Pattampoochi Butterfly Magazine - Wings 2 Veins 4 2018

2018 Quarterly Magazine of Tamil Nadu Butterfly Society Oct-Dec 2018

PATTAMPOOCHI

Q4

A day out in the wilderness of The Western Ghats The glass window - Attraction or obstruction?

A meeting with friends Migration Update: Sep 2018 An update of the revalidation of species in Tamil Nadu Book Review: A Guide to the Butterflies of Western Ghats In News From the Facebook Pages

Pointed Ciliate Blue, Anthene lycaenina

Dear Butterfly Lovers,

PATTAMPOOCHI

வணக்கம் *Greetings+.

The third quarter of the year (July-Sep) saw the neighbouring state of Kerala suffer from its worst floods and much of the Western Ghats which is shared by both TN and KL was battered by heavy rains. The consequences of these on the butterflies have to be waited and watched. Tamil Nadu also had its good share of rain and hopefully coming months, especially October and November will see good population of Butterflies.

More and more exploration of accessible lands of Western Ghats bring out many a hidden gems, some of them are untouched and not polluted by human presence. It is always a pleasure to be part of such visits and exploration and it was not a surprise when we could record 131 species from a non descriptive place in Theni District which includes some rare butterflies such as Orchid Tit, Painted Courtesan, etc. An article on the same is covered in this issue and the TNFD deserves a rich appreciation in keeping the place safe and intact.

There are different documented techniques to attract butterflies like mud-puddling, salt spreading, planting host and nectar plants, setting up UV lighting and various baits. Mr. Theivaprakasham Hari has shared an interesting behaviour of butterflies where the little-winged jewels are attracted towards glass window. State Horticulture farm at Kallar remains an evergreen butterfly hotspot adding new butterfly species every season. Ms. Monika G shares her experience of meeting her friends for a butterfly walk at Kallar gardens and end up documenting 53 species of butterflies in a few hours.

September is the month of Milkweed migration on the lands of Tamil Nadu. There are already signs of migration in pockets from September and is expected to continue for this season. A brief note on the same is provided in this issue while a detailed one will be made in future issues. The ambitious exercise of revalidation of butterflies occurring in the state of Tamil Nadu is reaching the summit but very slowly as the remaining ones are rare and needs lot of time and efforts. The quarter has however knocked off the Nilgiri Grass Yellow from the list. A comprehensive book on the butterflies of Western Ghats have been authored by Dr. Milind Bhakare and Hemant Ogale and a review on the same is provided. The section” In News” has become a regular feature and contains news on the Devadhanapatti Butterflies. Selective representative images from the FB pages from all those contributors for the preceding quarter forms the last section of this issue.

We hope you enjoy going through this Newsletter and looking forward to your valuable feedback. We believe that the News Letter belongs to every one of us and expect more contribution from all our members going forward . Please write to tamilnadubutterflies@gmail.com

Editorial Team Tamil Nadu Butterfly Society Pattampoochi– A quarterly magazine of Tamil Nadu Butterfly Society Wings 2 Veins 4 Oct –Dec 2018. Issued on 01.10.2018 Issued from Coimbatore, TN For Private Circulation Only. Copy right is with TNBS. Please write to us for getting permission to use any of the contents Editor: A Pavendhan Editorial Team: Balakrishnan R, Gopalakrishnan S, Nishanth CV, Theivaprakasham H , Viswanathan S

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A day out into the wilderness of The Western Ghats Pavendhan A

We had no hesitation in undertaking a third exploratory visit to this place and first for me as this place had 120 species recorded in just two previous studies as part of KWLS survey. We have got the necessary permission from the FD Ranger and we all set to go for a Sunday. We, five of us and along with a FD APW official took the walk and started walking in before the Sun started showing up. The road to the nearby dam was pursued and after a few kilometres took a turn and travelled further few kilometres through mango groves and finally reached the Reserve Forest.

