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Early Butterfly Migration in South India
Why is it in News?
- Migration of butterflies from the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats towards the Western Ghats is an early phenomenon this year.
Details:
- Normal Migration Pattern:
(1) Butterfly migration in south India begins in October-November with the onset of the NE monsoon.
(2) Migration happens from the plains to the Ghats.
(3) In April-June, just before the advent of the SW monsoon, migration happens again from the Ghats to the plains.
- The southwest monsoon is the season for the breeding of butterflies.
- The Eastern Ghats complex of the Yercaud hills (Shevaroy hills), Pachamalai, Kolli hills, Kalvarayan hills are the major originating places for the migrating species.
- Four species of milkweed butterflies involved in migration:
(1) It belongs to the Danainae subfamily.
(2) These species are the Dark Blue Tiger, Blue Tiger, Common Crow and the Double-branded (commonly known as tigers and crows).
(3) Blue Tiger and Dark Blue Tiger accounted for 90% of the butterflies involved in migration.
(4) Lime Butterfly and Common Emigrant were higher in numbers than the crows.
- Dark Blue Tiger found in –
(1) The Himalayas from Simla to Assam;
(2) Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia;
(3) Orissa; West Bengal, and
(4) Southern India, the Western Ghats and Nilgiris.