Butterfly count doubles in Tiruchy after improved eco-system

While researchers have identified over 110 species, the good news is that a few are migratory varieties that originate from South Africa and Amazon forests. Interestingly, the biggest and the smallest species of Asia have also been identified recently.

According to a study conducted by a research team, a few of the species sighted in Pachmalai, Kollimalai, Viralimalai and butterfly park, include the White Banded Awl, Banded Blue Pierrot, Glad-eye Bushbrown, Glassy Tiger, Dark Wanderer, Malabar Spotted Flat, Golden Angle, Double-banded Judy, Straight Swift, Indian Palm Bob, Blue Pansy, Peacock Pansy, Swallowtails, Pioneer, Tawny Coster, Monkey Puzzle, Peacock Royal, Slate flash, Plains Cupid and Common Hedge Blue.

“In the last two years, there has been moderate rainfall in Tiruchy and it helped improve the green cover. A massive dip in real estate business was also one of the factors that led to the increase in the number of butterflies in the district,” said Dr J Nesarajan, professor and butterfly researcher from Bishop Heber College, Tiruchy.

He pointed out that the increase in green cover has helped in the roosting, breeding and feeding of butterflies. Their numbers have increased from 5 lakh to 10 lakh now.

“There are around 12 families of butterflies identified across the globe. Among them, nine are found in India. Tamil Nadu is home to five families of butterflies, including ‘Nymphalidae’, Lycaenidae and Hesperidae. Around 110 species have been spotted in Tiruchy district alone. This includes the smallest species of grass jewel and the biggest variety of Blue Mormon, which has huge wings (between 120 mm and 150 mm),” Nesarajan said.

Some rare species like Dark Pierrot, Peacock Royal, Redspot and Plumbeous Silverline were also sighted in the scenic hills. While the reserve forest areas have rare species, the open space are dominated by many common species. Most dominating species are the Common Mormon, Common Banded Peacock, Blue Mormon, Common Grass Yellow, Common Emigrant and Indian Skipper.

Butterflies used to be abundant in Tiruchy from October to February, said Nesarajan.