The sun is still not out, with the previous day’s left-over rain clouds still hovering, we slowly started walking the path. A Common Bushbrown and a Common Evening Brown were the first one to show up and we have to see many of the Bushbrowns further during our trails. A White Four-ring, One-spot Grass Yellow and a Psyche too showed up before we hit the stream to cross over. The water level was low but flowing steadily. As soon as we crossed, we saw an Orange-tail Awl making fast treaties but could not capture by camera.

Devadhanapatti Range, KWLS

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A day out into the wilderness of The Western Ghats

Then we walked through a forest (man-made forest say for 100m or so and these were done about 40 years back when the accompanying APW was part of the exercise). This is an unproductive area for the butterflies and only when the real forest showed up, we could see butterflies like Tiny Grass Blue, Chestnut Bob, Rings, etc. The path is a ‘Horse� path and is so named after the path is used by the tribal living uphill and they use horses to transport the loads down to the town, which is usually their farm produce including fruits and vegetables. So, the path is just a few feet wide and very basics and I wondered in a few places, if the horses could really mange to track down or up. The track is laid next to the flowing River which should be an easy way to track down for people and hence tracks are made along the river.

The path on either side was dominated by grasses and was not a surprise to find many Bushbrowns including Dark-branded and one of them was a Tamil Bushbrown, in its Wet Season Form. But here in, there were many Common Bushbrowns. We soon reached a small open rocky surface, where in last time around, the team has seen a Nilgiri Four-ring and a Painted Courtesan. We could only see an Orange-tail Awl on this slippery rock and a Common Pierrot resting on top of a grass reed. Time to move on since those specialities are not to be found anymore and the sun is still struggling to come out.

We eventually reached the first of the two hotspots that we need to cover, after 90 minutes of walk and reached exactly at 8 AM. The boys who were here earlier were mentioning that we were late, and the much-famed Orange Awlet may not show up at all. This is a rocky area where the stream is flowing on the middle and the edges of the rocky area were mud-puddling and some great sightings were reported last time around. We were soon able to spot a few Orange-tail Awls and a White Banded Awl too came in for a while and went off. Many Three-spot Grass Yellows were roosting on the low climbs of the trees. The wait for an Orange Awlet was finally over when a specimen came, circled the small water area and dived to cool it off and flew like a razor bullet, this was repeated many times. It never settled down. A Common Hedge Blue and a few Lineblues were the only other species sighted here. And with total disappointment looming large, the Orange Awlet was moving fast on the floor under a shady area and a poor record shot is what we could manage. Having exhausted the interest to stay on this place, we decided to move on to the next stop after spending approximately an hour or so, here.

The next 20-minute walk is through thick grasses. An Indian Skipper was seen and moved past before we could approach it. We were again treated by Bushbrowns, including Glad-eye, and Rings. Many Castors too were seen in this stretch, both Common and Angled. There were however two good sightings on this path, one is a Palani Bushbrown and another a Baronet. Both were very shy and made a disappearance quickly. We have to climb down deviating from the horse path for about 50 m or so through pathless shola to reach the second spot. This is a much larger open rocky area at least 10 times the previous one that we stopped on.

The next couple of hours were spent here and we indulged in butterflying. The real first show of butterflies were to unfold here. By this time, the sun is fully out with no clouds to hide them and this made sighting easy although soon, at least I felt the hot climate and have to take out the umbrella. The Blue Mormons in huge numbers and Common Mormons in some numbers were mud-puddling in couple of spots and this took some attention of us for a while. A Commander was reportedly sighted by one of the team members which I did not see. There was small water area on the rocks here and there, and these were primarily occupied by blues for their mud-puddling need. We could spot species like Pointed Ciliate Blue, Forget-me-not, Lineblues, Opaque Six-Lineblue, Dingy Lineblue, Banded Blue Pierrot, Common Pierrot. Elsewhere, an Indian Sunbeam and beaks (both lobed and club) were running around the rocks with no time given by them to us. One of the members again spotted a Monkey Puzzle while others missed it. A Common Leopard, a few Sailers and a (Extra) Lascar were there too. Tigers and Crows were represented very poorly with a few specimens each of Striped/Plain/ Dark Blue/Blue were seen. The only Hesperiidae species seen here was a Golden Angle which joined the mud-pulling party with other species. Southern Bluebottles too were trying to form a small party on the mud-puddling and other fast fliers sighted include Great Orange-tip, Emigrants and the Wanderers.

