Chalavara Panchayat Butterfly Observation Report 2017 (Preliminary Survey of Butterflies in an Agro-ecosystem)

Introduction: I have been regularly observing/documenting butterflies of my village for the past four years. This is the report for the year 2017.

Name of Observer: Muhamed Sherif
Period of observation: January 2017 to December 2017.
Location: Chalavara Panchayat, Palakkad District, Kerala (10o82’ N & 76o29’ E);
Total Area: 27.9 sq.km.
Precipitation: Average rainfall for the area received in 2017.

Habitat: Geographically, the village consists of numerous small hills interspersed with paddy fields. Hills and Paddy fields constitute 30% each of the total geographic area. Chalavara is primarily an agricultural village. Even though the area under cultivation has significantly been reduced, rice is still the major crop of our village. There are considerable extends of rubber and coconut plantations also. Except for the paddy fields and some hills, most of the land is divided into numerous homesteads, varying from a few cents to several acres, characteristic of the State of Kerala. Many of the hillocks which are left uncultivated have overgrown with plants and can be best described as degraded/open forests.

Flora: Chalavara holds an impressive diversity of plant life. Some of the important indigenous tree species found in the area are Pterocarpus marsupium, Dalbergia latifolia, Alstonia scholaris, Caryota urens, Borassus flabellifer, Bambusa bambos, Xylia xylocarpa, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Terminalia paniculata, Syzygium cumini, Casia fistula, Bombax ceiba, Tectona grandis, Macaranga peltata, Bridelia retusa, Morinda tinctoria, Butea monosperma, Strychnos nux-vomica, Mallotus philippensis, various species of ficus, etc.

The ground flora consists of several shrubs and other seasonal herbs including Chromolaena odorata, Wrightia tinctoria, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Ziziphus oenoplia, Mussaenda frondosa, Lantana camara, Calycopteris floribunda, Gloriosa superba, Cyclea peltata, Wattakaka volubilis, Arundinaria sps, Sida rhomboidea, Sida cordifolia, Hyptis suaveolens, Flacourtia indica, various species of Desmodium, Tephrosia purpurea, Mimosa pudica, Tridax procumbens, Biophytum sensitivum, Tragia involucrata, Leea indica, Chasalia curviflora, Rauvolfia serpentina, Ichnocarpus frutescens, etc.

Nectar plants (excluding garden plants):  Some of the wild plants frequented by butterflies for nectaring are Lantana camara, Chromolaena odorata, Hyptis suaveolens, Tridax procumbens, Biophytum sensitivum, etc.

Observations:

116 species of butterflies were observed from Chalavara in 2017 belonging to 84 genera and 6 families.  Nymphalidae is the most represented family with 37 species followed by Lycaenidae of which 34 species were observed.

Out of these 116 species, 83 species were commonly occurring in the area (42 very common and 41 common).  11 species were observed occasionally, 16 species were rarely seen and 6 species were seen only once or twice.

Family-wise distribution:

• Papilionidae – 13
• Pieridae – 10
• Nymphalidae – 37
• Lycaenidae – 34
• Hesperiidae – 21
• Rionidae – 1
• Total – 116

Four new species were spotted in 2017.  The most interesting and exciting experience of 2017 was spotting Tamil Lacewing in my own backyard.  Both the forms of Common Mime were observed for the first time from the area.  A single specimen of Common Imperial and a small population of Restricted Demon were also noted for the first time in 2017 from the locality.

Less numbers of Southern Birdwing and Blue Mormon.  It is interesting to note that in 2017 the numbers of Southern Birdwing and Blue Mormon were considerably decreased.  Both of them were commonly seen in the previous years, Blue Mormon often seeing round-the-year previously.  A population of Yellow Pansy was spotted after a gap of 3 years.

Peak activity was observed during the month of September.  Least activity was obviously during March-April.

In 2017, twenty five species were observed throughout the year.  They are Common Small Flat, Dark Palm Dart, Chestnut Bob, Tailed Jay, Common Mormon, Common Lime, Common Rose, Crimson Rose, Common Grass Yellow, Common Emigrant, Mottled Emigrant, Common Jezebel, Yamfly, Common Pierrot, Quaker, Dark Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Common Crow, Common Evening Brown, Common Four ring, Common Baron, Angled Castor, Common Castor, Chocolate Pansy and Lemon Pansy.

