24th Indian Birding Fair PDF

th
24
INDIAN
BIRDING
FAIR
March 2021, Jaipur
DEDICATED TO
BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION
Butterflies face a curfew-like plight in India
Insect conservation ignored, grievously side tracked
By Peter Smetacek
Founder of the Butterfly Research Center at Bhimtal
Email: [email protected]
Indian butterfly and moth part of the Wynter-Blyth

collections contain less than collection at St. George's
50% of the estimated 11,300 Home, Ketti, Tamil Nadu, and
species found in India. This the Patna Museum collection.
deficiency has negatively
Methods: Over the past 25
impacted research as well as
years, I have sought out and
popularization and
examined Lepidoptera
conservation efforts for this
collections throughout India. It
group of insects. The validity
has not been possible to
of governmental initiatives in
examine the National
this field is examined. Steps to
Collection, at the Zoological
improve the study of
Survey of India, Calcutta, and
Lepidoptera in India are
the smaller collections at
recommended.
various agricultural universities
Introduction: The process of throughout the country, the
Peter Smetacek displaying a butterfly
naming the Lepidoptera is Patna Museum, the Madras
based on specimens. From the time that Linnaeus Museum, etc. However, discussion with those who
(1758) described the very first butterflies using the have seen these collections clarified that the smaller
binomial system, pinned Lepidoptera have formed the collections contain little that is unique, while the
basis of the science. The Linnaean collection of collection in the custody of the Zoological Survey of
butterflies is in the custody of the Linnaean Society in India, while it is extensive, is in relatively poor
London. condition due to its age and the climate.
Four Collections: At present, there are four important There are practically no reference collections of moths
collections of Lepidoptera in India. These are the besides those contained in the four important national
National Collection, at the Zoological Survey of level collections mentioned above, the Punjabi
India; the National Forest Insect Collection, at the University Collection and the Smetacek Collection. A
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun; the National very rough estimate would suggest that less than 50%
Agricultural Insect Collection, at the Indian of the Indian Lepidoptera is represented in Indian
Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; and the collections.
collection at the Bombay Natural History Society,
Approximately 70% of the total of around 1300
Mumbai. There are collections of Lepidoptera, as well
species of Indian butterflies is represented, and
as other insects, at most agricultural universities in the
perhaps 40% of an estimated 10,000 species of moths
country as well as at the Madras Museum and the
is represented. The relatively high percentage of
National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi, but
butterflies represented is largely in the National
few of these are of any importance. The collection at
Forest Insect Collection, which contains
the Punjabi University, Patiala, contains some type
approximately 3800 species of Lepidoptera (Dr.
material and much recently collected material.
Sudhir Singh, pers. comm.), while the National
Similarly, the collection at the Indian Institute of
Agricultural Insect Collection has 3302 species (Dr.
Sciences, Bangalore contains some recent material but
V.V. Ramamurthy, pers. comm.), mainly moths. The
nothing of particular importance.
Bombay Natural History Society Collection houses
Besides, there are small, unidentified collections at the around 1500 species of Lepidoptera, half of them
Forest Museum in Darjeeling and at the Jesuit butterflies (Dr. Rahul Khot, pers. comm.).
Museum at Shemba-ganur near Kodaikanal. There are
Discussion: Around 250 butterfly taxa have been
two private collections, one the Sircar Collection in
described from India, the Himalaya and associated
Shillong and the second the Smetacek Collection in
mountain ranges during the past 60 years. Of these, the
Bhimtal.
first valid taxon to be described by an Indian citizen
In addition to the above collections, there are a few was Neptis miah varshneyi Smetacek (2004). Even
smaller collections in various towns of India, such as a this was described in consultation with the late Lt. Col.
2 24th Birding Fair

J.N. Eliot of the U.K., and the comparative material ministries and departments, through cattle loans to
used was from Col. Eliot's collection and the Natural marginal farmers and attempts to improve the genetic
History Museum, London, rather than any Indian configuration and population of domesticated animals
collection. No valid butterfly species has been such as sheep, goats and buffaloes, with very little
described so far by an Indian in the post-Independence emphasis on reducing the dependence of this
period. (The taxon Ypthima kedarnathensis A.P. Singh unjustifiably large cattle population on Indian forests
(2007) is not unlikely a synonym of Y. hannyngtoni and common lands.
Eliot.).
I can think of only two meaningful studies, those
The main reason for this discrepancy is that Indian carried out by Veenakumari et al. (1997), in the
workers are constrained by the lack of identified Andaman Islands, and Singh (2009), in the Kedarnath
material available for comparison in India. The best Musk Deer Reserve, Garhwal. Other studies talk of
collection of Indian Lepidoptera is at the Natural catch-and-release methods for studying butterflies.
History Museum, London. It is, however, far from Given the paucity of good reference books on Indian
complete. The next best collection of Indian butterflies and the relative inexperience of the authors
Lepidoptera is the Hope Collection at the University of such studies, such publications are at best
Museum, Oxford, which houses over 5 million insect unreliable, especially when one considers that the
specimens. nomenclature of difficult groups is likely to change
with the distinguishing of new taxa, but there will be
Skewed rules: In this respect, the current rules, laws
no specimens to examine and apply the revised
and usages are heavily skewed against the collection
nomenclature since they were released at the time of
of insects, whether for scientific use or other purposes.
the studies. Thus, invaluable time spent in the field and
Prior to 1986, there was no bar on collecting insects. In
published results are reduced to unreliable statements
that year, many butterflies and beetles were
due to unenlightened legislation.
inexplicably included in the schedules of the Wildlife
(Protection) Act 1972. No studies, surveys or other Recommendations: It is urgently required that
forms of information gathering appear to have been several complete collections of Indian Lepidoptera be
carried out prior to this exercise. Rather, the basis made. Some projects are under way to improve Indian
appears to be the status ascribed to the various species taxonomic abilities in the field of Lepidoptera, but
and subspecies in Evans (1932), so that those believed these projects seem to be having little effect on the
to be “very rare” by Evans were placed in Schedule 1, field in general. It is urged that rules and laws that give
bringing them on par with the tiger, rhinoceros and the government the sole right to undertake research in
other large mammals, while those believed by him to this field be amended to return the right to study insects
be “rare” were included in Schedule 2. to the people of India, as was the status before 1986. It
is urged that the indiscriminate curfew on the field
This unreasoned approach led to the inclusion of the
imposed in the name of conservation efforts by policy-
Pea Blue (Lampides boeticus Linnnaeus) and the
makers and bureaucrats unfamiliar with the
Gram Blue (Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius) in Schedule
Lepidoptera be withdrawn and the opinion of persons
2, although they are known to damage leguminous
familiar with the field be used to formulate policies in
crops and the Ministry of Agriculture has supported
the best interests of the continued survival of Indian
studies for controlling the populations of these
Lepidoptera. The excuse that there is a trade in
butterflies. Prashanth Mohanraj and Veenakumari
Lepidoptera cannot be used to impose a virtual ban on
(1996) commented further on the shortcomings of the
this field. If the police were to impose an analogous
schedules in this Act. Due to the grave lack of
curfew on the general public to prevent a few thieves
knowledge about insects at the policy making level,
operating, it would not be tolerated in any court of law.
butterflies, moths and other insects have come to be
Why then should a similar, unjustified curfew that is
viewed as “wildlife” and, bringing them on par with
detrimental to the interests of Indian Lepidoptera be
vertebrates, the emphasis is on the protection of the
imposed and tolerated?
adult individual.
However, butterflies live for a fortnight, spending
most of their lives in the egg, larval and pupal stages.
There is no provision for the protection of the early
stages. This would entail protection of the habitats of
the insect rather than the adult individual. This is not
possible at the present time since we have no idea
about the habitats of many lesser known species,
which would arguably need protection most, if at all.
While collectors are viewed with suspicion, damage to
habitats is being encouraged by various governmental
24th Birding Fair 3
How many butterfly And Now Butterfly
species exist in Conservation
By Anand Mishra
India? President, TWSI
Where are they maintained and in what condition? I shuddered when we took up
Can interested persons be allowed to observe and Butterflies species for dedication
photograph them? Is there any book outlining all of the 24th Indian Birding Fair:
butterflies of India or the subcontinent? will we have sufficient material?
My colleagues in TWSI and
On birds, there are books since days of Britishers. Dr.
those at other institutions have
Salim Ali followed the tradition. Inspired by what was
filled our plate: an amazing
delivered by the Bombay Natural History Society
variety of articles received and
(BNHS) through its office in Mumbai a number of
new light thrown on these most
Indian bird watchers have come out with books with
beautiful species.
brilliant photos of birds along with distribution
details. The book by Krys Kazmierczak (illustrated by Who would not like to have
Ber van Pero) remained a handy volume on birds of Butterflies in own garden, which, alas, are shrinking at
the subcontinent. Richard Grimmett came out with his rapid space. In own business of real-estate, I have been
version show casing different photos, distribution craving to lure the species at each new landscape we
maps, etc., in association with Carol Inskipp and Tim create. Little is realized that each wild species
Inskipp. essentially needs 'food' to survive, like humans.
Wonder if it was taken care of at own space by most of
Butterflies and Moths, insects of immense
us? The articles we are carrying in this annual issue
consequence for human survival, are yet to receive
speak volumes about variety of 'host plants' that serve
similar sympathetic treatment across India. The
as survival kit for Butterflies.
interest for such species is increasing: Jan Hermans, a
zoology professor in The Netherlands, was BNHS has provided educational material, listing out
impressed by the Keoladeo National Park. He studied variety of host-plants, at its CEE in Mumbai and
its species for years. So he came out with a new book another in New Delhi. We are trying to highlight how
to outline its vegetation (with illustrations), birds, Butterfly Parks can be set up, at home or in public.
butterflies, dragonflies (with colour photographs), etc. New species identified and status in India have also
What grace for this Dutch expert: he accommodated been outlined. Our associate in Britain has enriched
Brijendra Singh as the first author of this treatise us, hinting at migration and life cycle.
(Flora-Fauna Keoladeo N.P) as he knew more than the
TWSI Members have come up with a significant study
professor. Brijendra hails from Jatoli village located
of Butterflies across Jaipur's landscape. A new found
on eastern border of the Park. He amassed vast
interest in Moths has also been attempted. It is an
knowledge on such aspects, working there for past
humble initiative to popularize Butterfly
four decades. Only three such persons are there to
Conservation. Let us ourselves set up parks for the
influence outside experts. Other naturalists, hailing
species. Hope the civic authorities will assume lead.
from adjoining villages, are following their foot
We trust conservation movement shall gain ground
steps.
afresh and society at large shall receive enormous
A list of some existing butterfly parks has been benefits, through Butterflies. Best wishes.
published in this issue, thanks to Dr. Raju Kasambe,
assistant director at BNHS. He administers BNHS's
Nature Park in Mumbai. Sohail Madan, head of the
BNHS's Nature Park in New Delhi, has furnished
photos to document butterflies in that area. Mukesh
Panwar, Dr. Dharmendra Khandal, Dr. Satish Kumar
and Mr Rahul Sharma have produced invaluable data
on the plants that support butterflies at their various
stages of life span, which shall be hailed for ever. Well
done bravos. Roy Atkins, Britain based ace bird
watcher, has enlightened on the UK species including
their life-cycle, admired. --Editors
Large Salmon Arab feeding on Ttridax plant, photo by Mukesh Panwar
4 24th Birding Fair

