Winged wonders

A.SHRIKUMAR

• 
  Colourful wondersCommon Banded Peacock, Common Mormons mud-puddling, Suthern Bird Wing, Common Baron, Blur Mormon, Common Jezeebel and Crimson RosePhotos: Special Arrangement
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

STUDY A recent research has identified over 101 species of butterflies in Alagar hills near Madurai

The Alagar hills near Madurai, are well-known for their biodiversity. A recent study by Joy Sharmila, Professor of Zoology, American College, Madurai, has identified a variety of butterflies at the Alagar hills.

A visit to the Bannerghatta Butterfly Park inspired Sharmila to take up the study and in four years , she has classified around 101 species and five families of butterflies.

“This is the first study on butterflies in Madurai district. Alagar hill is a composite forest that has scrub and deciduous patches. And it’s a paradise for butterflies,” says Sharmila. “Butterflies are beautiful beings and form an important part of the food chain.

A number of birds feed on them. They contribute in pollination and help in energy recycling as their larvae feed on leaves. Some butterflies also feed on organic waste, thus helping bio degradation.” The objective of the research was to study the seasonal patterns, diversity and structural scales of butterflies.

“Butterflies can be differentiated by their colours, antennae and the way they sit.

The first butterfly we identified is Southern Birdwing which is said to be endemic to the Western Ghats,” she says. “It was startling to see it in Alagar hills which are part of the Eastern Ghats. It’s the largest butterfly in south India and is of the size of a bird’s wing or a human palm.”

The study was conducted at Garuda Theertham, Murugan Temple, Theertha Thotti, Thalaiyanai Paarai, Bison Valley, Vathipatti slope and Periyaruvi regions on the hill.

“Butterflies die in hundreds everyday in places where vehicular traffic is high,” rues Sharmila. Common Albatross, Yellow Orange Tip and Banded Peacock are the varieties that are most affected.

“Butterflies can be seen mud-puddling along the walker’s path in the breeding season. Butterflies mud-puddle to extract Sodium from the soil for reproduction,” says Sharmila. “From June to August, they can be seen in thousands at the Alagar hills. Apart from garden butterflies, a number of wild species also thrive in the region.” Over 32 species have been found in Vathipatti and Thalaiyanai parai. And 11 species are found all across the hills.

The study has also documented the scale structures of butterflies. “Butterflies take energy from the sun through their scales. The interior patterns of scales differ in all butterflies.

We are exploring the possibility of making biomimetic solar cells and panels based on these findings. In future, it will help in making nano structures,” says Sharmila. DNA coding of butterflies is another important part of the study. “By tracking this code, the native region of a particular specimen can be identified. We are currently coding all the species we found in Alagar hills.”

Sharmila has compiled the study into a book Butterflies of Alagar Hills and a documentary film is in the pipeline. “The next step is to set up a butterfly park such as in Bannerghatta,” she concludes.

A.SHRIKUMAR

Alagar hill is a composite forest that has scrub and deciduous patches. It’s a paradise for butterflies Joy Sharmila

*

to see some more PHOTOS AND A VIDEO of  Alagar Hills butterflies ... click the following:

http://dharumi.blogspot.in/2013/07/665.html

http://dharumi.blogspot.in/2013/08/678-butterflies-in-alagarkovil.html

*