A newest member of India’s butterfly family “Euthalia Malaccana”
“Euthalia Malaccana” a newest member of India’s butterfly family has been yielded in leparde district of Arunachal Pradesh of India. The species of butterfly has been a subject of taxonomic debate since long. Before being established as an independent species of the butterfly initially it was identified as a subspecies of Euthalia adonia.
Primarily the species of butterfly is found in Southeast Asia. The records of the exitance of this species of butterfly found from northern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, and the Sunda Islands.
Euthalia malaccana a new species of butterfly has been officially recorded for the first time in Arunachal Pradesh India. This new species of butterfly has been found in Leparada district of Arunachal Pradesh added a feather in India’s butterfly biodiversity. Previously the records has been found for this existence primarily from Southeast Asia.
Why the Euthalia malaccana is in the News?
The recent news published in the news paper for the confirmation of Euthalia malaccana in Arunachal Pradesh India has generated interest in its taxonomic significance and showing the broadening of the verities in India’s butterfly diversity. The presence of the species of butterfly in India was uncertain from the years but the discovery of the presence of this butterfly in India makes a crucial update for entomologists, conservationists, and biodiversity experts. This information underscores the growing role of domestic scientists in documenting the rare species of butterfly and contributes to deeper understanding of the ecological richness of India’s northeastern frontier.
Background and Taxonomy
Euthalia malaccana which is also known as the Fruhstorfer’s Baron was once thought to be a subspecies of Euthalia adonia but since it has been classified as a distinct species of butterfly. This species of butterfly is primarily found in Southeast Asia mainly in northern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and the Sunda Islands. The occurrence of this species of butterfly in India was unbelievable and questionable until this new discovery.
The discovery of the species of butterfly in India particularly in Basar extends the known range of butterfly found in India and adds to the documented biodiversity of Indian Lepidoptera.
(Lepidoptera or lepidopterans is an order of group of winged insects which includes butterflies and moths.)
Discovery and Documentation the species of butterfly
The discovery of this new species of butterfly was recorded at the Basar which is the headquarters of Leparada district in Arunachal Pradesh. It is located at about 685 meters above sea level.
The fieldwork of discovery of the species of the butterfly was conducted in this remote location was done by the Roshan Upadhaya, a policemen of Arunachal Pradesh along with a Lucknow-based citizen science expert Taslima Sheikh.
There are five varieties of the species were documented between 2023 and 2024.
The findings of the discovery of the new species of the butterfly is also published in an international journal focused on butterfly research known as SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia.
Identification Features of the species of butterfly
Forewings – A prominent blue apical spot is present particularly noticeable in males butterfly. Females have larger apical spots on the forewings.
Hindwings – Reduced red spots are visible on the hindwings.
Identification was confirmed through photographic evidence and comparison with existing scientific literature.
The reduced red spots on the hindwings helping distinguish Euthalia malaccana from related species like Euthalia lubentina.
Significance of the discovery
The record extends to know the geographical range of the species of butterfly (Euthalia malaccana) to India.
The discovery of the new species of butterfly help to enhance the knowledge of Papilionoidea (butterfly superfamily) diversity in the northeastern region.
The discovery of the new species of the butterfly shows the effectiveness of citizen scientists and domestic technology of science in biodiversity discovery.
The discovery of the new species of butterfly provides very valuable data for the planning for conservation in the Arunachal Pradesh and adjacent regions.
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Source of the information – The Hindu
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