Tridax procumbens: the most common
Butterfly nectar plant of Rajasthan
Botanical Name: Tridax procumbens (Family - Asteraceae)
Common Name: Tridax daisy, Coat Buttons, Mexican Daisy
Hindi Name: कानफूली
Sanskrit Name: जयंती वेद, ु सेव का
By Mukesh Panwar
Sagwara, Rajasthan, Email: [email protected]
often than not, the

reason is absence of
Nectar producing
plants like Tridax.
I t s h o w s t h e
importance of these
wild and unpopular
plants which we
usually treat as weeds.
They are life lines for
butterflies.
As a common
observation, about 300
+ flora species are
utilized as Larval host
or Nectar plant by
butterflies in
R a j a s t h a n .
Biodiversity is a fine
woven network of
many plant and animal
species in total, and all
Mukesh Panwar photographing a butterfly in Sagwara of them have their
crucial role in it. Flourishing fields full of crops and
Tridax procumbens is a common flowering plant urban setups with latest amenities infrastructure are
found in Northern India including Rajasthan. It stands important, but not at the cost of this critical network.
about 30 – 60 cm in height. Tridax produces light My study on butterflies is continuing in Sagwara
yellow flowers year around. It can be seen growing in region in Dungarpur district in Rajasthan and I have
abandoned land, road side and rocky terrain. Its shared names of the butterflies using this plant along
flowers not only attract small butterflies like Blues with photos of the same on the plant flowers.
Butterflies (Lycaenidae) but also the big ones like
Swallow Tails (Papilionidae) and Brush Footed I have continuing interest in birds and have recorded
Butterflies (Nymphalidae). flourishing heronry at three water bodies located
within Sagwara town: Gameria, Masani and Loharia.
They can be easily seen relishing its nectar. So far 64 Openbill Stork, Black-headed Ibis and Painted Stork
butterfly species have been observed by me feeding on breed at these places besides numerous other water
Tridax procumbens in Rajasthan. dependent birds.
Abundance of local wild flowering plants is extremely I have recorded Painted Stork breeding more than once
important for butterflies. Like Larval Host Plant, in a year, which many do not believe. Visit me to
Nectar Plants are equally important for the observe such forms.
development of butterfly larvae.
My work spans about fifteen years in this region. I
It is commonly observed that even in abundance and serve as a Teacher at an Upper Primary School in
diversity of Larval Host Plants in an area, related Sagwara and travel distance to enrich my hobby.
butterfly species are either scarce or absent. More
24th Birding Fair 5

Butterflies of Rajasthan
By Mukesh Panwar
Common Grass Yellow butterfly feeding on Tridax Common Tiger on Tridax
Family Common Name Scientific Name Family Common Name Scientific Name
Papilionidae Lime Popilio demoleus Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis
Common Mormmon Papilio polytes Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra
Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon African Babul Blue Azanus jesous
Common Jay Graphium doson Bright Babul Blue Azanus ubaldus
Pieridae Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe Common Cerulean Jamides celeno
Spotless Grass Yellow Eurema laeta Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus
Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta Common Shot Silverline Spindasis ictis
Common Emigrant Catopsilia Crocale Common Guava Blue Virachola isocrates
Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia Pyranthe Nymphalidae Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnus missippus
The Pioneer Anaphaeis aurota Great Eggfly Aypolimnas bilina
Common Gull Cepora erissa Blue Pansy Junonia oritrya
Small Orange Tip Colotis etrida Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonies
White Orange Tip Ixias marianne Peacock Pansy Junonia almana
Striped Albatross Appias libythe Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta
Large Salmon Arab Colotis fausta Grey Pansy Tunonia atiiles
Yellow Orange Tip Ixias pyrene Painted Lady Vanessa cardui
White Arab Colotis vestalis Common Four Ring Ypthima huebneri
Small Salmon Arab Colotis amata Joker Byblia ilithyia
Lycaenida Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax Tawny Coster Acraea violae
Pea Blue Lempides boeticus Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus
Zebra Blue Syntarucus plinius Common Indian Crow Euploea core
Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Striped Tiger Danaus genutia
Forget Me Not Cotachrysops strabo Hesperiidae Indian Palm Bob Suastus gremius
Rounded Pierrot Tarucus nara Rice Swift Barbo cinnara
Spotted Pierrot Tarucus callinara Small Branded Swift Pelopidas mathias
Black-spotted Pierrot Tarucus balkanicus nigra White Branded Swift Pelopidas thrax
Red Piorrot Talicada nyseus ….. Swift sp. Parnara sp.
Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus Grass Demon Udaspes folus
Small Cupid Chilades parrhasius Indian Skipper Spialia galba
Plains Cupid Chilades pandava Zebra Skipper Spialia zebra
Lime Blue Chilades lajus Spotted Small Flat Sarangesa purendra
Pale Grass Blue Seudozizeeria maha Tricolor Pied Flat Coladenia indrani
6 24th Birding Fair

Seeing the UK's Butterflies
By Roy Atkins
Wildlife Guide for Speyside Wildlife, a wildlife holiday company based in Scotland
Adonis Blue Peacock Marbled White
Silver-spotted Skipper Red Admiral Chalkhill Blue
The UK has a somewhat poor list of butterfly species be found in your garden. The rather duller coloured
compared to India. While you have an astonishing list Gatekeeper, Wall Brown, Ringlet, Grayling and
of over 1,500 species, we have a total of just 59. It is Meadow Brown are also common in the south, some
perhaps not surprising that people struggle with of them becoming purely coastal as you head further
identification of such a large group in India - while in north.
the UK we have many enthusiasts who can identify all
Some species are so southern in their distribution as to
of the UK species easily - and make it a mission to see
be only found only on the south facing cliffs on the
them all.
south coast… including two rare species - Lulworth
I have been interested in birds since I was a child but Skipper and the beautiful Glanville Fritillary on just
developed an interest in all sorts of other wildlife, one island off the south coast. This very rare species
including butterflies, as I got older… so as I travelled was one of the last three UK species I saw two years
the country in search of interesting birds I also looked ago when we made a trip to the island specifically to
for butterflies. Over the years I managed to see many see it. Personally I think the underside is especially
of the species and, three years ago, realised that with a beautiful.
bit of effort I might perhaps see the rest and planned a
Glanville Fritillary lays its eggs on Ribwort
trip to take in the best sites for those I was missing.
Plantain… an astonishingly abundant plant all over
I caught up with a large number of species when the whole of the UK - so it appears to be summer
travelling to southern England on birding trips… temperatures that restrict it to this one location as even
making a little detour here and there to visit the various here it is only on south facing slopes. This is a common
habitats that hold interesting species. The chalklands theme with many rare species that must be restricted
of southern England saw me catch up with Chalkhill by something other than the distribution of their food
Blue, Adonis Blue, Brown Argus, the black and white plant. For example, another Fritillary also only found
Marbled White and the very rare Silver-spotted it the extreme south, Heath Fritillary, is found in less
Skipper as well as many others that are common here than five locations but feeds on Cow-wheat - a
using plants like Horseshoe Vetch and Rockrose as common species in woodlands all over Britain - so
foodplants. Some of the most beautiful, such as Red why it is so restricted is a mystery.
Admiral, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell, are
There are other woodland species in southern England
common everywhere and breed on nettles so can even
worth searching for such as White Admiral, Wood
24th Birding Fair 7
Glanville Fritillary Glanville Fritillary Purple Emperor - Holy Grail of woodland butterflies
The beautiful Swallowtail The delightful Chequered Skipper Large Blue nectaring on Wild Thyme
White and Silver-washed Fritillary in woodland rides, Of the UK's 59 regular species, two don't breed every
Purple Hairstreaks high in the oaks, White-letter year in the UK as they are migrants. Clouded Yellow
Hairstreak in elms and Brown and Black Hairstreak on occurs on the south coast but some years there are big
Blackthorn. It can be quite a challenge getting to see influxes and it can be seen further inland. Painted Lady
some of these species which may be hidden in the tree appears in most years and can occur in massive
tops or not fly for hours on end, but they are worth the numbers into the millions migrating all the way from
effort. None of these is as spectacular as the holy grail North Africa! In those years they may even breed and
of woodland butterflies - the Purple Emperor! This seem not to know when to stop heading north as they
stunning butterfly is big and beautiful with iridescent can be seen right up to the north coast of Scotland and
purple in its wings - but can be very hard to see. Some even in Iceland and north of the Arctic Circle!
people take a very old black banana and place it on the
The final species I needed to complete my UK list was
ground to try and coax them down from the trees,
very special. Large Blue was wiped out in the UK due
while others, would you believe, say dog muck works
to habitat loss. They have the most astonishing life
even better! I think I'll stick with the bananas, thanks.
cycle. The caterpillars feeding on Wild Thyme but
Another truly spectacular butterfly is the Swallowtail - quite soon drop to the floor where they mimic the
big, beautiful and rare it has very few sites in the UK shape and scent of ant larvae.
and is restricted to wetland fens in the east of England.
The ants pick them up and take them into their nest
On this occasion the situation is entirely explained by
believing them to be their own young - but once inside
its food plant as Milk Parsley is also restricted to this
the ant-nest, the caterpillar feasts on the ant's own
area. Once you know where to look this is an easy
larvae! The ants simply don't notice!! This species
butterfly to see being so big and obvious!
died out in the UK 1979 due to loss of habitat suitable
But not everything is in the south. The north has a few for the ants, but with careful management, a few nature
very special species not found in the south at all - reserves created suitable habitat and the butterfly was
including one of my favourites, the delightful reintroduced.
Chequered Skipper.
There are now three or four sites where this species has
This tiny and beautifully marked butterfly breeds on a been re-established and I finally managed to see this
very common grass.. so it is another puzzle why the species after many years thinking it was too late! This
species is so incredibly rare, found at very few sites in completed my UK butterfly list and there were
the Highlands of Scotland. Scotch Argus, feeds on the celebrations that night.
same grasses and is very common in Scotland in
This year however, Large Tortoiseshell has bred for
summer - but only has two sites in England despite the
the second year in a row on the south coast in tiny
grasses being common all over the country! Another
numbers…. so maybe I still haven't seen them all!
highland specialist is Mountain Ringlet, restricted to
Another trip down south for me next year perhaps!??
high grassy mountains and often requiring a stiff walk
to see one.
8 24th Birding Fair
How Long Do Butterflies Live?
By Roy Atkins
Wildlife Guide for Speyside Wildlife, a wildlife holiday company based in Scotland
Peacock Butterfly sunning itself and a cluster of them hibernating in an attic
24th Birding Fair 9

