Migration of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in the New Amarambalam Reserve Forest of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve

Abstract

Migration of five species of butterflies viz., Appias albina darada C. & R. Felder, A. wardii Moore, A. indra shiva Swinhoe, Cepora nadina remba Moore and Graphium sarpedon teredon Felder were recorded during February 2000 in the New Amarambalam Reserve Forest located at an elevation of 650m in the Kerala part of Western Ghats, India. The orientation of flight was from north-east to south-west, along the banks of the river Karimpuzha, and the groups comprised of about 77% of males giving a male to female ratio of 3.4:1. The most abundant migratory species were Appias albina darada (53.55%) and A. indra shiva (37.16%) followed by Graphium sarpedon teredon (4.92%), A. wardii (2.73%) and Cepora nadina remba (1.64%). The peak hours of flight was between 1200hr and 1300hr when as many as 160 butterflies/minute were recorded. Mud-puddling behaviour was also observed among the females of A. albina darada.