The important sightings missed out here from the last trip include Painted Courtesan, Yamfly, Rustic, Tamil Yeoman, Map, Indian Red Admiral and Blackvein Sergeant. With those disappointment in mind, we decided to leave the place and suddenly a Palani Bushbrown showed up and everyone got it around and had a good time. I was personally sent off by a Common Nawab, however. We took another route to get into the path and the walk down to the first spot began.

On our approach to the first spot, the only additional attraction was a few Baronets showing up and this was a lifer to a few too. It was a playful time for the Baronets and tough time for the photo seekers. Eventually, people have taken a few shots of them and we descended down. We could from a distance see mud-puddling of butterflies in small groups. We have seen Southern Bluebottles and Jay forming one group, Blue Mormons and Red Helens forming another, Grass Yellows forming a third one and another group of Mormons in another area. A lone Common Banded Peacock was freely engaging with all of these groups. It was a total transmission from where we left here. Lot of butterflies were now available for us to seek. Blues that were seen here as part of mud-puddling are Angled Pierrot, Banded Blue Pierrot, Lineblues, Common Hedge Blues, Pointed Ciliate Blue and Forgot-me-not. Single specimen of blues seen include Malayan, Indian Cupid and Gram Blue. A lone Tailed Jay joined very briefly their cousin and vanished.

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A day out into the wilderness of The Western Ghats

On the Skippers, a Rice Swift made an entry and exited while a South Indian Ace spent lot of time probing the floor. Three significant observations have to happen here one by one after this.

The Three-spot Grass Yellows were tightly mud-puddling and a Common Gull was somehow able to penetrate the defence and get along with them too. Suddenly a fast flying Pierid came and was trying to join the party. I soon realised it is a Lesser Gull, a true forest species, not seen that often and in good numbers. A White-tipped Lineblue was also present and it is really sad that we could not take a better picture in the field of the same. All along the trek, we saw Orchids were present in many tall trees and I was mentioning that we should get Tits and if possible some Royals. Although, we could not get any Royals, we were extremely delighted to have two small blues, sighted under a shady area and another on a sunny area, both sucking mineral waters from the surface. What a delight it was for all of us, the Orchid Tit and a Nilgiri Tit. These sightings lifted the mood of everyone and soon the trip started acquiring a good sense. A suspected Common Sergeant too was sighted but no photography was possible.

It was another lengthy session of 90 minutes here and we were all hungry very seriously with just 2 slices of bread to have in the morning with a few fried snacks. We decided to end the session around 1 PM as rains were looming to come down. We have to eventually rush down once rain started falling. The only significant additions on our return was a Nilgiri Four-ring (just a record shot) and a Water Snow Flat (not clear with pictures). We have safely reached down and crossed the stream.

This place, which comes under the Devadhanapatti Range is part of Kodaikanal WLS and the richness of the forest made us to compare with other good places we have visited like Manjolai and Siruvani Hills. We wish the richness of the forest is intact as this place has a huge potential to record 200 plus species. The pre-visit numbers stood at 120 and after this trip the numbers swelled to 131. A lovely place which is worth coming back again and again. The exact description of the location visited is withheld to avoid over exploitation of this, otherwise well protected (by the FD and kudos to them) and beautiful landscape!

Team Visited: A Pavendhan, CV Nishanth, Andipatti Pandi, K Sravan Kumar and Ramanasaran Hari

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A day out into the wilderness of The Western Ghats

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The glass window - Attraction or obstruction?

Theivaprakasham Hari theivaprakasham@gmail.com

How do I attract butterflies? How can I make butterflies come near me? This remains a frequently asked question of every butterfly lover.

I have noticed different techniques to attract butterflies like mud-puddling, salt spreading, planting host and nectar plants, setting up UV lighting and various baits using dead organisms, dungs, jaggery or overripe fruits. But here in my college, we have a magical glass window that has attracted 36/138 butterflies inside the university till date. Exactly, the glass window is located on the 2nd and 3rd floor of Academic Block II, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ettimadai, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The window acts as a butterfly magnet and helped me to document some rare butterfly species of The Western Ghats.

