1
A Repeat Survey of KWLS
Detailed Observation- Butterflies
On an overall count, 122 species of butterflies from 5 families were recorded during the survey comprising all ranges,
habitation and elevation
Falling on the period of peak summer, during April, this number is considered good. We can also keep it in mind that
there were sporadic rains during march and April, the summer rains especially. This could have helped the cause of
butterflies. While, the non-survey ranges probably contributed to the drop in overall ranges, all the ranges surveyed
now showed an increase in count compared to August 2017 survey. Devadhanapatti Range seems to be the hotspot.
Good number of common species and count is observed from low to medium elevation ranges, while certain rarities
showed up on the mid-elevation and the higher elevation returned specialities of their range. A few groups of
butterflies were however seen missing in total or in numbers in various locations.
Nymphalidae dominated the species count, followed by Lycaenidae and Pieridae (mainly due to species count from low-
er elevations) and joined by Hesperiidae and Papilionidae.
Most dominating species are Common Bluebottle, Blue Mormon, Dingy Scrub Hopper, Nilgiri Tiger and Nilgiri Clouded
Yellow in the lower and upper hills of higher elevation places.
Papilionidae: 11 out of 19 swallowtails were recorded with all butterflies with common name of Malabar missing. The
higher elevation saw plenty of Southern Bluebottle, Red Helen, and Blue Mormon. Surprisingly commonly seen
Swallowtails were missing in the higher elevation while lower and middle saw all the dominant swallowtails includ-
ing the Jays and Bluebottles, Roses (Common & Crimson) and the Common Mormons. Good sightings include Com-
mon Mime and Common Banded Peacock
Pieridae: 20 out of 32 Pieridae species were recorded which is a good species count thanks to the lower elevations
where tips and albatross dominated. On the higher elevation, Nilgiri Clouded Yellow, Indian Cabbage White were
the two species recorded easily while Grass Yellows- Common and Small and Emigrants are hard to find by. The low-
er elevation accounted for most of the other species and this is understandable since the habitation of Pieridae is
well found on the lower elevation. Species to miss out include Arabs, White Orange-tip and Lesser Gulls from the
last survey. Species like Painted Sawtooth and Puffins and Chocolate Albatross along with Nilgiri Clouded Yellow are
yet to be sighted within the sanctuary.
Nymphalidae: 45 out of 96 are recorded from this family, which is most dominant among other species. Beaks, Tigers,
Crows, Bushbrowns, Treebrowns and Evening browns, Rings, Pansies, Sailers are all well represented. Nilgiri Tigers,
Palni Fritillaries were the dominant in the higher elevation while the other species were fairly commonly seen in the
other elevations. Rarities and good sighting include Nilgiri Tiger, Red-disc Bushbrown (another dominant species),
Blackvein Sergeant, Cruiser, Map butterfly, Tawny Rajah, Nilgiri Four-ring, Painted Courtesan, Common Map, Black
Prince, Indian Red Admiral and Blue Admiral
Lycaenidae: Although Blues were the second dominant family after Nymphalidae, the species count was low at 33
against the target of 94 species. The Grass Blues were seen in good numbers in the lower as well as in higher (to a
lesser degree). Only the commonly seen Lineblues- Common and Tailless were seen, with just one Nacaduba occur-
ring at Devadhanapatti. Hedge Blues- especially White and White-disc were commonly seen in the higher elevation
while Common in the other elevation. Good and rare sightings include Yamfly, Leafblue, Silverstreak Blue and
Opaque Six-Lineblue.
Riodinidae: There are 2 species in this family- Plum Judy and Double-banded Judy and they are not sighted during the
survey period.
Hesperiidae: Because of their nature, usually active in the early morning and evenings, these are difficult to sight usually.
During the survey, only 13 of 83 species were sighted. Dingy Scrub Hopper was abundant everywhere on the higher
elevation, literally. Flats and Awls were reasonably represented, so too some of the swifts and darts. Important
sightings include Orange-striped Awlet and Orange Awlet at the lower elevation
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
WINGS 2 VEINS 3
7