Nilgiri Plain Ace, a species recorded in 1888, was found during a survey

The Nilgiri Plain Ace, a butterfly species, was rediscovered after 130 years, during the Larsen memorial butterfly survey, conducted by the Wynter-Blyth Association (WBA) and the Forest Department. The survey concluded on October 14.

Kalesh Sadasivan from the Travancore Natural History Society told The Hindu that this was the first time the butterfly was photographed in the district, though it had been recorded previously in 1888.

“This was the first time a butterfly survey was being conducted in the Nilgiris,” he said. The survey was conducted across a large geographical landscape with a definitive time-frame.

Key indicator

Butterflies are a key indicator of the health of the local ecosystems, added Mr. Sadasivan.

“For instance, in the highly degraded patch of forest in the Parsons Valley, we found only 14 different varieties of butterflies, but in the Geddai Valley, where people are practising organic farming, we found 60-70 different species,” he said. The number of different species of butterflies in any particular geographical area could be used as a sort of indicator about the health of the local ecosystem.

198 species found

Apart from the rediscovery of the Nilgiri Plain Ace, 198 different species were recorded during the survey, including the largest butterfly in India – the Southern Birdwing.

“The entire district of Nilgiris was covered by 15 base camps covering all elevations and habitats. The highest number was found at Kunjappanai camp with 97 species, followed by 75 species each in Banagudi Shola and Nilgiri foothills near Kallar,” a statement from the WBA said.

The WBA added that a total of 301 different species of butterflies had been recorded in the Nilgiris previously. Three new species were recorded for the first time – The Pale Green Awlet, The Extra Lascar, and Many Tailed Oak Blue – while 18 recorded species need further investigation and identification.

Manoj Sethumadhavan from the WBA and co-ordinator of the survey, said it was an extremely useful exercise that could be used as a baseline for future butterfly surveys.

Sumesh Soman, District Forest Officer, Nilgiris division, said the forest department would work with the WBA to bring out a book, listing the different species of butterflies found in the district.

O.V. Ramesh, managing trustee of the WBA said this was a unique endeavour where the government represented by the Forest Department and the other stakeholders had come together in collection of data for conservation and propagation of science.