I was curious and often wondered, how the little-winged jewels are attracted to the glass window? The common reason one would suggest is the blockade created by the glass on the travel path of the butterfly. But scientifically, I find different factors playing a crucial role in this phenomenon.

Firstly, the vision of a butterfly is unique and has the widest visual range. Butterflies have a capability to view visible spectrum along with the ultraviolet region (Image 1). To the human eye, many butterflies appear the same, but the butterflies themselves can often identify each other quite easily using ultraviolet markings. Similarly, butterfly use the signature of UV spectrum to detect the nectarine flowers and the host plants. So this feature of butterfly leads to the question, Is it the UV attractive material or coating or impurity on the glass window attracts the butterfly?

Image 1. The difference between the Human Vision, UV Vision and Butterfly Vision Photo Credits: Dave Kennard / www.davidkennardphotography.com/.

Secondly, I suspect the presence of three host plant namely Chloroxylon swietenia, Albizia lebbeck, and Cassia fistula in the vicinity of the glass window that attract the butterflies . The presence of Chloroxylon swietenia plant would have attracted the Papilio demoleus and Papilio crino; Albizia lebbeck plant Eurema blanda; and Cassia fistula plant - Catopsilia pomona and Catopsilia pyranthe. I have noticed the freshly eclosed, tired female or the old aged butterflies using the glass window as a resting place. Though the presence of host plant relates to the high probability for attraction, the reason for the attraction of other 28 species of butterflies is still unanswered.

Thirdly, the position of the glass at an altitude 25 to 50 feet from the ground level, provides a safe haven for the butterflies from potential predators. When butterflies rests under the leaf or branch, there high chances of predation by birds, spiders, lizards and other organisms. And hence to escape from life threats, butterfly may have chosen raised platforms to settle (Glass window).

Fourthly, I see the closeness of the academic block to the nearest reserve forests of Ayyasamimalai (The Western Ghats) also as a factor to attract some rare butterfly species like Parthenos sylvia, Iraota timoleon, and Discophora lepida. I have also noticed the resting of Tirumala limniace and Euploea core on the glass window during the milkweed butterfly migration seasons during the months of April and September.

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The glass window - Attraction or obstruction?

Finally, the butterfly attraction to the glass window would have been due to obstruction of the travel path. The compound eyes of a butterfly has a greater sensitivity but a poor resolution to avoid larger obstacles in front of them. I have observed the butterflies getting hit to glass continuously trying to move forward. Whenever I see this happening, I catch that particular butterfly and help them to move away from the glass obstacle. Sometime, the butterflies would fly away happily and the other time they return back to the same glass window. This observation is partially supporting both the attraction and obstruction factors of the glass window.

Though the attraction of butterfly creates an aesthetic feel, they are not free from the danger of humans.

With the growth of social media, the craze for photography among students is also increasing. Who will not be happy while taking selfie photo with a butterfly? Some students on the college campus are seen handling the butterflies cautiously (Image 3). While others, go to lethal extremes by rough handling the butterflies causing wing damage that eventually leads to mortality. Most of these students who were extreme in handling were unaware of butterfly’s role and importance. Utilizing this opportunity, I grabbed my chance to educate them on butterflies and proper handling techniques.

In a 450 acres (1,96,00,000 ft2) college campus, I still wonder how a 72 ft2 area sized glass window (6x3 feet (4nos)) attracts 26%(36/138) of the campus butterflies. Is this event a perfect coincidence of my limited observation and resting butterfly? Or there exist some scientific principle behind this attraction phenomenon? The glass window still remains an unsolved mystery. More observations, especially on the pattern of rest time, behavior, climate and stay period are necessary to critically arrive on a conclusion of this intriguing enigma.

