Rare variety of butterflies sighted at Arippa and Shendurney wildlife sanctuary

Thiruvananthapuram: The Warblers and Waders based here have sighted some rare varieties of butterflies at Arippa and Shendurney wildlife sanctuary during their annual butterfly meet held from December 15 to 17. The birds include Tamil oak blue seen along forest paths, Kanara oak blue, a rare endemic butterfly of Western Ghats and Malabar tree nymph, another uncommon endemic butterfly of the ghats. The male of the Tamil oak blue are perched on shrubs and tree-tops for a long time. They come out only occasionally for visiting damp and wet patches near the forest streams.

Kanara oak blue are canopy-loving butterflies and it was difficult to observe them in the forests. However, they occasionally visit damp and wet patches for mud puddling. The Malabar tree nymph is the slowest flying butterfly seen in India. One of the attractions of these species, called ‘Vanadevatha’ in Malayalam, was dancing and floating. The meet also observed the egg-laying of Malabar tree nymph at Shendurney sanctuary. A total of 80 species of butterflies were sighted, including Malabar rose, southern birdwing, Malabar raven, Paris peacock, purple leaf blue, flufffy tit, dingy line blue, autumn leaf and Tamil yeomen.

Tamil oak blue

The meet held with the support of Kerala forest and wildlife department was attended by butterfly enthusiasts from all over India. It was inaugurated by Dr. Alfred, former director of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkota. The technical sessions were led by Peter Smetacek, director and founder of Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal, Uttarakand. The butterfly trails in the sanctuary were led by C. Susanth, founder member and butterfly expert of Warblers and Waders, Dr.Abhiram Chandran, K. Santhosh, Sandex Varghese, S.S. Ratheesh and Resmi Varma.