News Excerpt:

A rare butterfly species named Neptis philyra, has been discovered for the first time in India in Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.

About  Neptis philyra:

• It is a rare species of butterfly commonly known as long-streak sailor.
• Till date, the butterfly species was known to be found across various regions of east Asia, including eastern Siberia, Korea, Japan, central and southwest China.
• This discovery highlights the ecological richness of the northeast region and the country as well.
• The butterfly has serrated wings with rich brownish-black on the upper side and yellow brown on the underside and fore wing white cell streak forming “hockey stick” markings with spots in space.
• The species, which is part of the Nymphalidae family, is known to prefer habitats such as evergreen forests, riverine vegetation, and rocky streams.