The list of Butterflies attracted to glass window: (Image 2)

Papilionidae 1. Common Jay 2. Common Rose 3. Common Mormon 4. Lime Butterfly 5. Common Banded Peacock Pieridae 1. Common Grass Yellow 2. Common Emigrant 3. Mottled Emigrant 4. Common Gull 5. Common Jezebel Nymphalidae 1. Plain Tiger 2. Dark Blue Tiger 3. Dark Blue Tiger 4. Common Crow 5. Southern Duffer 6. Common Evening Brown

7. Tamil Bushbrown 8. Common Leopard 9. Common Baron 10. Clipper 11. Yellow Pansy 12. Chocolate Pansy 13. Peacock Pansy 14. Lemon Pansy 15. Great Eggfly Lycaenidae 1. Common Lineblue 2. Pea Blue 3. Gram Blue 4. Silverstreak Blue 5. Peacock Royal 6. Monkey Puzzle Hesperiidae 1. Malabar Spotted Flat 2. Tamil Spotted Flat 3. Malabar Spotted Flat 4. Tricolor Pied Flat

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The glass window - Attraction or obstruction?

Image 2. Some documented butterflies on the glass window

Common Banded Peacock (Papilio crino)

Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus)

Tamil Bushbrown (Mycalesis subdita)

Common Evening Brown (Melanitis leda)

Common Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona)

Common Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona)

Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita)

Monkey Puzzle (Rathinda amor)

Common Mormon (Papilio polytes)

Common Banded Peacock (Papilio crino)

Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus)

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The glass window - Attraction or obstruction?

Image 3. Some happy butterfly selfie moments

*Necessary precautions were taken such that the butterfly was not harmed during handling

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Common Pierrot, CastaliusPATTAMPOOCHI rosimon A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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A meeting with friends Monika G itzginger@gmail.com

Running short of time in my holidays, I combined two plans together and a trip to Kallar was made to meet my human friends amidst the colourful butterfly friends.

Kallar Horticulture Farm,

Kallar is a beautiful place with a small river running in the middle by the same name.

Kallar provides scenic views, spectacular array of animals like deer, elephants, monkeys, squirrels, snakes, lizards, birds and my favourite part - a wide range of insects. We visited Kallar Fruit Garden, which is a park in Kallar Reserve Forest. The Garden is an orchard of many delicious fruits like litchi, bilimbi, mango, starfrusit, jackfruit, mangustan, etc., which are often looted by monkeys. There is a stretch of road, a lane, leading to the Kallar Fruit Garden from the Ooty Main Roadways; that area also gives many colourful butterflies, beautiful birds and surprising monkeys to a Place: State Horticulture farm, Kallar District: Coimbatore nature observer.

How to reach: From Mettupalayam, For our Butterfly walk, we started from the lane, then into the Fruit Garden and back Coimbatore again, till the starting point, that is the meeting of lane to the main road. We had Habitat: Moist Deciduous Forest started late, as it was a partly cloudy day, but, the sun was playing disco now and then with sudden sunlight. Overall, the weather was highly humid. Butterfly activity had started visibly by the roadsides by the time we reached. With warm greetings, we all walked in full excitement to catch glimpses of some colourful beauties. The first invitation was from a Three-spot Grass Yellow followed by Blue Mormon and Common Banded Peacock. The Three-spot Grass Yellow rested in shade beneath a leaf to cool its body. Then, at a clearing just after a few minutes, we found a lot of Emigrants, restlessly flying from plant to plant, and sucking alkaloids. They were mostly Mottled Emigrants & also 2 different races of Lemon Emigrants could be observed. Walking on the lane, we saw Lime butterflies, Common Castor, Psyche, Common Mormons and Crimson Roses too. A little later we met another butterfly observer, Mr. Rengaraj. Together, we spotted a Great Orange-tip rest in a thicket.

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A meeting with friends

We all went in one by one, to take pictures. Though it flew away, we found another Great Orange-tip (Female) sun basking at a little higher branch. Then, we moved on the lane to find Three-ring, Five-ring, White Four-rings, Lascar, Glad-eye Bushbrowns.

We found birds like Coppersmith Barbets and Marlabar Parakeets and a Malabar Giant Squirrel. We observed Lime butterfly mating, Tiny and Pale Grass blues. Around the bridge, we saw Common Lineblue and a Sailer. We expected elephants on hearing firecracker busts, but were disappointed to find that it was for monkeys eating mangustan.

