Nagpur: For the common man, a butterfly is just a butterfly and many cannot identify the winged beauties from their colourful patterns. But in a first of its kind initiative in the country, the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) has decided to rename all butterfly species in the state in Marathi.

India is blessed with rich butterfly biodiversity and more than 11% of the world’s butterfly species are found in the country. There are over 1,500 here, of which 285 species are found in Maharashtra.

All the names of butterfly species in the country are in Latin and English as most of the first studies were conducted during the British Raj and the species were named accordingly by their scientists.

MSBB chairman Vilas Bardekar said British scientists named these species based on various aspects like their colour, beauty, shape, habits, behaviour among other things.

“Many species are also named after the posts and ranks during the British era like Commander, Sergeant, Lasker, Count, Duke, Sailor among others,” said Bardekar.

“Similar like birds, if butterfly species are renamed in vernacular language, it will not only be easy for people to remember but will also bring these species closer to people and help conservation,” feels Bardekar, who himself is a doctorate on butterflies.

To take the initiative forward, a five-member committee was formed under Bardekar with Raju Kasambe, assistant director with BNHS, Jayant Wadatkar, Diwakar Thombre, and Hemant Ogle as its members.

During discussions, 284 butterfly species were found in the state with names in Marathi. These names are based on scientific names and features like eyes, wings, body, food, habits, plants on which they fees and other parameters.

The MSBB has posted the list on its website (maharashtrabiodiversityboard.gov.in). One can find the list in the research and documentation section. People can rename the species and can also send suggestions and views on msbbpune@gmail.com by May 11, 2019. “We will consider if some good names are suggested. The list has also been circulated to the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and various social groups,” said Bardekar.

Kasambe says, “It was really a tricky task to rename these species. The list was prepared after compilation of various studies done from Vidarbha to Western Ghats.”

Speaking his mind about the tiger and small leopard butterfly, Kasambe said, “There are five species of tiger butterfly and we want to rename them with some other names. We were just scratching our heads as tiger as flagship specie of forest already exists. We finally left it to the people, who may suggest some good names.”