Red Admiral
Garden of live Butterflies

It offered to me a unique experience by observing more about them?
butterflies living inside a vast glass house. A leaflet
Contact:
given to me at the gate, and soon I entered through a
Garten der lebenden,
climate-control entrance to see *Display Cases, enjoy
Schmetterlinge, Om Schlosspark,
a walk over *Filippa Bridge, then *Sofia Bridge and
D-56170 Bendorf-Sayn,
*Jungle Path, passing by the *Turtle Island, touching
Germany
the *Hibiscus Hedges, finally to be inside the
*Caterpillar and Moth House. – Harsh Vardhan
The Glass-House not only houses moths but it is also
the nursery where butterflies are bred. Fresh and bit
stale bananas, oranges, lemon, papaya and other fruits-
Butterfly Conservation,
vegetables had been placed over tables where Cluster Approach
butterflies were observed enjoying variety of food.
Indeed, food variety was created as stunning evidence. Owing to precarious state of life to this day, the 24th
The well designed Glass House had small holes at Indian Birding Fair will not be a usual event:
numerous places. I was told they were to facilitate humming thousands of visitors at the dam of Man
butterflies move out in to open environment to taste Sagar lake, restored through initiatives made at the
different food and return in, as and when they so liked Fair. So organizers have decided to hold cluster
to do. meeting across city of Jaipur to address people on
need to care for larval host plants that create better
I walked through the Nature Trail and then visited the living and survival conditions for Butterflies. Most
Butterfly Boutique, a nature shop where items on people will like to have such species over their
moths and butterflies were on sale. A separate section private gardens and would like to know how to let
called Pavilion was for enjoying videos and lectures. it happen.
Recall this visit to this day as one of the wonderful Govind Yadav, Nishant Nath Shukla, Naveen
experiences of my tour to Germany and like to thank Singh, Rahul Sharma, and Durga Lal Verma are
Hans Budzyn and Calle who hosted me for such a leading this unique campaign in association with
wonderful experience which was followed by lunch Bombay Natural History Society and WWF –
served by the Princess and Prince of Sayn. Above the India. Best wishes and hope the health related
table I found many stuffed birds gazing down at us. I aspects for all people to improve soon all over to
recognized Houbara above my head. One needs to kick start conservation programmes as had been
admire their life style – catching birds to understand pursued in the past. – Editors.
10 24th Birding Fair

Butterfly Gardening in India
By Dr. Raju Kasambe,
Assistant Director – Education,
Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai.
Asola Butterfly Park in New Delhi
In last few years there has been a tremendous increase about butterflies and their requirements, knowledge
in the interest in developing butterfly gardens (parks) about plants and finances to run the garden. If you want
in India. Many private as well as government butterfly to make it a public place, you need some advertising or
gardens have come up at various places across India. It marketing skills to attract people to visit the butterfly
is a good sign, in the sense we have started garden and pay for the visit.
appreciating the importance of butterflies as objects of
Understanding the laws of the land
aesthetic value, for conservation as well as to create
sustainable livelihood options for local communities. Butterfly garden can be a 'closed' one or an 'open' one.
A short visit to a butterfly garden gives us enormous A closed butterfly garden is an entire garden covered
pleasure. Many of us might have visited butterfly with green nets. The butterflies are released into this
gardens in Singapore and London and or other places enclosed area either as adult butterflies or are reared in
in the world. It is fascinating to see so many colourful the garden itself. In Singapore and London butterfly
butterflies in these gardens and also to see thousands of parks, they import butterfly pupae (akachrysalis) from
visitors enjoying the company of these flying jewels! different parts of the world and keep them in small
glass boxes (emergence cages) till the butterflies
Butterfly garden is a garden where you can see lot of
emerge. As soon as the butterflies emerge these are
butterflies belonging to different species at one place
released into the garden. In absence of any predators,
and in good numbers. An ideal open butterfly garden is
the butterflies survive till they die naturally.
a miniature representation of the forest. This article is
an attempt to summarise the basics of butterfly But as per the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972)
gardening in India. This will hopefully answer some of
the questions people ask about butterfly gardening in Sohail Madan is Manager at BNHS's Asola Bhatti
India. Wildlife Sanctuary in New Delhi, who provided
good material, not being published due to lack of
To set up a new butterfly garden what we need is a
space, his photographs of the species are being
suitable piece of land at the right location, man power,
thankfully used. -- Editors
working knowledge of landscaping, good knowledge
24th Birding Fair 11

Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in New Delhi
butterflies are wild animals and it is illegal to keep wild Understanding the life cycle of butterflies
animals (protected under various Schedules of the
Before starting work on setting up a butterfly garden
Act) in captivity (in any enclosure or cage) preventing
one must understand the life cycle of butterflies.
its free movement. As soon as there is an enclosure, it
Butterfly life cycle completes in four stages, viz., egg,
is deemed as a zoo. And to run a zoo, permission is
caterpillar (larva), pupa (chrysalis) and adult butterfly.
required from the Central Zoo Authority of India and
Every butterfly lays its eggs on one of the few selected
also it is mandatory to follow their guidelines for
species of plants, which are called larval host plants.
establishing and managing a zoo. Getting permission
The caterpillars emerge from these eggs and feed
from this authority (though creating a butterfly park
voraciously on the leaves or these larval host plants.
may be a good objective) is a very tedious task for a
The caterpillar moults few times and stops eating after
general citizen and it may take years to get one.
certain growth and gets metamorphosed into a pupa.
But permissions can be sought by the Government After few days, an adult butterfly emerges from this
Zoos, Botanical Gardens, if they want to set up pupa.
“butterfly enclosures” in their existing zoos. Zoos in
That means butterflies need the larval host plants on
India have huge swathes of land at prime locations;
which their caterpillars will grow and food for the
they could actually prove that they can create butterfly
adult butterflies on which they will survive.
parks in India.
Landscaping for butterfly garden
Hence, for private butterfly parks or gardens (owned
by an individual or a corporate), the easy and best It is important to have a good location for the butterfly
option will be to set up an 'open butterfly garden' on garden, especially the open butterfly garden. The best
your own or leased land. Here the butterflies are free location will be near a patch of forest, as the butterflies
ranging and no butterfly is captured or captive. can be attracted to the garden by fulfilling the
Fortunately, we don't need any permission to create an necessary requirements. However, it is not necessary
open butterfly park in India. to have big plot to attract butterflies to the garden.
Even a small plot can be converted into a decent
There are many open butterfly gardens in India. One is
butterfly garden. It is better to avoid setting up a new
located in the BNHS Nature Reserve popularly known
butterfly garden in very dry areas or very cold areas,
as CEC in Goregaon area of Mumbai. This garden is
deserts, and in highly urbanized areas with not many
located on the fringe area of Sanjay Gandhi National
butterfly species around. Once the land is acquired, it
Park in this CEC land. It now attracts more than 125
is important to do landscaping of the plot as per the
species of butterflies and hundreds of visitors.
requirements of a butterfly garden. If it already has lot

is important to have better understanding among the
staff (at least the gardener) of the butterfly garden to
prevent uprooting of the larval host plants, mistaking
them to be useless weeds. This is important in view of
the fact that some butterfly species lay their eggs on
grasses.
Attracting 'nectar-loving' butterflies
Butterflies do not have teeth and they cannot eat solid
food. Butterflies can only sip liquid food with the help
of a very thin tongue, called proboscis. And they do not
grow once they are born, they do not need a diversity
Asola Butterfly Park in New Delhi of food for physical growth. What they need is liquid
food which is rich in energy and acts like fuel for
of trees, there is no need to cut the tree, but to ensure maintenance of their life activities, including flight
plantation of new plants at the right locations. and reproduction. The best energy-rich food available
Landscaping should be in such way that there are around us is the nectar in flowers. The other sources of
places which provide shade, lot of sunshine, and wet liquid food are rotten fruits and dead animals.
patches too.
Many species of butterflies love the nectar of flowers.
How to attract butterflies These butterflies are attracted to the flowers due to
Once the location of the butterfly garden is decided, we their bright colours. Hence it is necessary to plant plots
need to know the requirements of butterflies and how of flowering plants in the garden. The flowering plants
to attract them? As in India, we cannot have a closed should be selected carefully in such a way that
butterfly garden, the best option we have is to attract throughout the year the garden has some plants
the butterflies and make them stay around in the flowering. Some of the common plants which attract
butterfly garden. Butterflies will surely stay around in lot of butterfly species for nectaring are Lantana spp.,
the garden, if all their requirements are fulfilled in the Jamaican Blue Stachytarphaeta spp., Cockscomb
garden itself. Celosia spp., wild Xenia spp. and Ixora species. A
small herb Tridax indica attracts lot of blue (Lycaenid)
Larval Host Plants (LHP) butterflies for nectaring.
As mentioned above the life cycle of a butterfly Every butterfly has its own choice of flowers it visits,
completes in four stages, and each butterfly species due to the fact that the length of their proboscis varies
lays its eggs on a specific plant or a choice of few in different species. Butterflies with short proboscis
species of plants. The larvae or caterpillars feed on may not be able to sip nectar from flowers with a long
these plants and hence these plants are termed as larval tubular corolla. Some skippers have extremely long
host plants (LHP). For example, the Common Rose proboscis and hence can sip nectar from flowers with
butterfly lays its eggs on Aristolochia indica long tubular corolla. Many large sized Swallowtail
(Duckweed); Spot Swordtail, Common Jay and Tailed butterflies are not able to sip nectar from very small
Jay butterflies lay their eggs on Polyalthia longifolia flowers as the flowers cannot bear their weight. Hence
(False Ashoka) and Common Mormon lays its eggs on some of the Swallow tails do not land on the flowers
Murraya koenigii (Curry Leaf) and Citrus aurantifolia and keep fluttering while nectaring. Thus we need to
(Lime tree). have a diversity of flowering plants in the garden to
The caterpillar which feeds on the LHP cater to the needs of the various species of butterflies.
metamorphoses into a pupa (or chrysalis) in due Also, while planting the flowering plants, they should
course of time. The pupa is generally well be planted keeping in mind their expected height to
camouflaged and stays immobile till an 'adult butterfly' which they will grow. This will provide a vertical
emerges out of it (there is nothing like a 'baby dimension to the garden. Small plots of flowering
butterfly'). plants of a particular species should be planted, thus
adding to the aesthetic value of the butterfly garden,
The more is the diversity of the larval host plants in the besides attracting hordes of butterflies.
butterfly garden the more number of butterfly species
will start breeding in the garden. And there are more Attracting the 'non-nectar-loving' butterflies
chances of the butterflies staying back in the area if It is a wrong notion that all butterflies love nectar in
they can fulfil all their requirements in the area. Hence, flowers. There are many species of butterflies (many
as a part of developing the butterfly garden, it is a belong to the brush-footed and brown butterflies)
continuous process to find out more and more larval which never visit flowers. These butterflies like to get
host plants and plants and grow them in the garden. It