Near the gate, happy to see the Asian Fairy Bluebird and Drongos. It was disappointing to find no skippers in the usual place, outside the Garden gate, as we were late for them. Walking inside the Fruit Garden, we found Common Crow, Chocolate Pansy, Lime Blue, a few dragonflies. We were distracted for a while photographing fruits and flowers when Rustic fluttered in, we were pulled back to butterflies. We found more Blue Mormons, Great Orange-tips and Common Banded Peacocks. We enjoyed biscuits with perfect view of Hill Mynas, Flowerpeckers and Vernal Hanging Parrots. We found more butterflies like Common Evening Brown, Lime Blue, Banded Blue Pierrot, Angled Pierrot, and saw Pale Grass blue mating.

On reaching the fountain area, we were thrilled to see the congregation of Emigrants & Great Orange-tips on Bottlebrush plants. There were a very few butterflies in mudpuddling including one each of Albatross, Bluebottle, Tailed and Common Jay. Then, watched a whole load of monkeys with the alpha male screaming and driving others away.

On the way back rushing, we found Plain and Striped Tigers. At the gate, miraculously a Club Beak appeared and thankfully a Small Salmon Arab gave pose, both giving a lifer to all. Near the gate itself we found the Common Pierrots, Plains Cupid, Grass Jewel, and more Grass Yellows. The hunt was on to find all 4 Grass Yellows, found Two-spot and Three-spot only. At the bridge area again, Monkey Puzzle gave a surprise. There were many Bushbrowns (Glad-eye & Common) on the way back along with more White Four-rings, Psyche, Common Hedge Blue, Common Mormons and Dark Blue Tigers. Almost 20 feet from reaching the bus stop there was a Common Silverline to end the butterfly walk with a silver lining as an unseen benefit.

In a first time all girl team for me, it was a day to remember, at a location that never disappoints for nature observers.

Date: 26/06/2018 Timing: 09:30AM - 03:00PM Team Members: Ms. Monika G, Ms. Indira S and Ms. Devika M

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A meeting with friends

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Migration Update: September 2018

The migration of Milkweed butterflies predominantly along with few other species towards Western Ghats and other intended places have begun exactly on 1st September 2018 and have been reported until 15th September from a few areas of Tamil Nadu. The districts where these movements have been reported are Salem (from Yercaud hills), Chennai and Madurai. Districts like Coimbatore, The Nilgiris, Thiruppur and few districts down South which usually see these movements are waiting and no movement is reported so far. This is however a preliminary observation and a detailed observation will be done until Oct/ Nov and we shall file a detailed observation in the forthcoming issues. The consolidated information available on the migration history with TNBS is given below for a ready reference.

Migration from EG & Plains to the WG up to 2017 The records of TNBS from the year 2013 shows that Sep/ Oct are the months usually the Milkweed butterflies undertook their journey from Eastern Ghats and Plains to the Western Ghats. The year 2016 however saw no migration due to drought and failed monsoon and consequently the reverse migration was also a failure on the subsequent year 2017.

2018 is being currently observed for this.

Migration from WG to the plains up to 2018 TNBS started recording the movement of Milkweed butterflies from the Western Ghats to the plains from 2013, and the observation shows that except for the year 2017, where the migration was given a miss by them, it fairly followed an April month schedule and in 2018, it was an early downward movement starting in the late March. The 2018 also saw large movement of Lime Butterflies in some part of Tamil Nadu

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An update on the re-validation of species in Tamil Nadu

At the end of December 2017, we have reported 309 species as part of revalidation exercise (Ref: Pattampoochi Wings 2 Vein 1 for more details).

S. No

Subsequent to this, until September 2018, we have added one more species taking the numbers to 310.

Family

Target

Available

1

Papilionidae

19

19

2

Pieridae

32

32

3

Nymphalidae

96

91

4

Lycaenidae

92

87

5

Riodinidae

2

2

6

Hesperiidae

83

79

324

310

Total

96% Naturalists, Butterfly enthusiasts and others are out in field regularly to map the remaining 14 species for the state and it is very well possible that some of them may not even occur and some new species may just expand to our area. Systematic and regular exploration and survey of not only plains but core area of Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats will really help!

