Monsoon butterfly survey in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve records 185 species

185 butterfly species recorded in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve during monsoon survey, highlighting abundance and migration patterns of various species.

A total of 185 species of butterfly were recorded in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) during the monsoon butterfly survey conducted from June 28 to 30.

C. Vidhya, Deputy Director of MTR (Core Area), said in a statement that the survey was organised exclusively for butterflies in the reserve.

Highlights of the survey include the Malabar Raven, Paris Peacock, Malabar Banded Peacock, Plain Puffin, Chocolate Albatross, Tamil Yeoman (the State butterfly), Tamil Lacewing, Clipper, Cruiser, Painted Lady, Scarce Shot Silverline, Angled Sunbeam, Nilgiri Tit, Silverstreak Blue, Leaf Blue, Double-banded Judy, Orange Awlet, Orangetail Awl, Hampson’s Hedge Hopper, and the Philippine Swift.

Species that were noticed in abundance include the Blue Tiger, Dark Blue Tiger, Double-branded Crow, Common Crow, Common Emigrant, Mottled Emigrant, Common Four-ring, Common Five-ring, and Common Grass Yellow (a new observation). Some of these were observed in the thousands, officials said.

Large-scale migration was also observed during the survey.

In December 2022, the first-ever such in MTR recorded 175 species of butterflies.

“Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, situated in the Nilgiris district, is spread over 688.50 square kilometers and is at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The hills and forest arrangement are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve with elevation ranging from 428 meters to 2,065 meters above mean sea level. It provides a large conservation landscape for tigers and Asian elephants,” said Ms. Vidhya, adding that the survey was coordinated by The Nature and Butterfly Society (TNBS) Coimbatore, and WWF-India along with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department.