In a recent survey conducted in the Kerala’s Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS), rich stock of butterflies were reported.
- During the survey,191 species of butterflies, 12 of which are endemic to the biodiversity-rich region.
- Silver forget me not, Common three ring and Brown onyx were also recorded first time.
- The sighting of Silver forget me not was reported only from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki district of Kerala.
- The three-day survey was done jointly by the Forest and Wildlife Department in association with Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS).
Four forest ranges
- The survey was conducted in all the four forest ranges under the sanctuary, including Muthanga, Tholpetty, Kurichyad and Sulthan Bathery forest ranges, simultaneously.
Plant speceis
- According to the researches, associated with the survey, the diversity of butterflies was very low in the forest areas where the alien invasive plant like Senna spectabilis invades other endemic plants, whereas the diversity was very rich in areas where plants like Mikania micrantha and Lantana camera remained dominant.
- 60 species of Nymphalidae; 49 Lycanidae; 45 Hesperidae; 21 Pieridae; 14 Papplionedae and 2 species of Riodinidae were reported.
