Butterflies spread wings this season

Nearly after three years, spectacular butterflies in various hues have taken flight in thousands this season at Anaikatty hills and Kallaru near Coimbatore. Environmentalists attribute the dense migration of butterflies to be an indicator for a healthy and vibrant eco-system. 

“In a rare phenomenon, this time around, a huge number of butterflies have embarked on a journey towards the Western Ghats. They were found heading towards the Northern direction towards Ooty,” said Jeswin Kingsly, senior co-ordinator of Wildlife Wranglers. 

This phenomenon, which began a few days ago, has now peaked and is likely to continue till the month end. Different species of butterflies like Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Common Crow, Double Brander and Emigran are commonly found here. Almost 99 per cent of the migrating butterflies belong to the species of Blue Tiger. The butterfly migration has been pronounced in Anaikatty and Kallaru areas near Coimbatore as the areas boast of dense forest cover. 

The seasonal butterfly migration, a splendid sight to watch, usually takes place from April to June and October to November. However, it is not known yet the exact pathway or the destination of these migrating butterflies. 

“Though naturalists are observing the migration process, there is no technology to track the flight movement of butterflies, unlike bigger animals. It still remains a mystery as to where these winged wonders are bound. A detailed study involving observations and monitoring from a larger landscape level is required for a better understanding of this phenomenon,” said PR Arun, principal scientist at Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON). 

It is believed that a large-scale migration is an act of dispersal, where they reproduce in huge numbers and disperse the young ones to various destinations. 

“Another interesting feature witnessed is mud puddling that involves butterflies to extract minerals from wet soil, which they subsequently transfer to the females during the mating process,” said Jeswin.