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Butterflies of Coimbatore Wetlands– A 5 Years Study
Results & Discussion
For the convenience of the current discussion, we have se-
lected key wetlands of about 13. The wetlands in the core
city area are not anymore supporting the agricultural acti-
vated as that of the wetlands situated slightly away from
core city areas. We have for the convenience grouped these
into Eastern complex of wetlands and Western complex of
Wetlands. The Eastern complex of wetlands include
Singanallur, Ravuthar Road, Pallapalayam, Kannampalayam,
Sulur, Achankulam & Kalapatti. The Western complex of
wetlands include Vedapatti, Kolarampathy, Perur, Senku-
lam, Ukkadam and Ukkulam
93
A total of 93 species from 5 out of 6 families of butterflies
have been recorded in the wetlands. This total, 93, is con-
sidered significant considering the total species occurrence
of 324 for the state. Species from Nymphalidae family (29)
and Lycaenidae (26) have dominated the occurrence while
Pieridae family is well represented with 20 out of 32 species
occurring on these wetlands. Hesperiidae and Papilionidae
are represented on a lower side with 11 and 7 respectively.
Papilionidae family, called Swallowtails, are represented
only by commonly seen 6 species and they include Common
Rose and Crimson Rose, Common and Blue Mormons, Lime
Butterfly and Tailed Jay. The 7th being a surprise Red Helen
Special mention need to be made with respect to Pieridae
species, called Whites and Yellows, as these species are tru-
ly dominating the wetlands by numbers and one would al-
ways find more than a few of them. Species from these in-
clude Common Gull, Pioneer, Albatrosses, Salmon Arabs,
Orange-tips, Grass Yellows and Emigrants. Large Salmon
Arab and Striped Albatross are species to note.
Nymphalidae, which represented the most number of spe-
cies, was represented by Castors, Costers, Tigers, Crows,
Jokers, Pansies and Eggflies. Special sightings include a
Tailed Palmfly and other species to note were Sailers, Black
Rajahs, Bushbrowns and Evening Browns
Lycaenidae, was again represented well with Grass Blues,
Silverlines, Lineblues, Zebra Blue, Grass Jewels, Pierrots, Pea
Blues, Forget-me-nots, and Gram Blues. Special sightings
include Red Flash, Cornelian, Redspot, Guava Blue, Acacia
Blue and Peacock Royal.
Hesperiidae, called Skippers, are represented by 11 species
that include the most dominant of them, the African Mar-
bled Skipper, and species like Rice Swifts, Branded Swifts,
Indian Skipper, Pale Pam Dart and Dart sp. Special sightings
include a Bush Hopper.
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
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