Pic Credit: Mr. Madhan Kumar

The following table provides details of the latest species sighted along with person who recorded it and date and place since November 2017 (the last time we have provided an update on this. The details of all of them can be found in our official Facebook page.

S. No 1

Species Name Nilgiri Grass Yellow

Person recorded Madhan Kumar

Place Devala, The Nilgiris

Date October 2017 (reported August 2018)

The following table provides the names of remaining 15 target species S. No

Scientific Name 2 3

Amathusia phidippus Mycalesis igilia

Common Name (as per BNHS Field guide) Palmking Small Long-brand Bushbrown

Other Common Names (as per IFB website)

4

Mycalesis visala

Long-brand Bushbrown

Long-branded Bushbrown

5

Lasippa viraja

Yellow Jack Sailer

6

Neptis (soma) palnica

Creamy Sailer

7

Anthene emolus

Common Ciliate Blue

8 9

Tarucus indica Arhopala bazaloides

Pointed Pierrot Tamil Oakblue

Indian Pierrot Dusted Oakblue

10

Arhopala abseus

Aberrant Bushblue

Aberrant Oakblue

11

Tajuria maculata

Spotted Royal

Spotted Royal

12

Hasora badra

Common Awl

13

Thoressa sitala

Sitala Ace

14

Zographetus ogygia

Purple Spotted Flitter

15

Hyarotis microstictum/ Hyarotis coorga

Brush Flitter

Sahyadri Long-branded Bushbrown

Palni Sailer

Nilgiri Plain Ace Kodagu Brush Flitter

Text: Pavendhan A PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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Book Review A Guide to Butterflies of Western Ghats (India)- Milind Bhakare & Hemant Ogale In this ambitious work, Dr. Milind Bhakare and Hemant Ogale went out to pack in as much information as one would seek with respect to a butterfly species with great care and details. About 346 species have been elaborated that are home to the Western Ghats and some of them are nearby with each species getting a decorative page.

Each page contains details about pictures of open wing and closed wing, DSF and WSF, Male and Female, etc, whichever is appropriate to the species.

The common names that are in vogue as well as new common names are both presented. For some species, it is better to be dealt with scientific names alone, which is the case here. A detailed description of each species on habitat and early stages are provided. Most species pages have life cycle (pictures) details too which is a welcome addition and our appreciation to all those who have contributed readily to the social cause (if we view that way).

Information on sub-species is also dealt with.

Field Identification Keys section is going to be useful for many especially when similar looking species provide difficulties in identification. Bushbrowns and Potanthus species are made to look easier now with respect to identification, of course with certain riders. The session on eggs, larvae and pupae is actually unbelievable and shows how much effort have been put in forth by the butterfly community of our land.

The state wise distribution is represented in an easy manner and I am sure there may be one or two species subject to discussion on their presence/ absence from a state, which I think is unavoidable.

The book is voluminous and hence may be a difficult one to carry to the field, but is going to be a reference book on everyone’s home, I am sure. The book is also not meant to be a field guide, so the question ends there. The butterfly community should welcome this book and I am sure there are more similar books on the anvil, which is exciting to hear.

An important addition to my collection of books (and should be in everyone’s collection too) and hearty congratulations to the passionate butterfly chasers- Dr. Milind Bhakare and Hemant Ogale, on behalf of TNBS and all our members here in bringing out such an excellent book. The authors should be relieved now and happy. My only disappointment is that I did not get authors signed copy!

For copies: Please contact the authors

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In News

Dinamani – Madurai & Tirunelveli Edition – 13th July 2018 Devadhanapatti Range was identified as hotspot during KWLS surveys and a further visit was done during July 2018. A total of 80+ for the trip and a 131 species overall is recorded for this hotspot with many rarities.

Dina Mani- Madurai & Tirunelveli Editions carried a story on this on 13th July 2018 (Story by: Mr. Andipatti Pandi)

The Hindu– Madurai & other Editions– 23rd August 2018 Devadhanapatti Range was identified as hotspot during KWLS surveys and a further visit was done during July 2018. A total of 80+ for the trip and a 131 species overall is recorded for this hotspot with many rarities.

