Kerala emerges as butterfly haven: Study confirms richest diversity among Western Ghats states

Malappuram: Kerala records the greatest diversity of butterflies among the Western Ghats states. A recent study has identified 328 species in the state, of which 40 are endemic to the Western Ghats. Across the entire Ghats region, 337 species of butterflies have been documented.

The findings come from the monograph series ‘The Butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) of Kerala: Status and Distribution’, published in the scientific journal Entomon. The research team, led by Dr Kalesh Sadasivan, included PC Sujitha, Mohammed Jafer Palot, VC Balakrishnan, Toms Augustine, K Baiju, E Kunhikrishnan, and Vinayan P Nair, among others. Details of more than 25 years of fieldwork in Kerala’s forests, hills, and coastal areas have been published as part of the study.

The diversity spans six families, with Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies, 97 species), Lycaenidae (96 species), and Hesperiidae (Skippers, 82 species) forming the largest groups. In addition, Papilionidae (Swallowtails), Pieridae (yellow and white butterflies), and Riodinidae (Metalmark butterflies) are also present in the state. Of the seventy species from Kerala, four fall under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972), the highest category of protection, one species under Schedule I & II, one under Schedule II and IV, one under Schedule IV, and the remaining 63 are listed under Schedule II.

Also Read | Aralam all set to be Kerala’s first butterfly village

A favourite destination for migrants

Kerala is also a preferred stopover for migratory butterflies, which travel hundreds of kilometres in search of suitable habitats due to climate change and reduced plant availability. Thirty-six species are regular visitors to the state, highlighting Kerala’s role as a corridor for seasonal butterfly migrations.

Twenty-two species in Kerala are currently facing the threat of extinction. The state’s biodiversity is not confined to forests alone; grasslands, paddy fields, rubber and tea plantations, lakes, and high-altitude ranges all provide habitats for butterflies. The study also documents more than 1,800 plant species that serve as hosts during the larval stage.

Research has further confirmed that several butterflies previously considered as belonging to the same species—such as the Palani Sholathean, Nilgiri clouded yellow, Tailed Palmfly, Common Palmfly, Double-banded Judy, and Lankan Plum Judy—are in fact distinct species.

A newly identified subspecies in Kerala, the Sahyadri Spotted Royal, known locally as Pattu neelambari, has been named in honour of renowned naturalist and wildlife filmmaker Suresh Elamon. Its scientific name is now Tajuria maculata sureshi.