradation of riparian forest in many parts of the region may adversely affect the habitat in the near future.
(2) The survey would help the Forest department to prepare forest management plan in the region.
Sources
The Hindu