Yellow Pansy by Sohail Madan Red Pierrot by Sohail Madan
their stock of food from rotten fruits, decaying fish, Parantica aglea, Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala
crabs, or prawns, the scat or dung or urine of wild septentrionis, Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus, Striped
animals and so on. These butterflies locate the food or Common Tiger Danaus genutia, Nilgiri Tiger
because of the strong smell. Some of the butterflies Parantica nilgiriensis and the crow butterflies namely,
(besides moths) which are attracted to these include Common Indian Crow Euploea core, Brown King
the Common Nawab Polyuraathamas, Anamolous Crow Euploeaklugii. These are also called brush-
Nawab Charaxesagrarius, Black Rajah Charaxes footed butterflies.
solon, Tawny Rajah Charaxesbernardus, Blue
Attracting 'mud-loving' butterflies
Oakleaf Kallimahorsfieldii, Orange Oakleaf
Kallimainachus, Common Baron Euthaliaaconthea, In the landscape of the butterfly garden, if there is
Gaudy Baron Euthalialubentina, Common Evening natural depression it should be watered more often to
Brown Melanitisleda, Angled Castor Ariadne create a muddy spot and a wet patch. Plastic sheets can
ariadne, Common Palmfly Elymniashypermnestra, be buried under this muddy spot to manage moisture
Baronet Euthalianais and many bushbrowns level. Fine sand should be spread along the fringe of
Mycalesis spp. this muddy place and rotten leaf litter be mixed in the
soil from time to time. Many butterflies (especially
Rotten fruits can be kept in feeding trays in the
males of many species) visit such damp and muddy
butterfly garden to attract these butterflies. These
places to get their daily dose of water, minerals and
feeding trays with rotting fruits may attract ants, which
various chemicals needed for their physiological
in turn will disturb the butterflies. To manage this
needs. This is known as 'mud-puddling'. Yellows of
problem, each feeding tray should be kept in another
many species gather on mud for mud-puddling in huge
slightly larger tray filled with water. This will prevent
numbers.
ants to reach the bowl with fruits, creating a moat-like
situation. The feeding tray can also be kept hanging on Also, before planting the plots of plants, a permanent
trees at various locations in the garden. Rotten or arrangement for watering the plants should be done.
overripe fruits of Pineapple Ananas comosus, Custard This could be the sprinklers or other methods, which
apple Annona reticulata, banana, guava and Sapota will save lot of manpower in future needed to water the
(Sapodilla or Chikoo) Manilkara zapotaare useful in entire garden nearly every day.
attracting butterflies.
What should not be done
Attracting 'alkaloid-loving' male butterflies
One of the most important rules to be followed in
Males of some butterfly species need specific butterfly gardening is to strictly avoid the use of any
alkaloids for reproduction. These alkaloids are insecticide, pesticide, weedicide or any similar
provided by plants like Rattlepod Crotalaria, Turnsole chemicals to kill or control some pests. These will
Heliotropium, and Eupatorium species. The male eventually kill the butterfly caterpillars (which are
butterflies flock these plants in huge numbers to suck nothing but butterflies to be born) and drive the
these alkaloids and is a pleasant sight to see the butterflies away from your butterfly garden.
butterflies engrossed in the activity. They need these
Another thing is avoiding plantation of rose plants.
chemicals to synthesize sex pheromones to attract
These are useless for butterflies and need spraying of
females. Developing small plots of these plants ensure
insecticides to protect it from various moth
flocks of butterflies especially the tiger butterflies
caterpillars.
namely, Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace, Glassy Tiger

Plain Tiger by Sohail Madan Mud Puddling by Sohail Madan
Avoid using chemical fertilizers. Instead, the garden running north-south in the middle of the garden. This
can have a small place where natural fertilizers can be will keep big areas with lot of sunlight.
produced by composting the leaf litter, cattle dung and
A small shade for visitors with resting facilities, a tea
other garbage from the garden. This natural fertilizer
and snacks kiosk and basic amenities like toilets
should be used for the larval host plants for their
ensure the comforts of the visitors.
healthy growth.
Maintaining a Genetic Stock and nursery of plants
Landscaping
It is important to maintain a genetic stock of all larval
To set up an open butterfly garden, it is necessary to
host plants as well as nectar plants in the form of seeds
have a proper plan of landscaping. But if there are trees
or grafts. The seeds should be collected whenever they
already in place, the plan should be designed
are found and kept safe till the pre-monsoon period.
accordingly without cutting the existing trees. The
The seeds should be grown in a netted nursery and then
plan should clearly describe the plots for flowering
shifted to the butterfly garden. This should be done at
trees and take care of the needs of various species of
least to plant species Tagala and Aristolochia as the
trees as per their requirement and dependence on
caterpillars of Roses are known to finish the entire
sunlight. There should be a small nursery totally
plants leaving nothing behind.
enclosed to protect small saplings of various plants
collected for the garden. Few saplings of each larval Manpower
host plant (at least the rare ones) should be protected
To manage an open butterfly garden you need to hire at
here as genetic pool. Sometimes entire plants are
least one gardener, a plant expert, a butterfly expert
finished by hordes of caterpillars. This stock will help
and a person to manage the entire set up. Ofcourse, you
replenish the plants in the garden again.
can play few roles out of these.
Landscaping should involve plan of narrow footpaths
Money matters (Financial Management)
in the garden which allows access to most of the areas
in the garden. These if planned well can prevent You need some seed money to start with butterfly
trampling of the plants by visitors, while trying to gardening and there is no guarantee that it will earn
photograph some butterfly. These may not be of you money. If you have the land needed to set up the
concrete, but of small bricks to allow movement of butterfly garden available with you, the initial cost will
caterpillars. be less. But there is recurring cost to maintain a
butterfly garden which includes purchase of saplings,
Sunshine is very important in the life of butterflies as
hiring a gardener, honorarium to butterfly and plant
they are cold blooded animals and need to bask in
experts (many roles can be played by one person),
sunlight before they start their activities in the
electricity bills, and water bills and so on. Butterfly
morning. They become active after basking in sunlight
garden needs proper management and regular
for some time. Hence the garden should have lots of
maintenance, otherwise the weeds overgrow the larval
flower beds with lot of sunshine.
host plants and soon it loses the beauty of being a
While planting large trees in the garden, lot of 'butterfly garden'!
planning and futuristic thinking is needed. When they
You can rear a butterfly in your house
grow, they should not create shadow in entire butterfly
garden. If the garden is very big, the trees can be Anybody can rear a butterfly in his house! That's pretty
planted along the eastern edge or they should be simple. You can search for caterpillars on larval host
planted along the western edge or forming a line plants of butterflies. A Lime tree Citrus spp. or a Curry

Leaf tree Murraya koenigii may have caterpillars of Don'ts:
Common Mormon Papiliopolytes and Lime
Avoid use of insecticides, weedicides (herbicides) or
Butterflies Papiliodemoleus. Pick that caterpillar and
such chemicals.
bring with it a stock of tender leaves to feed it on. Keep
the caterpillar in a transparent box. Keep some sticks List of some butterfly gardens in India:
in the box for the caterpillar to pupate. Clean the box
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list. There
every day for the excreta. The caterpillar will get
are many more butterfly gardens and more are coming
converted to a pupa one day. One fine morning you
up. The list is in alphabetical order arranged according
will notice that a beautiful butterfly has emerged from
to the name of the states.
the pupa. Free it as soon as it is ready to fly….It's your
baby after all! Butterfly Park (enclosure), Ramoji Film City,
Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
Join some butterfly gardening Course
Butterfly Conservatory of Goa, Ponda, Goa.
The best way to learn about any subject is to read or
learn from experts in the field. Organizations like Sammilan Shetty's Butterfly Park, Santhadi House,
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) conducts Butterfly Park Road, Belvai Village, Mangalore,
courses, which offer opportunities to learn about Karnataka.
butterflies. The six month long “Certificate Course in
NPCIL plant site, Kaiga, Karnataka.
Butterfly Studies” conducted by BNHS provides
learning opportunity to amateurs about butterflies and Butterfly Garden, Bhanerghatta, Bannerghatta
butterfly gardening. The course is mostly conducted National Park, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
on weekends.
Butterflysafari, Thenmala, district Kollam, Kerala.
Future opportunities in India
Butterfly Park at Nilambur Teak Museum,
In India, we can have small closed butterfly gardens in Malappuram, Kerala.
major zoos and at major International Airports for
Sálim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Thattekad, Kerala.
recreational purpose. For maintaining these gardens,
we can start rearing butterflies belonging to the Thumboormuzhy, Peechi KFRI & Shakthan
commoner but beautiful and colourful species, not Thamburan Museum, district Thrissur, Kerala.
necessarily rare or those protected under various
Nilamboor KFRI sub-center, district Malapuram,
Schedules of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act
Kerala.
(1972), with the help of tribal communities and create
thousands of jobs. Thattekad Bird Sanctuary, district Ernakulam, Kerala.
Butterfly 'nurseries' for selected species (not listed BNHS Butterfly Garden, BNHS Conservation
under the various schedules of the Act) can be set up Education Centre, near Film City,Goregaon (E),
where butterflies can be reared. The pupae reared from Mumbai, Maharashtra.
such 'nurseries' can be supplied to butterfly parks
Maharashtra Nature Park, Dharavi, Mumbai,
around the country. This can very well be done in
Maharashtra.
villages around Western Ghats and the Himalayas by
setting up big nurseries of local larval host plants in Ovalekar Wadi Butterfly Garden, Ghodbundar Road,
village lands or in private lands. What is needed is little Ovala Village, Thane, Maharashtra.
flexibility in the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972)
NPCIL plant site, Boisar, district Palghar,
and initiative from the NGOs or the Forest
Maharashtra.
Department.
Rotary Garden, Gharda Circle, Dombivli, district
Do's and don'ts of butterfly gardening:
Thane, Maharashtra.
Dos':
Butterfly Park, Vandalur Zoo, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
1. Know the diversity of butterflies in your area.
Butterfly Park, Sri Rangam, Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
2. Plant larval host plants.
Banabitan Butterfly Garden, Salt Lake, Kolkata, West
3. Plant nectar plants. Bengal.
4. Provide rotten fruits. Eden Garden Butterfly Garden, Kolkata, West Bengal.
5. Keep a damp patch for mud-puddling. Ecopark Butterfly Garden, Rajarhat, Kolkata, West
Bengal.
6. Keep some shady places.
Ramsai Butterfly Conservatory, Gorumara National
Park, West Bengal.
Butterfly Park at Bannerghatta
Biological Park: Bengaluru
By Naveen Singh
Dome-shaped butterflies. There is an exhibit of carefully preserved

greenhouse situated at butterflies here. The last stage of the park just before
Bannerghatta the exit, there is a theatre, where you can watch a
Biological Park documentary on butterflies and how you can do your
(opened in 2007 to the bit to conserve and save the species.
public for visitation)
The Park has following major components:
with fluttering colorful
Butterflies which are w A butterfly Garden to sustain local butterfly
really hard to find population.
today in our vicinity.
w Conservatory enclosed under poly-carbonate roof.
The Butterfly Park (10,500 sq feet) in the zoo has a
w Research and captive breeding laboratory.
conservatory, an audio-visual room and a museum.
This is India's first butterfly enclosure and serving as a w A Museum.
role model in the nation. About 30 species of
As per www.bannerghattabiologicalpark.com, 48
butterflies live under a poly-carbonate roof, but that
species of butterflies in various seasons reported at the
could raise or fall depending on the season. It's even a
Park. Thirty of these species belong to five family –
climate controlled, with an artificial waterfall and
Papliliondae, Pieridae, Nympalidae, Lycaenide and
fauna apt for butterfly culture.
Hespiridae were breeding in different seasons under
In the Butterfly museum, you can learn about the life captivity conditions and released into the conservatory
cycle of the butterfly and so much more on the dome.

