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Participation in Larsen Memorial Butterfly Survey (The Nilgiris)
In October 2018, in The Nilgiris district of Tamil nadu, a district-wide butterfly survey, conducted by the Wynter-Blyth Associa-
tion, along with the Forest Department, was conducted between 11th and 14th October. This will be the first time in 30 years
that the Forest Department will be involved in the survey of butterflies, said Mr. Sumesh Soman, DFO. The survey will be done
across the Nilgiris in differing types of forest and vegetation along the southern slopes, including parts of Coonoor, Kotagiri,
Udhagamandalam and Manjoor. (Source: The Hindu Newspaper dated Oct 12, 2018)
With 15 base camps identified in the Nilgiris, the exercise covered all elevations and habitats in the hill district. During the sur-
vey, 198 species of butterflies among which three new species were identified. The new species are Pale Green Awlet, Extra
Lascar and Many Tailed Oak Blue, while Sitala Ace (Thoressa sitala sitala) has been rediscovered in the Nilgiris after many dec-
ades of absence, according to Sumesh Soman. ( Source: Times of India Newspaper dated Oct15, 2018 )
Team Coonoor
Team Members: Dr. Pratapan, Mr. Manoj & Mr. Nishanth C.V
Places: Katteri Park to Runny Medu & Marappalam
Habitat: Coffee Plantation Degraded Forest
Forest Officials: Mr. Periyasamy (Forest Ranger), Mr. Ram Kumar
(Forest Guard)
Wynter Blyth Association in association with many NGO’s and Tamil
Nadu Forest Department conducted Larsen Memorial Survey on
butterflies from 11.10.2018 to 14.10.2018. This survey was conduct-
ed after 30 years. I was so honoured to participate in the survey. We
reached our forest guest house at coonoor on 11.10.2018 by 08.30
PM. Next day we started our survey at 8.30 AM along with the for-
est officials. Our transact line was from Katteri park to Runny medu
and we walked along the railway track, as there was not much of
activity. We returned to our base camp by afternoon with 18 spe-
cies. On 13.10.2018 we went to marappalam which is surrounded by
coffee plantation and some patches of degraded forest. The activity
was pretty good when compare to the first day as there was lot of
host and nectar plants. It was a great learning for me as my team
members were teaching about the host plants. The day was ended
up with 26 species. The commonest species on our area were Red
Helen, Blue Mormon, Common Four-ring, Common Grass Yellow,
Rustic and Common Sailer.
PATTAMPOOCHI
A TNBS MAGAZINE
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