Butterfly conservation in Nallamala forest

KURNOOL: YS Rajasekhar Reddy Smritivanam at Nallakaluva in  Atmakur in Kurnool district is a big draw for tourists and researchers alike as the facility has a unique butterfly conservation enclosure. The exotic variety of butterfly species is a visual treat for the tourists. About 85 varieties of butterflies have been identified to have age old habitation in the precincts of Nallamala forests. The dense forest of Nallamala, which is a home to Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve and Gundla Bramheswaram National Park has been one of the most richest biodiversity zone.

Kurnool chief conservator of forests K. Gopinatha said that Nandyal division and Kadapa division too has got a rich variety of butterflies and the conservation of rare varieties has been going on a continuous base. P. Sethuraman, a researcher who made a study of the available species of butterflies in Nallamala forests particularly in the Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Project zone said that a total of 85 species of butterflies comprising 65 sub-species belonging to 59 genera in 15 sub-families and five families were collected from the seven field stations. Of these, family Nymphalidae was the largest represented by 25 species (29.41 per cent) followed by Lycaenidae with 22 species (25.88 per cent), Pieridae with 18 species (21.18 per cent), Hesperiidae with 11 species (12.94 per cent) and Papilionidae was the lowest with nine species (10.59 per cent) .

P. Sethuraman further said that butterflies in Nallamala coule be categorised as Very Common (V), Common (C), Occasional (O) and Rare. Pachliopta hectre was the largest butterfly with a wingspan of 138 mm and Castalius rosimon rosimon was smallest with 29 mm. Pachliopta hector, Castalius rosimon rosimon and Delias eucharis found in this region are endemic to South India and Sri Lanka Spindasis vulcanus vulcanus is endemic to Indian subcontinent. Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve Field Director Field Director said that while taking the census of the tiger,elephant, and boar, the forest officials were advised to list the fauna and flora also.  Twelve out of 85 species found were protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, Hypolimnas misippus, Castalius rosimon and Pachliopta hector were included in Schedule I-Part IV of the Act.