Dakhan Tricolour Pied Flat (Coladenia indrani indra)
and Desert Spotted Small Flat (Sarangesa purendra sati)
1st Records from the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve Landscape
By Dharmendra Khandal
Conservation Biologist, Tiger Watch, Maa Farm, Ranthambhore Road, Sawai Madhopur
Rajasthan, 322 001, India
and
Satish Kumar Sharma
Assistant Conservator of Forests (Retd.), 14-15, Chakariya Amba, Rampura Choraha,
Jhadol Road, Udaipur, 313 004 Rajasthan, India
Fig. 1: Dakhan Tricolour Pied Flat butterfly (Coladeniaindrani indra) Fig. 2: DakhanTricolour Pied Flat butterfly (Coladeniaindrani indra)
During recent surveys, we have sighted the Dakhan namely: Coladenia indrani indrani (Moore 1866),
Tricolour Pied Flat butterfly (Coladenia indrani Himalayan Tricolour Pied Flat, Coladenia indrani
indra) and the Desert Spotted Small Flat (Sarangesa uposathra Fruhstorfer (1911), Indo-Chinese Tricolour
purendra sati) on the outskirts of Ranthambore Tiger Pied Flat and Coladenia indrani indra Evans (1926), –
Reserve, Sawai Madhopur in eastern Rajasthan. These Dakhan Tricolour Pied Flat.
butterflies from the Hesperiidae family are among the
On July 13, 2020 at about 4.00pm, while wandering
most beautiful butterflies of Rajasthan seen visiting in
the outskirts of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, Sawai
habitats dominated by Tridax procubens (a flowering
Madhopur, a beautiful butterfly sucking food from the
plant in the daisy family), Lepidagathis hamiltoniana
flowers of Tridax procumbens drew our attention (Fig.
(a herb having small flowers) and L. Cristata (a plant
1 & 2). The area where the butterfly was seen is a
like mushroom). During several surveys, we have
private farm locally known as “Dhonk Farm” situated
sighted them only once indicating them to be rare
very close to the western outskirts of Ranthambhore
species in the area.
Tiger Reserve. Besides Tridax procumbens, other
The skipper butterfly Coladenia indrani (Moore1866) species growing in the premises were Butea
is one of the most beautiful butterflies and is monosperma Palash or dhak), Terminalia Arjuna
widespread in India from Gujarat eastwards to West (Arjun), Aegle marmelos (Bel), Citrus limon (Lemon)
Bengal and southward to Kerala, Himachal Pradesh to and Luffa cylindrical (like gourd). The surroundings of
North-East India (Varshney & Smetacek 2015). It is the farm are well wooded comprising of good growth
reported from Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir, of Capparis sepiaria (Heens or Kantari), Anogeissus
Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, pendula (Dhok), Manilkara hexandra (Khirni),
Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal. Bauhinia recemosa ('Bidi” leaf tree) and Acacia
leucophloea (Ronj or Safed babool). Nitin et al.(2018)
(https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/508/Coladenia-
reported that Mallotus philippensi (Kumkum or Lal
indrani). As many as four species of the genus
Kamal), Bauhinia racemosa, Dalbergia latifolia (like
Coladenia Moore, (1881) are reported from the Indian
Sheesham) and Bridelia retusa (Kaji) are larval host
subregion, i.e.,Coladenia agni (de Nicéville 1884),
plants of this butterfly.
Coladenia indrani (Moore 1866), Coladenia hoenei
Evans, 1939 and Coladenia agnioides Elwes & These plant species dot the nearby forest of
Edwards 1897. The Tricolored Pied Flat, Coladenia Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve. Coladenia indrani
indrani is represented by three sub-species in India, indra is a medium-sized butterfly with a 40–46 mm

wing span. The morphological description of the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, popularly abbreviated
butterfly matched with the description of Watson as RTR is located between 25°302 to 26°212 N latitude
(1891) such as the upper side being a bright golden- and 75°512 to 77°122 E longitude, spreading on an
yellow, forewing with a discal series of four semi- area of about 1700 sq. km at an average altitude of
transparent black-bordered spots, a well-defined black 350m above MSL. RTR spreads in the Sawai
spot beneath the cell near the base; exterior margin and Madhopur, Karauli, Bundi and Tonk districts of
cilia blackish, the latter white at the posterior angle; Rajasthan, India. This reserve consists of three
hind wing with a semi-circular sub-marginal series of protected areas viz., Ranthambhore National Park,
black spots and two similar inner discal spots; exterior Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary in the north and Sawai
margin black; cilia alternate black and white. Thorax, Mansingh Wildlife Sanctuary in the southern side.
body and legs yellow; Antennae yellow, tip black; hind Parts of Bundi district are also included in the buffer
wings and body covered with long modified setae zone of the tiger project area. The Banas and Chambal
(hairs). rivers are important features of the reserve. Physio-
graphically, RTR is located over the northern
On July 17, 2020 at about 7.30 am on our next survey
extension of the great Vindhyan Plateau and older rock
in a pasture land in the same area, we observed another
y stem of the Aravallis. The meeting zone of two
beautiful butterfly resting on the ground. It was a small
mountain chains makes the “Great Boundary Fault”
sized butterfly identified as the Desert Spotted Small
here (Singh & Srivastava 2007). This zone is also
Flat (Sarangesa purendra sati).
unique in its location as it is confined to the transition
Sarangesa purendra Moore 1882 (Spotted Small Flat) zone between the desert and Central Indian highlands
is a small butterfly, 25-35 mm in size. As per Kehimkar (Rodgers & Panwar 1988).
(2016), the butterfly is distributed in Gujrat
The Edaphic climax of Anogeissus pendula is
(Kachchh), Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and
prominently seen over the gentle slopes of the
Uttarakhand in India. A citizen science-based group
Aravallis and Vindhyas and the flat open terrain
reported its presence from Goa, Gujarat, Haryana,
between the hills. The Acacia catechu forests are also
Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya
prominently visible on the flat terrain with extremely
Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
poor and calcarious soil conditions. Open areas have
(https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/673/Sarangesa
been occupied by the grasslands with sparse growth of
purendra).
trees and bushes. The forests of RTR are '5B –
The four subspecies of Sarangesa purendra Northern tropical dry-deciduous' and '6B - Thorny
Moore,1882 (Spotted Small Flat) in India are S. forests' types (Champion & Seth 1968). A large
purendra purendra Moore, 1882 in West Himalayan number of water reservoirs, tanks criss –cross the
spotted small flat, S. purendra pandra Evans, 1949 in landscape. A network of streams and nallas are also
hill spotted small flat, S. purendra sati de Nicéville, present in the reserve. Rajasthan is rich in butterfly
1891 in the desert spotted small flat and S. purendra fauna. Various aspects of butterflies have been studied
hopkinsi Evans, 1921 in Dakhan spotted small flat. by many workers like McCann (1943), Larsen (1988) ,
Palot and Soniya (2000), Jafer and Soniya (2001),
The butterfly seen by us matches with Moore's
Rathore (2004), Trigunayat (1998,2008), Trigunayat
description (1882) such as the upper side of the
et al. (2008), Trigunayat and Saxena (2009), Sharma
butterfly is brownish gray with paler mottled
(2014) and Sundar et al. (2020). None of the above
markings. Forewing with a semi-diaphanous white
have reported Coladenia indrani indra and Sarangesa
continuous streak across the cell near its end, a
purendra sati from Rajasthan. Since both are new
continuous small spot above it, three small conjoined
records for the state, they are worth placing on record.
spots before the apex, and three on the disk, the middle
discal spot large and quadrate. Cilia alternated with References
grey. Hind wing with a small whitish spot in middle of
1. Champion, H. G. & Seth S. K. 1968.A Revised
the cell. In the sub-species Sarangesa purendra sati de
Survey of the Forest Types of India. Manager of
Nicéville, 1891 (Desert Spotted Small Flat) the
Publications, Government of India, New Delhi,
margins are prominent, with the exterior margin
India.
alternate brown and white. The feeding of the larval
stage of the Sarangesa purendra has been reported on 2. Dhakad, M., D. Khandal, D.A. Paranjpe, I. Dhar,
the leaves of Lepidagathis keralensis in Kerala M. Saini, and Y.K.Sahu. 2020. Challenges
(https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/673/Sarangesa- presented by pilgrimage sites and their impact on
purendra). Lepidagathis cristata and L. hamiltoniana ecology of protected areas: a case study of
commonly growing in and around Ranthambhore Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan. Indian
Tiger Reserve are possibly hosts for Sarangesa Forester 146 (5): 429-339, 2020 DOI:
purendra sati in the study area (Singh & Shrivastava 10.36808/if/2020/v146i5/147545.
2007).
3. Khandal & Sharma, Editor-Director 2004. 13. Trigunyat, M.M. and N. Saxena. 2009. A
Conservation Area Series No. 19:1- 135 (5 Plates) preliminary report on the butterflies of Dholpur
(Published by the Director, Zoological Survey of distt. Rajasthan. Bionjes11(2):65-66.
India, Kolkata.
14. Trigunyat, M.M. 2008. Butterflies in Rajasthan;
4. Jofer, M. & V.P. Soniya. 2001. Additions to the India In: A. Verma (Ed.), Conserving Biodiversity
butterflies of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, of Rajasthan, 156-164.
Rajasthan, India. Zoos' Print Journal 16(9):528.
15. Varshney, R.K. & P. Smetacek (Eds.). 2015. A
5. Kehimkar, I. 2016. Butterflies of India. Bombay Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India.
Natural History Society, Mumbai.xii+528 pp. Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal. Indinov
Larsen, T.B.1988. The Indian Fritillary (Argyreus Publishing, New Delhi, ii+261pp+8pls.
by perbius L.) in the Chambal area of Madhya
16. Watson, E. Y. 1891. Hesperiidae indicae: being a
Pradesh and Rajasthan (Lepitoptera:
reprint of descriptions of the Hesperiidae of India,
Nymphalidae). Journal of Bombay Natural
Burma, and Ceylon. Madras: Vest and Company,
History Society 85(1):221-22.
p. 118.
6. Mc Cann, C. 1943. The rains come to the Abu
Hills. Journal of Bombay Natural History Society
43:641-47. Butterfly Collections
7. Moore, F. 1882. A catalogue of the lepidopterous
insects in the museum of the Hon. East-India
in India
Company, London: Proceedings of the Royal Approximately 70% of the total of around 1300
Society of London. species of Indian butterflies is represented, and
8. Nitin, R., V. C. Balakrishnan, P. V. Churi, S. perhaps 40% of an estimated 10,000 species of
Kalesh, S. Prakash, and K. Kunte. 2018. Larval moths is represented.
host plants of the butterflies of the Western Ghats,
I n d i a . J o u r n a l o f T h r e a t e n e d Ta x a The relatively high percentage of butterflies
10:11495–11550. represented is largely in the National Forest
9. Palot, M.J. & V. P. Soniya. 2000. Preliminary Insect Collection, which contains approximately
report on the butterflies of Keoladeo National 3800 species of Lepidoptera, while the National
Park, Bharatpur. Zoos Print Journal 15(6):287- Agricultural Insect Collection has 3302 species,
288. Ranthambhore Tiger Conservation Plan. mainly moths. The Bombay Natural History
2015. Unpublished Document. Ranthambhore Society Collection houses around 1500 species
Forest Department.
of Lepidoptera, half of them butterflies.
10. Rodgers, W. A. & H. S. Panwar. 1988. Planning
wildlife protected area network in India, Vol. II,
State summaries. A report prepared for the
Department of Environment, Forests and
Wildlife, Government of India, at Wildlife
Ranthambhore
Institute of India. pp. 217-230. Sharma, G. 2014. Host plants of Ranthambhore
Studies on Odonata and Lepidoptera fauna of Butterflies are published
foothills of Aravalli Range, Rajasthan. Record on pages 21 and 22
Zoological Survey of India. Occ. Paper no. 353:1-
104.ZSI, Kolkata.
11. Singh V. and A. K. Shrivastava. 2007.
Biodiversity of Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve,
Rajasthan. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur. ISBN:
81-7233-492-3. pp 1-450.
12. Sundar, K.S.G., S. Kittur, V.K. Kdi & U.
Prajapati. 2020. Range extension of the Lilac
Silverline, Apharitislila cinusto Southern
Rajasthan. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(9):
16180-16182. https:// doi.org/10.11609/
jott.5800.12.9.1618-16182.