Species previously observed from the area but not seen in 2017: Golden Angle, Indian Skipper, Pioneer, Redspot, Double Branded Crow and Painted Lady.

List of Butterflies spotted in 2017 from Chalavara:

VC (Very Common) – Species observed during 80% to 100% of the field visits; C (Common) – 60% to 80%; O (Occasional) – 40% to 60%; R (Rare) – 20% to 40%; VR (Very Rare) – below 20%  (Aneesh KS et al 2013).  Observations were made for at least once a week.

SI No	Common English Name	Scientific Name		Malayalam Name	Occurrence
	Hesperiidae
1	Common Banded awl	Hasora chromus		നാട്ടുവരയൻ ആര	VR
2	Common Spotted Flat	Celaenorrhinus leucocera		നാട്ടുപുള്ളിപ്പരപ്പൻ	O
3	Common Small flat	Sarangesa dasahara		കുഞ്ഞിപ്പരപ്പൻ	VC
4	Suffused Snow flat	Tagiades gana		ഹിമപ്പരപ്പൻ	R
5	Water Snow Flat	Tagiades litigiosa		ഇലമുങ്ങിശലഭം	C
6	Tamil Grass Dart	Taractrocera ceramas		മഞ്ഞപ്പുൽത്തുള്ളൻ	C
7	Common Grass Dart	Taractrocera maevius		പുല്ലൂളി ശലഭം	VC
8	Dark palm Dart	Telicota bambusae		കേരശലഭം	VC
9	Rice Swift	Borbo cinnara		ശരശലഭം	C
10		Pelopidas sps			C
11	Paintbrush Swift	Baoris farri		ഈറ്റ ശരശലഭം	O
12	Blank Swift	Caltoris kumara		പൊട്ടില്ലാ ശരശലഭം	C
13	Indian Palm Bob	Suastus gremius		പനങ്കുറുമ്പൻ	VC
14	Wax Dart	Cupitha purreea		മെയ്‌മെഴുക്കൻ	R
15	Common Redeye	Matapa aria		ചെങ്കണ്ണി	C
16	Chestnut Bob	Iambrix salsala		ചെങ്കുറുമ്പൻ	VC
17	Restricted Demon	Notocrypta curvifascia		പുള്ളിച്ചാത്തൻ	R
18	Grass Demon	Udaspes folus		വെള്ളച്ചാത്തൻ	C
19	Common Bush Hopper	Ampittia dioscorides		പൊന്തച്ചാടൻ	C
20	Pygmy Scrub Hopper	Aeromachus pygmaeus		ചിന്ന പുൽച്ചാടൻ	C
21	Indian Ace	Halpe homolea		പൊട്ടില്ലാ തുള്ളൻ	O
	Papilionidae
22	Common Blue Bottle	Graphium sarpedon		നീലക്കുടുക്ക	R
23	Common Jay	Graphium doson		നാട്ടുകുടുക്ക	R
24	Tailed Jay	Graphium agamemnon		വിറവാലൻ	VC
25	Spot Swordtail	Graphium nomius		പുള്ളിവാൾവാലൻ	R
26	Common Mime	Papilio clytia		വഴനപ്പൂമ്പാറ്റ	C
27	Common Mormon	Papilio polytes		നാരകക്കാളി	VC
28	Red Helen	Papilio helenus		ചുട്ടിക്കറുപ്പൻ	C
29	Blue Mormon	Papilio polymnestor		കൃഷ്ണശലഭം	O
30	Lime Butterfly	Papilio demoleus		നാരകശലഭം	VC
31	Malabar Banded Peacock	Papilio budha		ബുദ്ധമയൂരി	C
32	Common Rose	Pachliopta aristolochiae		നാട്ടുറോസ്‌	VC
33	Crimson Rose	Pachliopta hector		ചക്കരശലഭം	VC
34	Southern Birdwing	Troides minos		ഗരുഡശലഭം	O
	Pieridae
35	Three-Spot Grass Yellow		Eurema blanda	മുപ്പൊട്ടൻ പാപ്പാത്തി	VC
36	Common Grass Yellow		Eurema hecabe	മഞ്ഞപ്പാപ്പാത്തി	VC
