The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) which is known as the land of Mowgli, has now recorded a total of 60 new species of butterfly including some rare ones in the country. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) conducts national-level surveys to count butterflies, including those found in PTR. But the survey report of PTR was never published in any journal so far. As per the ZSI survey, there were 64 butterfly species in PTR, including rare ones. As per the latest study conducted by Taxonomist Dr Ashish Tiple, Head of Department of Zoology, Dr R G Bhoyar, Arts, Commerce and Science College, Seloo, and Atul Deokar, Assistant Conservator of Forest, Pench Tiger Reserve, Nagpur, there are 124 different species of butterflies belonging to 6 families dwelling in the PTR, including 60 new in the region. The researchers found six ‘Very Rare’ species — Common Mime, Common Albatross, Gaudy Baron, Glassy Tiger, Plain Hedge Blue and Spotted Angle — of butterflies of different families in the PTR.

 

According to the study, most of the species were noticeably absent in the disturbed and human impacted sites like gardens, plantations and grassland. The seasonal occurrence of butterfly species was high from monsoon to early winter, but thereafter declined in early summer (March). The cause of this decline might be non-availability of nectar and larval host plants and scarcity of water, the study stated. “Earlier, such studies were conducted for Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR). the survey data was published. The recorded species were not updated for a long time. Presence of so many butterfly species indicate that Pench is becoming a good habitat for these insects,” said Tiple. The research was published in an international reputed journal ‘Biontes’ by Entomological Society of India last month. “The survey was done near Reserve Forest areas, buffer zone, lakeshores, river banks and surrounding areas during the monsoon and post- monsoon period. Butterflies were primarily identified in the field, following photography.

 

Photographs of the specimens were taken in the field from various angles and identified with the help of field identification guide. Based on the number of sightings, butterfly species were categorised,” added Tiple. The results of the study highlight the significance of the Pench Tiger Reserve as a preferred habitat by the butterfly species. If the plantation is thoughtfully planned, the variety of butterflies in PTR may increase, creating a rich environment for butterfly conservation and research. “The research will increase our understanding of the complex mutualistic interactions between butterflies and flowering plants, which are crucial to the sustainability of ecosystem services,” said Dr Tiple. Most of the butterflies recorded belong to the family Nymphalidae (43 species) with 17 new addition, followed by Lycaenidae with 34 species (20 new), Pieridae 18 species (6 new), Hesperiidae 18 species (12 new) ; 10 species were recorded from the Papilionidae with five new records and one species recorded from the Riodinidae family, informed another researcher Atul Deokar.