S. NO. COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HOST PLANT
1 Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Aristolochia indica, A. bracteolata, A. tagala
2 Common Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Citrus medica, Limonia crenulata
3 Common Mormon Papilio polytes Murraya koenigii, Citrus medica, Aegle marmelos
4 Pioneer or White Caper Belenois aurota Cadaba fruiticosa, Capparis zeylanica, C. spinosa,
Maeura ablongifolia
5 Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona Cassia spp., Bauhinia racemosa, Butea monosperma
6 Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe Cassia fistula, Senna accidentalis
7 Common Gull Cepora nerissa Cadaba fruiticosa, Capparis decidua, C. zeylanica,
Crataeva adansonii
8 Small Salmon Arab Colotis amata Salvadora spp., S. oleoides
9 Small Orange Tip Colotis etrida Capparis decidua, Salvadora persica
10 Large Salmon Arab Colotis fausta Capparis spinosa, Maerua cylindrocarpa,
Maerua oblongifolia (Capparaceae).
11 White Arab Butterfly Colotis vestalis Salvadora persica (Salvadoraceae).
12 Common jezebel Delias eucharis Dendrophthoe falcata
13 Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta Chamaecrista kleinii (Fabaceae)
14 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe Cassia fistula, C. tora, Sesbania bispinosa,
Pithecolobium dulce
15 Spotless Grass Yellow Eurema laeta Cassia fistula, Chamaecrista pumila (Fabaceae)
16 Psyche Leptosia nina Capparis spinosa, Capparis rheedi
17 Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus Calotropis gigantea, C. procera, Asclepias curassavica
18 Striped Tiger Danaus genutia Ceropegia spp., Cynanchum Spp.
19 Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Wattakaka volubilis, Tylophora indica, Asclepias spp.
20 Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda Oryza sativa, grasses like Panius sorghum, Zea spp.
21 Dark Brand Brown Mycalesis mineus Setaria barbata (Poaceae)
22 Common Three Ring Ypthima asterope Poaceae
23 Tawny Coaster Acraea violae Aporosa lindleyana, Adenia hondala, Modecca palmate,
Passiflora spp.
24 Indian Fritillary Argyreus hyperbius Lobelia (Campanulaceae). Viola (Violaceae)
25 Spotted Joker Byblia ilithyia Tragia involucrata, Tragia plukenetii (Euphorbiaceae).
26 Painted Lady Cyanthia cardui Anchusa, Cynoglossum, Echium (Boraginaceae). Arctotis,
Artemisia, Artemisia vulgaris, Berkheya, Blumea,
Laggera alata, Carduus, Chrysanthemum, Cirsium,
Cirsium arvense, Cynara scolymus, Filago, Gnaphalium,
Helichrysum, Madia, Pentzia, Senecio, Sonchus,
Tricholepis (Compositae). Argyrolobium, Dolichos, Glycine,
Lablab purpureus, Lupinus, Phaseolus, Zornia diphylla,
Zornia gibbosa (Fabaceae). Althaea, Malva (Malvaceae).
Argemone mexicana (Papaveraceae). Boehmeria,
Debregeasia saeneb, Girardinia, Girardinia diversifolia,
Laportea, Urtica (Urticaceae).
27 Baronnet Euthalia nais Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae). Quercus incana
(Fagaceae). Shorea robusta (Dipterocarpaceae).
Diospyros exsculpta, Diospyros melanoxylon (Ebenaceae).
Grewia asiatica (Malvaceae)
28 Great Egg Fly Hypolimnas bolina Abutilon spp., Hibiscus spp., Sida rhombifolia,
Portulaca oleracea
29 Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas missippus Portulaca oleracea, Barleria cristata, Abelmoschus spp.
30 Peacock pansy Junonia almana Barleria spp., Hygrophilia auriculata
31 Grey Pansy Junonia atlites Barleria spp., Hygrophilia auriculata
32 Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta Asystasia, Barleria, Eremomastax, Hygrophila auriculata,
Hygrophila costata, Justicia, Ruellia (Acanthaceae).
Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae).
33 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Barleria spp., Hygrophilia auriculata
34 Blue Pansy Junonia orithya Justicia procumbens, J. micrantha, Lepidagathis prostrata
35 Common Leopard/Spotted RusticPhalanta phalantha Celastraceae, Gymnosporia, Gymnosporia bachmannii
(Celastraceae). Dovyalis hebecarpa, Dovyalis, Flacourtia,
Flacourtia indica, Flacourtia jangomas, Flacourtia montana,
Populus, Populus deltoids, Salix, Salix tetrasperma, Xylosma
longifolia (Salicaceae). Androsace (Primulaceae). Smilax
(Smilacaceae).
36 Lesser Three Ring Ypthima inica
37 African Babul Blue / Azanus jesous Acacia farnesiana, Acacia leucophloea (Fabaceae).
Topaz-Spotted Blue

S. NO. COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HOST PLANT
38 Dull Babul Blue Azanus uranus Acacia, Acacia catechu, Acacia farnesiana, Acacia
leucophloea, Acacia nilotica, Acacia senegal (Fabaceae).
39 Lime Blue Chilades lajus Glycosmis arborea, Citrus microcarpa, Citrus aurantifolia
40 Plains Cupid Chilades pandava Cycadaceae, Cycas, Cycas circinalis, Cycas revoluta
(Cycadaceae). Acacia, Acacia nilotica, Bauhinia divaricate,
Bauhinia vahlii, Bauhinia variegata, Butea monosperma,
Caesalpinia, Moullava spicata, Saraca asoca,
Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae). Schleichera oleosa
(Sapindaceae). Desmodium dalbergioides (Fabaceae).
41 Black-spotted Grass Jewel Freyeria putli Heliotropium strigosum, Trichodesma indicum
(Boraginaceae). Crotalaria hebecarpa, Indigofera, Indigofera
astragalina, Indigofera linnaei, Lotus corniculatus, Pisum
sativum, Rhynchosia minima, Vicia, Zornia diphylla
(Fabaceae). Oxalis corniculata (Oxalidaceae).
42 Common Cerulean Jamides celeno Abrus precatorius, Cajanus albicans, Butea monosperma,
Phaseolus adenanthus, Pongamia pinnata, Saraca asoca,
Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae). Heynea trijuga, Trichilia hirta,
Trichilia trijuga (Meliaceae). Elettaria cardamomum
(Zingiberaceae). The subspecies name, Jamides celeno
aelianus, represents infrasubspecific variation.
43 Pea Blue / Lampides boeticus Butea monosperma, Pisum sativum, Crotalaria spp.
Long-Tailed Blue
44 Zebra Blue Leptotes plinius Albizia lebbek, Indigofera spp., Plumbago zeylanica
45 Pale Grass Blue Pseudozizeeria maha Nelsonia canescens, Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae). Tephrosia
purpurea, Tephrosia subtriflora (Fabaceae).
Oxalis corniculata (Oxalidaceae). Tribulus terrestris
(Zygophyllaceae).
46 Indian Red Flash Rapala jarbus Terminalia catappa (Combretaceae). Homonoia riparia
(Euphorbiaceae). Acacia leucophloea, Desmodium
dalbergioides, Desmodium oojeinense, Xylia xylocarpa
(Fabaceae). Melastoma malabathricum, Melastoma
polyanthum (Melastomataceae). Averrhoa bilimbi
(Oxalidaceae). Ziziphus rugosa (Rhamnaceae).
Nephelium lappaceum, Schleichera oleosa (Sapindaceae).
Mimusops elengi (Sapotaceae).
47 Common Shot Silverline Spindasis ictis Senna montana, Senna siamea (Fabaceae).
48 Rounded Pierrot Tarucus extricatus Zizyphus spp.
49 Transparent Pierrot Tarucus indica Ziziphus jujuba, Ziziphus nummularia (Rhamnaceae).
50 Striped Pierrot Tarucus nara Zizyphus spp.
51 Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra Amaranthus spinosus, Amaranthus tricolor, Amaranthus
viridis (Amaranthaceae). Geissaspis cristata, Zornia diphylla,
Zornia gibbosa (Fabaceae). Oxalis corniculata
(Oxalidaceae). Polygonum plebeium (Polygonaceae).
52 lesser grass blue Zizina otis Amaranthus viridis (Amaranthaceae). Alysicarpus vaginalis,
Desmodium heterophyllum, Desmodium triflorum, Sesbania
bispinosa, Zornia diphylla, Zornia gibbosa, Zornia reticulata
(Fabaceae). Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae).
53 Rice Swift Borbo cinnara Poaceae, Andropogon, Arundo donax, Axonopus compressus,
Brachiaria mutica, Cymbopogon, Eragrostis, Ischaemum,
Oryza, Oryza sativa, Pennisetum, Phragmites karka,
Rottboellia cochinchinensis, Setaria barbata, Setaria pumila,
Stenotaphrum dimidiatum, Stenotaphrum secundatum
(Poaceae).
54 Tricolour Pied Flat Coladenia indrani indra Terminalia elliptica (Combretaceae). Mallotus philippensis
(Euphorbiaceae). Bauhinia racemosa, Dendrolobium
triangulare, Desmodium, Dalbergia latifolia, Grewia nervosa,
Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae). Kavalama urens, Talipariti
tiliaceum, Thespesia populnea, Triumfetta rhomboidea
(Malvaceae). Bridelia retusa (Phyllanthaceae).
55 Common Banded Awl Hasora chromus Pongamia pinnata, Ricinus communis, Trichilia connaroides
56 Desert Spotted Small Flat Sarangesa purendra sati Unknown
57 Dark Palm Dart Telicota bambusae Poaceae, Bambusa, Bambusa vulgaris, Bambusa tuldoides,
Ochlandra travancorica, Oryza, Saccharum (Poaceae).
58 Pale Palm Dart Telicota colon Bambusa, Bambusa vulgaris, Ochlandra travancorica, Oryza,
Phragmites karka, Saccharum (Poaceae).
59 Grass Demon Udaspes folus Fagraea racemosa (Loganiaceae). Oryza (Poaceae). Zingiberaceae,
Curcuma aromatica, Curcuma decipiens, Curcuma longa, Curcuma
pseudomontana, Hedychium coronarium, Hedychium, Zingiber,
Zingiber officinale, Zingiber zerumbet (Zingiberaceae). Liliaceae is
also reported but is doubtful.