37	Common Emigrant		Catopsilia pomona	മഞ്ഞത്തകരമുത്തി	VC
38	Mottled Emigrant		Catopsilia pyranthe	തകരമുത്തി	VC
39	Common Wanderer		Pareronia valeria	നാടോടി	C
40	Chocolate Albatross		Appias lyncida	ചോക്ലേറ്റ്‌ ആൽബട്രോസ്‌	R
41	Common Albatross		Appias albina	ആൽബട്രോസ്‌	O
42	Common Gull		Cepora nerissa	നാട്ടുപാത്ത	O
43	Common Jezebel		Delias eucharis	വിലാസിനി	VC
44	Psyche		Leptosia nina	പൊട്ടുവെള്ളാട്ടി	VC
	Lycaenidae
45	Apefly		Spalgis epeus	മർക്കട ശലഭം	O
46	Indian Sunbeam		Curetis thetis	സൂര്യശലഭം	VC
47	Western Centaur Oakblue		Arhopala centaurus	യവന തളിർനീലി	VR
48	Common Acacia Blue		Surendra quercetorum	അക്കേഷ്യ നീലി	R
49	Yamfly		Loxura atymnus atymnus	കുഞ്ഞുവാലൻ	VC
50	Monkey Puzzle		Rathinda amor	ഇരുതലച്ചി	C
51	Common Imperial		Cheritra freja	വെള്ളിവാലൻ	VR
52	Peacock Royal		Tajuria cippus	നീലാംബരി	O
53	Slate Flash		Rapala manea	സ്ലേറ്റ്‌ ഫ്ലാഷ്‌	C
54	Long Banded Silverline		Spindasis lohita	നീൾവെള്ളിവരയൻ	R
55	Common Silverline		Spindasis vulcanus	വെള്ളിവരയൻ	O
56	Pointed Ciliate Blue		Anthene lycaenina	വനകോകിലൻ	R
57	Banded Blue Pierrot		Discolampa ethion	നീലവരയൻ കോമാളി	C
58	Common Pierrot		Castalius rosimon	നാട്ടുകോമാളി	VC
59	Zebra Blue		Leptotes plinius	സീബ്ര നീലി	R
60	Common Line Blue		Prosotas nora	നാട്ടുവരയൻനീലി	R
61	Tailless Line Blue		Prosotas dubiosa	വാലില്ലാവരയൻനീലി	O
62	Dark Cerulean		Jamides bochus	കരിംപൊട്ടുവാലാട്ടി	C
63	Common Cerulean		Jamides celeno	പൊട്ടുവാലാട്ടി	VC
64	Forget-me-not		Catochrysops strabo	നീലകൻ	C
65	Pea Blue		Lampides boeticus	പട്ടാണിനീലി	C
66	Dark Grass Blue		Zizeeria karsandra	ഇരുളൻ പുൽനീലി	C
67	Grass Jewel		Freyeria trochylus	രത്നനീലി	C
68	Lesser Grass Blue		Zizina otis	ചെറുപുൽനീലി	C
69	Tiny Grass Blue		Zizula hylax	ചിന്നപുൽനീലി	VC
70	Indian Cupid		Everes lacturnus	മണിമാരൻ	R
71	Red Pierrot		Talicada nyseus	ചെങ്കോമാളി	R
72	Quaker		Neopithecops zalmora	പാണലുണ്ണി	VC
73	Malayan		Megisba malaya	മലയൻ	C
74	Gram Blue		Euchrysopsc cnejus	പയർനീലി	VC
75	Common Hedge Blue		Acytolepis puspa	നാട്ടുവേലിനീലി	C
76	Plains Cupid		Chilades pandava	നാട്ടുമാരൻ	VC
77	Small Cupid		Chilades contracta	ചെറുമാരൻ	R
78	Lime Blue		Chilades lajus	നാരകനീലി	C
	Rionidae
79	Twospot Plum Judy		Abisara bifasciata	ഇരുവരയത്തി ആട്ടക്കാരി	C
	Nymphalidae
80	Blue Tiger		Tirumala limniace	നീലക്കടുവ	VC
81	Dark Blue Tiger		Tirumala septentrionis	കരിനീലക്കടുവ	VC
82	Striped Tiger		Danaus genutia	വരയൻകടുവ	C
83	Plain Tiger		Danaus chrysippus	എരിക്കുതപ്പി	C
84	Glassy Tiger		Parantica aglea	തെളിനീലക്കടുവ	VC
