News excerpt:
The newly discovered Conjoined Silverline butterfly (Cigaritis conjuncta) is characterized by fused spots and bands on its wing undersides, along with central shiny silver lines, contributing to its unique classification.
About the new species:
- This species was fIrst seen in the Brahmgiri wildlife sanctuary in 2008.
- This is the first new butterfly species reported from the western ghats in the last four decades.
- Measuring only the size of a one-rupee coin, this species holds great conservation value as it is exclusive to the mid-elevation evergreen forests of the Western Ghats mountains.
- The two sites where they have been located are at an elevation of 900 meters (Iruppu Falls) and 1,300 meters (Honey Valley).
|
Why butterflies matter?
|
Characteristics of the Conjoined Silverline butterfly:
- These butterflies are active on sunny days from early in the morning to afternoon.
- Both genders rest on shrubbery, with certain males choosing vantage points elevated nearly 3 meters above the ground.
- The males bask with wings opened up halfway, and females also apparently do so, similar to other Cigaritis species.
- Males appear to be more active in sunny patches, and therefore more readily detached, compared with females.