Butterflies across Jaipur landscape
By Rahul Sharma
African Babul Blue Black-spotted Grass Jewel Blue Pansy
Blue Tiger Commom Gull Common Albatross
Like to recall, it has been a long tenure in wildlife Butterflies are acknowledged as the key-stone species
conservation for me. Having had sessions for bird in ecological cycle. They are catalysts in growth of
watching, my mind turned towards habitat protection. variety of insects, which play very useful role for
So I devised seed-ball as a worthy device, new or society. It will be no hyberbole to accept that human
different I know not. I opted for acacia plants as they existence is mainly dependent on survival of
were to stand better aiming at their associate species butterflies and moths. They play meaningful roles as:
flourishing well towards the forested and denuded *indicators of environmental health
habitats around city of Jaipur, my work field. I made an
experiment to serve as new vegetation to host White- *sustaining feed chain
naped Tit (Parus nauchali) which was being observed *vital pollinators
fairly regularly amidst the Nahgargarh Biological
Reserve, adjacent to this city. The balls turned into *controllers of bio weeds
saplings and within a few years were to be observed as *bio-indicators of pollution in human environment,
young trees. etc.
In the process, butterflies fell in to my lap. I had to race I found the Naghargarh Biological Park of utmost
up to log in the species as we decided to dedicate the diversity where about 40 species of butterflies were
24th Indian Birding Fair to this beautiful group. What identified by me. It has contrasting shades: dry
surprise that I could estimate having observed nearly deciduous forest, on decline owing to anthropogenic
60 species across the Jaipur landscape. Many of them pressures, administered by Department of forest,
happen to be common species while I understand some Rajasthan. It has rocky ridges, wooded slopes and flat
as uncommon. I am yet to fully assess difference grassland chunks, dotted mostly by thorny species of
between those which stay here round the year and vegetation, at places in excellent health though widely
which sojourn around. grazed and lopped by villagers living nearby. So an
I like to convey to people that it would be unjustified to example of human dominated forest biome. Such a
consider that butterflies are attracted by flowers only, mosaic hosts butterflies from the Nymphalidae family
as is the general belief among urbanites. All butterflies like Blue Pansy, Peacock Pansy, Danaid Eggfly,
have own larval host plants and their leaves are used to Painted Lady etc. Such species prefer to adopt
lay eggs. Their caterpillars derive feed from leaves, primarily the vegetation like Gokhru, Vajradanti and
flowers and fruits of such plants. Therefore, it is of Aak laying eggs on their leaves.
vital significance to accord priority to conservation of A butterfly in the Pieridae family, Large Salmon Arab
such plants. Glad that this issue has been highlighted prefers dry habitat and found in India in such places,
in details in this issue to educate people. has been recorded in this area. Kair and Vajradanti are

Common Banded Awl common castor common evening brown
common grass yellow common leopard common mormon male
common rose Danaid Eggfly Dark Grass Blue
its host plants. From the same family, Spotless Grass belonging to the 61 Cavalry during pre-independence
Yellow prefers Babool, Kikar, and Amaltras trees. days and finally got transferred to the Forest
Kair appears to be the favourite plant for others from Department. A prolific nursery is run there and citizens
the same family like Pioneer, Common Gull, White enjoy morning walks in this large and densely wooded
Orange Tip, Little Orange Tip, etc. Considered as the area, well conserved as I will like to opine. Owing to its
smallest in size among the Indian butterflies, Black- botanical diversity, it has the potential to be described
spotted Grass Jewel (1.5 cm – 2 cm) has also been as an ideal butterfly park but wonder why the
observed here. authorities seldom thought about it – it is noted for
Papilionidae family's butterflies, identified due to their
My next exploration has been in the Jhalana forest,
attractive colours. Common Rose and Tailed Jay can
located South-East of city of Jaipur. It is part of the age
be spotted any time of the day. The mud-flats play host
old Jhalana forest, of late getting famous for leopard
to several species, a micro habitat they much need.
breeding and sightings. It has been named as Karpur
Chandra Kulish Memorial Park, who happened to be Like to pay attention to road-side plantation and
founder of the popular daily, Rajasthan Patrika, owing shrubs dotting road-dividers. Ashok, Champa,
to his passion for conservation advocacy. Nearly 40 Kaner, Karanj, Sheesham, Amaltas, etc are
species have been noted by me across this well proliferating around such densely citizen-visited
wooded habitat, some not found elsewhere in and areas. They have their share of butterflies. It is for
around the city. The white coloured Common citizens to pay attention and civic authorities to put up
Albatross is a noted species here, breeding on Barna display boards conveying about the species found
tree. Common Cabbage White, Indian Jezebel, and therein. I consider them as primary feeders. Common
Common Castor are in good numbers. The fast flying Grass Yellow has been found laying eggs over the
Indian Palm Bob and Small Branded Swift are in Amaltas tree to be better observed during August-
abundance. Nectar is available in plenty for them September months.
across the ornamental vegetation caused around the
main gate.
Jaipur's Host Plants
The Grass Farm Nursery towards West of the city Larval Host plants list is
happens to be the most advantageous habitat for published on page 26
butterflies. It used to be a fodder storage for ponies

Gram Blue Large Cabbage White Large Salmon Arab
Lemon Pansy Little Orange Tip Mottled Emigrant
Painted Lady Peacock Pansy Pioneer White
Plain Tiger Small Branded Swift Small Cupid
Spotless Grass Yellow Striped Pierrot Tailed Jay
White Orange Tip Yellow Pansy (male) Zebra Blue

S.No. Common Name Scientific Name Larval Host Plant
Family : Hesperiidae
1 Common Banded Awl Hasora chromus Castor Oil Plant, Pongimia pinnata
2 Small Branded Swift Pelopidas mathias Buffalo Grass, Para Grass
3 Indian Palm Bob Suastus gremius Palm Tree
Family : Pieridae
4 Common Emigrant Catopsillia pomono Butea monosperma, Cassia fistula
5 Mottled Emigrant Catopsillia pyranthe Cassia fistula, Cassia javanica
6 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe Acacia family and Cassia fistula
7 Spotless Grass Yellow Eurema laeta Cassia fistula
8 Large Salmon Arab Colotis fausta Salvadora persica and Capparis decidua
9 Small Salmon Arab Colotis amata Salvadora persica and Salvadora oleoidis
10 Common Gull Cepora nerissa Capparis decidua
11 Pioneer Belenois aurota Capparis deciduas and Caparis brevispina
12 Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Butea monosperma
13 Little Orange Tip Colotis aurora Salvadora persica and Indian cadaba
14 White Orange Tip Colotis etrida Capparis deciduas and Capparis grandis
15 Common Albatross Appias albina Crateva religiosa
16 Common Castor Ariadne merione Castor oil plant
17 Large Cabbage White Pieris brassicae Cabbage
Family : Papilionidae
18 Common Mormon Papilo polytes Citrus plant and Lime tree
19 Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon White champaca and Saraca asoca
20 Common Jay Graphium doson White champaca and Saraca asoca
21 Common Lime Papilo demoleus Citrus sp. Lemon, amla, etc.
22 Common Rose Pachliopta aris tolochiae Aritolochia acuminate and Indian birthwort
Family : Lycaenidae
23 Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Acacia family and Butea Monosperma
24 Small Cupid Chilades parrhasius Acacia nilotica
25 Plains Cupid Luthrodes pandavas Butea monoseprma
26 Lime Blue Chilades laius Citrus, lime
27 Pale Grass Blue Psuedozizeeri maha Oxalis corniculata
28 Dark Grass Blue Zizeeri karsandra Tribulus terrestris
29 Forget-Me-Not Catochrysops starbo Pongamia pinnata
30 Zebra Blue Lampidas plinius Albizia lebbeck
31 Bright Babul Blue Azanus ubaldus Acacia nilotica and Acacia leucophloea
32 African Babul Blue Azanus jesous Acacia leucophloea
33 Indian Red Flash Rapala iarbus Ziziphus mauritiana
34 Black Spotted Grass Jewel Freyeria putli Indigofera linnaei, Oxalis connicalata and Tridex daisy
35 Striped Pierrot Tarucus nara Ziziphus sp.
Family : Nymphalidae
36 Blue Pansy Junonia orithya Barleria prionitis
37 Peacock Pansy Junonia almanac Barleria acuminata
38 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Barleria acuminata and Barleria critati
39 Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta Barleria critati
40 Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda Bambusa
41 Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus Milkweed or Vajradanti
42 Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina Calotropis gigantea
43 Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus Giant milk weed
44 Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Giant milk weed
45 Tawny Coaster Acraea terpsicora Passiflora foitida (?)
46 Striped Tiger/Common Tiger Danaus genutia Lantana Camara
47 Common Crow Euploea core Nerium oleander and Carissa carandas
48 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Cirsium, carduus crsipus and Echinops echinatus
49 Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha Flacourtia indica

Butterfly watching as
common as bird watching
By Durga Lal Verma
Striped Tiger (Danaus genutia) Oriental Great Eggfly
My hobby is bird watching and lots of people do this at is of immense benefit. Once you spot a butterfly, keep
lots of places. We travel all around Jaipur trying to see distance, focus and click it. The species gives you
and photograph them. Birds are easy to find. Because enough time to trap in camera.
of size, they can be spotted well, some are large, easier
It is like two in one. When one is in the field for bird
to observe and one can sit for longer time to enjoy
watching and photographing them, one can easily
them. We can follow them with their sound to adjudge
come across butterflies as well. It may also be possible
which species it was.
to get a rare species. Butterflies and birds share the
At the same time we can also observe the most same habitat. I am basically a passionate nature
beautiful creature, butterflies. They move fast. They photographer. So I can realize that observing lot of
are tiny. So they pose greater challenges. butterflies in the field would indicate that there should
be lots of birds species as well.
Like birds, butterflies have individual markings for
male, female, and juvenile. Mostly they have no sound We need to assess if there is decline in number of
to follow them. It is very easy to identify them. They butterflies in a particular environment/habitat. I
have different colors and spots on their wings. ardently believe that like bird number declining, the
Photographing butterflies is easy. Having a zoom lens butterflies also face threat to their survival. Are some
butterfly species getting threatened? Their numbers
declining? Not much knowledge is available in this
regard. Therefore our effort to dedicate 24th Indian
Birding Fair to Butterfly Conservation is most
appropriate way to pay attention to these species
which serve very useful purpose in human society.
Naming Butterflies
The process of naming the Lepidoptera is based on
specimens. From the time that Linnaeus (1758)
described the very first butterflies using the
binomial system, pinned Lepidoptera have
formed the basis of the science. The Linnaean
collection of butterflies is in the custody of the
Linnaean Society in London.
Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)

WWF-India's publication on butterflies of New Delhi.
STATE OF INDIA'S ENVIRONMENT 2021