85	Common Crow		Euploea core	അരളിശലഭം	VC
86	Common Evening brown		Melanitis leda	കരിയില ശലഭം	VC
87	Bamboo Treebrown		Lethe europa	മുളന്തവിടൻ	C
88	Palmfly		Elymnias hypermnestra	ഓലക്കണ്ടൻ	C
89	Common Bush Brown		Mycalesis perseus	തവിടൻ	VC
90	Dark-branded Bushbrown		Mycalesis mineus	ഇരുൾ വരയൻ തവിടൻ	C
91	Gladeye Bushbrown		Mycalesis patnia	പൂങ്കണ്ണി	C
92	Nigger		Orsotriaena medus	കറുപ്പൻ	C
93	Common Five-ring		Ypthima baldus	പഞ്ചനേത്രി	VC
94	Common Four-ring		Ypthima huebneri	നാൽക്കണ്ണി	VC
95	Tawny Coster		Acraea terpsicore	തീച്ചിറകൻ	VC
96	Tamil Lacewing		Cethosia nietneri	ലെയ്‌സ്‌ ശലഭം	VR
97	Tamil Yeoman		Cirrochroa thais	മരോട്ടി ശലഭം	C
98	Rustic		Cupha erymanthis	വയങ്കതൻ	C
99	Common Leopard		Phalanta phalantha	പുലിത്തെയ്യൻ	O
100	Commander		Moduza procris	വെള്ളിലത്തോഴി	C
101	Blackvein Sergeant		Athyma ranga	ഒറ്റവരയൻ സർജന്റ്‌	VR
102	Common Lascar		Pantoporia hordonia	നരിവരയൻ	C
103	Chestnut Streaked Sailer		Neptis jumbah	ഇരുവരയൻ പൊന്തച്ചുറ്റൻ	C
104	Common Sailer		Neptis hyla	പൊന്തചുറ്റൻ	VC
105	Clipper		Parthenos sylvia	ക്ലിപ്പർ	C
106	Common Baron		Euthalia aconthea	കനിത്തോഴൻ	VC
107	Gaudy Baron		Euthalia lubentina	കനിവർണ്ണൻ	VR
108	Angled Castor		Ariadne ariadne	ചിത്രകൻ	VC
109	Common Castor		Ariadne merione	ആവണച്ചോപ്പൻ	VC
110	Yellow Pansy		Junonia hierta	പീതനീലി	R
111	Chocolate Pansy		Junonia iphita	ചോക്കളേറ്റ്‌ ശലഭം	VC
112	Grey Pansy		Junonia atlites	വയൽക്കോത	VC
113	Peacock Pansy		Junonia almana	മയിൽക്കണ്ണി	VC
114	Lemon Pansy		Junonia lemonias	പുള്ളിക്കുറുമ്പൻ	VC
115	Great Eggfly		Hypolimnas bolina	വൻചൊട്ട ശലഭം	C
116	Danaid Eggfly		Hypolimnas misippus	ചൊട്ടശലഭം	O

Common names and scientific names are after Paul Van Gasse, 2013.  Malayalam names are after Koodu Magazine, 2014.

 

 

More butterfly images from Chalavara can be seen here https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingsnpetals/albums/72157647578377871

Reference:

1. Aneesh, K.S., C.K. Adarsh & P.O. Nameer, 2013. Butterflies of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) campus, Thrissur, Kerala, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 5(9).
2. Kehimkar. I, 2008. The Book of Indian Butterflies.  Bombay Natural History Society.
3. Palot, M.J., V.C. Balakrishnan & S. Kalesh, 2012. An updated checklist of butterflies of Kerala, with their Malayalam names. Malabar Trogon.
4. Paul Van Gasse, 2013. Butterflies of India – Annotated Checklist.
5. കൂട് മാസിക , മെയ് 2014