Kerala: Butterfly Haven with 328 Species!

Kerala has emerged as India's leading state for butterfly diversity, with a remarkable 328 species documented along the Western Ghats. This includes 41 species found nowhere else. The findings, detailed in a new monograph, underscore the state's critical role in supporting these vibrant ecosystems.

The research further identifies 36 migratory butterfly species, highlighting Kerala's importance as a seasonal movement corridor. The publication also sheds light on the conservation status of these species, with 22 listed in the IUCN Red List and 70 protected under India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Significantly, the monograph presents an extensive larval host plant checklist, featuring over 1,800 feeding records, including many new field observations. This crucial data supports taxonomic clarifications and the description of a new butterfly subspecies discovered within Kerala.