Did you know that the world is completely ignorant of Industry, Waste, Habitat, Water, Air Pollution,
99.9 per cent of the potential zoonotic viruses, despite Renewable Energy and Rural Development, besides a
the mounting threat and growing comprehensive data-based
cases of debilitating pandemics analysis of how India's states are
like Covid-19? Did you know faring on sustainable
that India is ranked development goals.
117 among 192 nations with The publication was released on
respect to sustainable 25 February 2021 through an
development - behind all South online launch event by
Asian nations except Pakistan? environmental and civil society
Or that 160 species have gone activists, writers, thinkers,
extinct over the last decade journalists and academics from
(2009-2019)? across the country. The initiative
caused a flutter among decision
India's most credible yearly
makers when its first edition was
survey of the environment is
launched during 80s by Anil
here, once again.
Agrawal, founder of CSE
State of India's Environment (Centre for Science and
2021, a Down To Earth annual Environment). Sunita Narain has
publication, brings you all this been carrying forward the
and more. With subjects ranging conservation tradition in an
from Forest, Climate Change, admirable way as the Director
COVID and Biodiversity to General of CSE.
Butterflies – Schmetterlinge
By Ingo Amdt
Ingo Arndt with his camera and the object, introduced, by Peter Liekfeld, a noted author in Germany and our friend
With nearly 160,000 described Claus-Peter Lieckfeld [email protected]

species, butterflies represent the
second largest order of insects, after Sun 2/7/2021 5:24 PM
beetles, and are among the most To You
popular figures in the animal
kingdom due to their fragile beauty. Dear Harsh
This is common knowledge. Veronika (my wife) and I are about to write on butterflies. Yes, that`s true.
But hardly a soul is aware of the fact The book will be based on an exhibition of a highly decorated
that these species include photographer - Ingo Arndt. As he lives on publishing his photos, he
endurance athletes, drunkards, probably will not be inclined to give them away for free.
impostors, divers, and even Good to hear that tigers are still on your mind and that protection is not
“speaking” butterflies. And all of totally in vain.
them fluttering around right on your
doorstep! Herzliche Gruesse, Claus-Peter
Ingo Amdt's exhibition sheds light
on these mysteries and many other
secrets from the world of
butterflies. Claus-Peter Lieckfeld,
a renowned author in Germany, has
scripted the text of a book on the
topic. He is assisted by his scientist
wife, Veronica in this task.
Ingo is based in Germany. He is one
of the top ten wildlife
photographers in the world.
Schmetterlinge

Desert National Park: Book Launch
(R to L): Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj, Ms. Shruti Sharma, Ms. Shreya Guha, Mr. M.L. Meena, and Dr. Asad R. Rahmani, depicting the book, Desert National Park at a
house-full gathering of wildlife experts at Forestry and Wildlife Training Institute in Jaipur on 3 February 2021.
It has taken nearly ten years for Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj to Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board.
accomplish his long cherished desire to do a book on
Dr. Asad R. Rahmani joined him as co-author to
Desert National Park, he served long ago to be
contribute his 35 year long encounters with wild
bemused by this habitat of big name yet full of
species in this park while he single-handedly followed
bewildering contrasts. He is famed for his scientific
Great Indian Bustard conservation for the Bombay
bent, species specialization, identification,
Natural History Society, lastly as its Director.
photography and writing, an assignment he executes
with impulsive pursuits. Beset with facilities, he is The formal launch was done by Ms. Shreya Guha,
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest in Principal Secretary for Forest & Environment,
Rajasthan and presently posted as Secretary at the Government of Rajasthan. She commended this effort
Advocacy being made to create Desert National Park on 2 November 1980 at International Symposium on Bustards at Jaipur by (left to right) Dr. Salim Ali,
R.S. Dharmakumarsinhji, and Harsh Vardhan. Sitting behind is Arun Sen, then Assistant Conservator of Forest, Alwar. Photo from TWSI archives.

and smilingly remarked -- rare to The book is a candid portrayal of
release a book done by own stark realities of this more than
batch-mate! She admitted that it 3,000 sq. km habitat: a significant
had been a major challenge to centre of endemism, national
conserve Great Indian Bustard in park in name only, in fact a
that habitat criss crossed by sanctuary, 99% of its area is
power lines causing fatal revenue land dotted by 73
accidents to these birds. The villages and 300 'dhanis' (hut-
power companies, at long last, settlements) totaling nearly a
agreed to put reflectors over tenth of a million population, yet
power lines so that birds can show casing an amazing species
adjudge the danger while flying, a diversity, pointing out percentage
positive development as it has distribution of wild flora,
been. However, laying power Imperial Sandgrouse (Black-
lines underground still hangs in bellied) not been reported for
balance, she bemoaned. some years, area getting eroded
by habitat destruction and
Ms. Shruti Sharma, Principal
ineffective protection measures,
Chief Conservator of Forest and
poaching being rampant despite
HOFF, Rajasthan, congratulated
consistent denial of the
D r. B h a r d w a j f o r t h i s
allegations by the local
accomplishment and said it was The poacher photographed holding Great Indian Bustards
authorities, etc.
an honour to all forest personnel. in both hands. He was arrested on basis of the photo by
Mr. M.L. Meena, Chief Wildlife Forest authorities in Jaisalmer and a case instituted in
court of law. What next? Dr. G.S. Bhardwaj states well
Photography outwits text or vice
Warden and Principal Chief about the case in his book on Desert National Park, the versa? Not easy to raise a question
review is carried on page 30 and 31
Conservator of Forest, Rajasthan, mark, it is delight to eyes and
shared his experiences of this Park. Dr. Bhardwaj solace to mind. Truth spelt out without apprehension.
show cased stunning photos of wild species he Critical to core. The author has been part of the
photographed and explained about their status, Wildlife Institute of India led exemplary experiment
precarious or encouraging. He caused almost a for ex situ breeding of Great Indian Bustard. Yet
typhoon of images to weave a conservation tapestry of barring single photo (not clear on page 114) he has
this habitat hosting some rare species vis a vis maintained a Sphinx-like silence over this success,
demographic pressures. claimed as global accomplishment through
Department of Forest, Rajasthan. When it comes to
The 118-page book is sponsored by Hem Chand
annexing marks, he tries to remain low profile and may
Mahindra Foundation and printed by The Corbett
even quit the scene. The book shall remain as a record
Foundation with messages from Mr. Ashok Mahindra
for this desert home for wildlife and people alike, both
(HCMF) and Mr. Dilip K. Khatau (TCF) with
highlighted with amplified zeal.
Foreword by Mr. Ravi Singh, CEO of WWF - India.
Meeting with BNHS Director in Jaipur on 3 February 2021 in which TWSI Volunteers discussed a number of aspects of bird conservation in which BNHS plays a
lead role and needs to spread out all over India. Photo shows (left to right) Durga Lal Verma, Nishant Nath Shukla, Pranav Trivedi, Dr. Bivesh Pandav
(Director at BNHS), Rahul Sharma, Harsh Vardhan, Arti Yadav and Govind Yadav.

Keoladeo Park to get water from Chambal River
Kailash Sankhala Memorial Park at Jodhpur
Looks like a new dawn for Keoladeo National Park as nearby Ranthambhore
Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gahlot declared in Tiger Reserve. Tigers
his 2021-22 budget speech (24 February 2021): Rs are breeding there
570-crore sanctioned to lay down a (dedicated) pipe better than humans.
line to draw water for this park from the Chambal Similar decisions had
River. This wetland of great international significance been taken by previous
will be developed as a “Wetland Bird Habitat Governments to
Conservation Centre”, he remarked. upgrade facilities at this
river in Sawai
The Park has been reeling under recurring droughts
Madhopur region. Sad
and often faces total scarcity of water for past two
to say, they did not
decades owing to stoppage of flowing water release to
mature – forest
it, by the same Government that is presently headed by
department's lack of
Ashok Gahlot. Good that this political leader has
dedicated attention at
realized real worth of this habitat and demonstrated his
river front.
will to favour conservation. Congratulations, Ashok.
Kailash Sankhala at Jogi Mahal in
Kailash Sankhala: Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve in 1973,
Tal Chhapar: His speech carried a few likewise
The person who has while he served as Director of Project
decisions, off beat as they appeared for a thorough Tiger in India. Photo by Harsh Vardhan.
been hailed as pioneer
bred politician. Tal Chhapar sanctuary, only about 7
for Tiger Project has been ideally eulogized by this
sq. km arid grass land habitat, will be designated also
Chief Minister. A new Urban Green Park will be
as a new Management Centre for Wildlife
created at forest land about 12 km outside city of
Conservation. Basically housing wild flocks of
Jodhpur and will be designated as Padma Shree
Blackbuck antelope, it logs in some rare birds annually
Kailash Sankhala memorial Nature Park. Yoga,
and is a roosting site for migrating Harriers. Great
walking trail and other facilities will be introduced for
Indian Bustard was photographed by Anand Arya
people to remember this conservationist's deeds and
here. He is a champion of bird conservation and
derive inspiration from him. He was born at Jodhpur
resides near New Delhi.
and fought tooth and nail to defend Tigers all through
Gavial: Gavial has received attention of Ashok. He his career as forest officer. To be seen as to who shall
decided to enlarge tourism facilities along the visualize and execute this novel concept as forest
Chambal River near Sawai Madhopur. Looks like authorities have not displayed thinking out of box so
offering other attractions for tourists who throng far in this state.
Edited and published by Harsh Vardhan, Hony. Secretary, Tourism & Wildlife Society of India (TWSI)
C 158A. Dayanand Marg, Tilak Nagar, Jaipur 302 004, India (assisted by Govind Yadav, Nishant Shukla and Summit Bari),
Tel. : (00 91 141) 3561057, Email: [email protected], www.birdfair.org & www.econservationtimes.com
Design and layout by Manish Sharma and printed by It’s A Design Studio, Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur; Email : [email protected]

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Indian butterﬂy and moth part of the Wynter-Blyth

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often than not, the

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Common Grass Yellow butterﬂy feeding on Tridax Common Tiger on Tridax

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Adonis Blue Peacock Marbled White

Silver-spotted Skipper Red Admiral Chalkhill Blue

Peacock Butterﬂy sunning itself and a cluster of them hibernating in an attic

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Garden of live Butterﬂies

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Asola Butterﬂy Park in New Delhi

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Dome-shaped butterﬂies. There is an exhibit of carefully preserved

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African Babul Blue Black-spotted Grass Jewel Blue Pansy

Blue Tiger Commom Gull Common Albatross

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common grass yellow common leopard common mormon male

common rose Danaid Eggﬂy Dark Grass Blue

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Lemon Pansy Little Orange Tip Mottled Emigrant

Painted Lady Peacock Pansy Pioneer White

Plain Tiger Small Branded Swift Small Cupid

Spotless Grass Yellow Striped Pierrot Tailed Jay

White Orange Tip Yellow Pansy (male) Zebra Blue

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Striped Tiger (Danaus genutia) Oriental Great Eggﬂy

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STATE OF INDIA'S ENVIRONMENT 2021

With nearly 160,000 described Claus-Peter Lieckfeld [email protected]

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