SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE

Initial colonization of Red Pierrot , nyseus nyseus Guerin () in the lower western : An indicator of the changing environment

The Red Pierrot butterfly, However, till date there is no record of sightings from March to November and (Guerin–Meneville), is endemic to the the occurrence of this species from the being less common in winter. The extended Oriental (Indo-Australian) region1. The Himalayas or northwestern India. In May flight period suggests that it breeds distribution (Figure 1) of the nominate and June 2003, two individuals of T. n. throughout the year in Dehradun valley. race Talicada n. nyseus (Guerin 1843) nyseus were collected from an urbanized Egg-laying by this butterfly was recorded extends from to southern India block (Vasant Vihar) in Dehradun town during the month of March on its food (including Mumbai, Khandala, Maha- located in the heart of the valley. plant, an ornamental, sp. in a baleshwar, Poona, Nilgiris, Kanara, Mysore, Dehradun valley (77°40¢–78°15¢E and nursery. Seven larvae were also collected Bangalore, Palni Hills, Calicut, Hydera- 30°00¢–30°35¢N) lies in the ‘tropical moist from Bryophyllum sp., another ornamen- bad, Wynaad, Rutnageri, Travancore and deciduous’ sal (Shorea robusta) forest tal, in July. Larvae fed by tunnelling the Ganjam), Pakistan (Sind) and Bangla- zone between the west Himalayan moun- leaves. Nectar feeding on flowers by desh2–7. Two other races of this species tain ranges in the north and the Shiwalik adults was recorded in gardens on creepers are known to occur: T. n. assamica (Frush- range running parallel to it in the south, and bushes (Lantana camara, Sida rhom- torfer) being distributed from in at a mean altitude of 485 a msl. and covers boidea, etc.). Wing span of the individuals India to Myanmar and northern Thailand) an area of ca. 1920 km2. In the west it is collected (7) varied between 33 and 36 mm. and T. n. annamitica (Fruhstorfer) distri- bordered by the river Yamuna and in the The present observations reveal that buted in Indo-China1. east by the river Ganga. the Red Pierrot has successfully colo- T. n. nyseus (wingspan 30–36 mm) inha- Subsequently, T. n. nyseus was recorded nized the urbanized blocks in Dehradun bits semi-arid plains, human habitations, every month in Dehradun. Recently, it valley, where its food plants were intro- urban gardens, hill stations and open forests was found to colonize at least ten urbanized duced and established in home gardens. where its food plant, Bryophyllum calyci- blocks spread over an area of ca. 30 km2 The species might have been introduced num, Kalanchoe spp. and probably where in the city (Figure 2), as revealed from accidentally into the area along with its other species of (Calycinum– monthly butterfly sampling surveys car- food plant by nursery growers, who im- Stone crop family) find a place3,5,7. This ried out from May 2003 to October 2004 port these as ornamentals from southern includes patches in moist deciduous and in these areas as part of a project on ‘but- India (e.g. Bangalore). The valley is now evergreen forests where vegetation has terflies and land use’. Its flight period witnessing intensive urbanization, with been previously cleared and the top soil ranged throughout the year, with most establishment of home gardens in areas washed away, allowing its host plant to get established. This butterfly is active throughout the year. Its distribution5,7 ranges over low elevations from plains to 2400 m asl. The species is often overlooked because of its habit of flying slowly, close to the ground amongst the weeds. The sexes are similar, but in the female the red orange discal patch on the hind wing (dorsal side) is somewhat more extensive1.

Figure 1. Map depicting geographical distribution of Red Pierrot, Talicada nyseus nyseus The Red Pierrot butterfly, Talicada nyseus (Guerin) in the Indian subcontinent and location of Dehradun valley, from where it has been re- nyseus Guerin. cently recorded.

CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 89, NO. 1, 10 JULY 2005 41 SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE

Figure 2. Seasonality and initial colonization by Talicada n. nyseus of urbanized blocks in Dehradun valley during the May 2003–October 2004.

that were initially under agriculture, tea ronment in the tropical moist deciduous 8. FSI, Report, Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, gardens, scrub and sal forests. This changed sal forest zone of the lower western Hima- 1995, p. 55. environment has provided enough food layas (450–1000 m), towards increasing supply round the year for the butterfly aridity. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The present study species to survive, establish and expand is part of a project (FRI-145/FED-9) on ‘But- its distribution inside the valley. terflies and land use in the lower western Hi- This species was, however, absent from 1. D’Abrera, B., of the Oriental malayas’ being carried out by Entomology the native vegetation in the area, i.e. the Region. Part-III (Lycaenidae and Riodini- Division, Forest Research Institute (FRI), De- sal forests which now occupy only about dnae), Hill House, Australia, 1986, p. 539. hradun, India and funded by the Indian Coun- 55% land area of Dehradun valley, but 2. DeNiceville, L., Butterflies of India, Bur- cil of Forestry Research and Education. I once completely covered the valley8. The mah and Ceylon. Part III, Calcutta Central thank the Head, Entomology Division (FRI) species also did not occur in areas under Press Ltd, Calcutta, 1890. for extending his support and facilities. Thanks other land-use patterns now prevalent in 3. Swinhoe, C., Indica. Part VII are also due to Mr B. C. Pandey and Mr R. Rhopalocera (Papilionidae and Lycaeni- the valley in non-sal forest areas: intensive Kumar for help in collection of data and dae), Lovell Reeve Co Ltd, London, 1905– agriculture, tea gardens, fruit tree orchards and plant material from the field. 1910. and agro-forestry plantations, according 4. Evans, W. H., The Identification of Indian to sampling surveys carried out from Butterflies, Bombay Natural History Society, July 2000 to October 2004. The species Bombay, 1932. Received 20 November 2004; revised accepted only colonized urbanized blocks which 5. Wynter-Blyth, M. A., Butterflies of the Indian 2 March 2005 have rapidly increased in area inside the Region, Bombay Natural History Society, valley within the last 2–3 decades, mainly Bombay, 1957. on land that was under agriculture, tea gar- 6. Gunathilagaraj, K., Perumal, T. N. A., ARUN P. SINGH dens and forest. Colonization of the urban- Jayaram, K. and Ganesh Kumar, M., Some South Indian Butterflies, Nilgiri Wildlife ized blocks of Dehradun valley, by this Entomology Division, and Environment Association. Mytec Proc- Forest Research Institute, ‘non-forest’ butterfly species reflects an ess Pvt Ltd, Bangalore, 1998. alteration in species diversity of the area. 7. Kunte, K., Butterflies of Peninsular India, ICFRE, P.O. New Forest, When viewed on both temporal and spa- Universities Press (India) Ltd, Hyderabad, Dehradun 248 006, India tial scales, this indicates a changing envi- 2000. e-mail: [email protected]

42 CURRENT SCIENCE, VOL. 89, NO. 1, 10 JULY 2005