Butterflies are the most attractive creatures of insect
world. Butterfly watching is one of the popular hobbies in the world. Being the
colourful insects, they catch the attention of the people easily by their
glowing colours and their movement patterns. Their size varies from species to
species from a few mm to more than 150mm. In India there are about 1500 species
of butterflies.
To say a few words about the campus in Burnihat, lies in jurisdiction of both Assam and Meghalaya states and is situated
in a valley with small hilly tracts on both sides. A small part of the campus
lies on one of the hills which comes under Meghalaya state jurisdiction. The average altitude of the place is around 70m from MSL.
The campus remains hot and humid most of the year except in winter. Most of the
campus area is plain and remains waterlogged in rainy season. There is a pond
within the campus and surrounding area is covered by marshy grasses and some
trees. A small area of the campus is on hilly tract and is mainly covered by
trees and thick lantana. There is a high human pressure on the area by the settlements
all around the campus. This includes mainly grazing and browsing by cattle and
goats, collection of herbs and ferns by local people, catching fish in
waterlogged grasslands and periodic weeding by the academy.
North Eastern India is considered as paradise for
butterflies and more than 50 % of Indian butterfly species are found
here. In our campus despite of disturbance on vegetation, more than 50 species
of the butterflies are found.
Life cycle of a butterfly consist of 4 distinct life stages:
egg, caterpillar, pupa and adult. Most butterfly species are host specific and
lay eggs on few selected plant species on which those eggs hatch and
caterpillars feed. It undergoes pupa stage to convert into beautiful adult
butterfly. Many species show seasonal variation with dry season and wet season
forms in which they morphologically differ with each other.
In this first part I try to cover some butterfly species which are commonly found here.
(WSF-wet season form, DSF-dry season form, UP-upper wing view, UN-under wing view)
1. Common Grass Yellow (Eurema hecabe)
It is a small yellow butterfly, very active during day time and commonly found in the campus. Flies near the ground and can be seen on the flowers of lantana, small grasses and herbs.
Size : 40-50mm
Family : Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)
Status : Common
.jpg) |
| WSF |
2.Common Emigrant (Catopsilia pomona)
They are another common butterfly found here. Bigger than grass yellows and found on flowers of almost all shrubs and trees of the campus. They have different color variations.
Size : 55-80mm
Family : Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)
Status : Common
3. Mottled Emigrant (Catopsilia pyranthe)
This species looks like common emigrant from a distance. They are also seen plenty in number in the campus.
Size : 50-70mm
Family : Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)
Status : Common
4. Dark-Branded bushbrown (Mycalesis mineus)
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| UN, WSF |
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| UP, WSF |
Mostly found in bushes in moist places under the shade.
Size : 50-70mm
Family : Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)
Status : Common
5.
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| UP |
Common butterfly. 5 out of 6 pansy butterflies distributed in India are spotted till now. This one is a common and abundant among them.
Can be seen among lantana and other bushes along roadside.
Size : 55-65mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Locally Common
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| UN |
6. Lemon Pansy (Junonia lemonias)
Less abundant compared to grey and peacock pansy. More abundant towards hilly parts of the campus.
Size : 40-60mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Common
7.
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| UP, WSF |
Another common and abundant pansy butterfly in the campus. It has a distinct dry season form. Abundant both in open and hilly parts.
Size : 60-65mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Common
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| UN, WSF |
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| DSF |
8. Chocolate Pansy (Junonia iphita)
Larger of all pansies. Abundant in wooded and hilly part of the campus.
9. Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)
Rare among other pansies seen here. Seen only in some part of the year from July to Septermber.
10.
11.
Larger of all pansies. Abundant in wooded and hilly part of the campus.
Size : 55-80mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Common
9. Yellow Pansy (Junonia hierta)
Rare among other pansies seen here. Seen only in some part of the year from July to Septermber.
Size : 45-60mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Common
10.
Another common butterfly in the campus. Flight is slow and near to the ground. Visits flowers of herbs and shrubs.
Size : 35-50mm
Family : Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)
Status : Common
11.
Confined to well wooded moist areas like other bushbrowns. Flight among bushes. Sesonal variation present.
Size : 45-55 mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Locally common
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| WSF |
12.
One of the largest butterfly. More common during rainy season. Can be seen sailing above 3-5m height. Visits flowers of Lantana and other trees. On move all the time, while nectaring also never sits.
Size : 119-188 mm
Family : Papilionidae (Swallowtails)
Status : Not rare
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| Male, UP |
-male-(7).jpg) |
| Male, UN |
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| Female, UP |
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| Female, UN |
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| Male, UP, WSF |
Size : 55-65 mm
Family : Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)
Status : Uncommon
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| Male, UN, WSF |
-female-(3).jpg) |
| female UN, WSF |
14.
Small butterflies seen on bushes. Seasonal variation present.
Size : 30-40 mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Common
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| WSF |
15.
-(1).jpg) |
| WSF |
Size : 32-48 mm
Family : Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Status : Common
-(4).jpg) |
| WSF |
All the images of butterflies of Burnihat can also be viewed here -
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.641810802517970.1073741830.100000671690875&type=1&l=2ec0e567f4
Thank you for viewing,
Ganesh Hegde
Beauty.....Mind blowing photography.....
ReplyDeletethank you.
Deleteamazing pictures.....
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