The Hindu- Madurai & a few more South Indian Editions carried a story on this on 23rd August 2018 (Story by: Mr. Shrikumar Arjunan )

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From the Facebook Pages...

Blackvein Sergeant by Andipatti Pandi

Dark Blue Tiger by Arumugam Chandrasekaran

Spot Swordtail by Arun Kumar

Common Pierrot by Balaji P Balachandran

Slate Flash by Belliraj Singam

Scarce Shot Silverline by Darshan M Trivedi

Great Orange-tip by Devika Devi

Chestnut Angle by Gopal Krishnan PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Nilgiri Tit by Harish Raghavan

Bamboo Treebrown by Hema Mohandas

Orange Awlet by Jeswin Kingsly

Painted Sawtooth by Lenin Raj

Blue Oakleaf by Muthu Krishnan

Orchid Tit by Nishanth CV

Common Castor by Prakash Gururajan

Indian Red Flash by Rainold Lazar Thekkey Edath PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Blue Tiger by Rajesh Rkm

Small Orange-tip by Rama Neelamegam

Palani Bushbrown by Ramanasaran Hari

Dark Wanderer by Raveendran Natarajan

Blue Pansy by Rohini Ramalingam

Black-spotted Pierrot by Sahithya Selvaraj

Common Mormon by Sathya K Selvam

Tawny Coster by Senguttuvan Subburathina PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Southern Bluebottle by Smitha Anand

Baronet by Sravan Kumar

DBT & Crow by Thara Latha Mageshwaran

Red Pierrot by Theivaprakasham Hari

Chocolate Albatross by Vijayakumar Ramamoorthy

White-bar Bushbrown by Vishwa Nathan

Yellow Pansy by Baskar Baskar

Blue Admiral by Bhanu Mathi PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Indian Red Admiral by Elavarasan Malaiyappan

Black-spotted Pierrot by Haneesh Km

Silverstreak Acacia Blue by Jee Jeevith

Common Banded Peacock by Kalai Chelvan

Nilgiri Tiger by Kalmadi Rajiv

Plain Palm-Dart by Lakshmi Kumar

Restricted Demon by Madhan Kumar

Plain Tiger by Mani Perumal PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Black Rajah by Muniraj Palanisamy

Large Salmon Arab by Nmk Mahes

Bush Hopper by Pamela Sai

White-bar Bushbrown by Rengaraj Bettai

Common Redeye by Saravana Saran

Tawny Coster by Sasikumar Appu

Indian Red Flash by Sundar

African Marbled Skipper by Sundara Manickam PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Bright Babul Blue by Amar Bharathy

Red Helen by Arun Vasimalai

Black-spotted Pierrot by Baburaj Parthirath Velayudhan

Tarucus sp. by Balaji Balachandran

White Orange-tip by Edward Gnanaraj

Common Sailer by Gandhi Sankar

Lime Caterpillar by Jaya Kumar K

Tricolour Pied Flat by Kalpana Jayaraman PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Mottled Emigrant by Madhana Perambur

Common Mormon by Madhanagopal Belliraj

Common Mormon by Malainadan Azad

Plain Hedge Blue by Maxim Subhiksha

Painted Lady by Merlin Selvan

Common Wanderer by N Karthikeyan

Crimson-tip by Nagaraj Latha

Red-disc Bushbrown by Prakash Loganathan PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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From the Facebook Pages...

Indian Cabbage White by Simonsilvia

Common Leopard by Siva Ilanchezhiyan Parthiban

Pale Four Lineblue by Ramasamy SRK

Gram Blue by Sudharshan Kuselan

Southern Birdwing by Surendiran Ryan

Dark Blue Tiger by Vicky Chinna

Joker by Vishwajit Kadam

Bushbrown sp. by Yaswanth Kumar PATTAMPOOCHI A TNBS MAGAZINE WINGS 2 VEINS 4

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Plane, Bindahara moorei

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Parnara bada

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