Review Paper Checklist of Butterflies of Bhutan Irungbam Jatishwor Singh1*and Meenakshi Singh Chib2 Bhutanitis ludlowi (Photo credit: Karma Wangdi) AbstractNational Butterfly of Bhutan, species (Papilionidae (16 species), Pieridae (10 The review of literature reveals that a complete species), Lycaenidae (38 species), Nymphalidae never been published. A few studies have been listed as rare or very rare in Indian literature, checklist on the butterfly fauna of Bhutan has which(93 species) does not and mean Hesperiidae they are (25 rare species) in Bhutan. are 120 species are protected under different currentlyconducted noton butterfliesavailable. ofThe Bhutan, present however, study schedules of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, aimsa comprehensive to provide preciselist on data butterfly on the fauna known is from Bhutan are included in the protected 2002. None of the butterfly species reported presents a checklist based on the review of schedules of Forest and Nature Conservation butterfly fauna of Bhutan. This document Rules, 2006 of Bhutan except Bhutanitis apilionidae (55 ludlowi available literature on the butterflies of Bhutan. 1 2 Gabriel, 1942 (Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory). (160It comprises species), 670 Nymphalidae species; P (265 species), Mendrelgang Central School, Tsirang species), Pieridae (51 species), Lycaenidae gmail.com *Corresponding Author’s email: jatishwor.irungbam@ and Hesperiidae (139 species). Of these, 182 22 (RAP), USA and Royal Society for Protection of through participation of specialists, amateur lepidopteristsInventory research and activitiesrelevant authoritiesof butterfly faunain all parts of Bhutan is necessary and advisable. providesNature (RSPN), a brief Bhutanidea on produced the rich diversitya butterfly of booklet which was the first of its kind which Key words: Poelbutterfly who inwas Bhutan. working The in Bumdelingbooklet was Wildlife based Introduction Checklist, butterfly, Bhutan. Sanctuaryon the butterflies (BWS). encounteredHe mainly documentedby Van der This is the preliminary attempt to come up with Bhutan. The booklet contains 136 species of of Bhutan. The checklist is clearly incomplete butterflies from Trasiyangtse, eastern part of butan annotated attempts checklistto provide of baselinethe butterflies’ information fauna and to generate research interest in this diverse easternbutterflies Bhutan. found in hills, mountains, and mid yet poorly known group of species. altitude valleys between 800 to 3000 m of took pictures and collected a specimen ofIn BhutanitisAugust 2009, ludlowi Karma in the Wangdi, BWS, located forester, in Studies of the butterfly fauna of Bhutan could be Bhutan’s remote Kholong Chu Valley. This found in Bingham (1905), Evans (1927, 1932), Talbot (1939, 1947), Wynter-Blyth (1957), in 75 years that the species was still present Yazaki & Kanmuri (1985) and Harada (1987a, specimen provided the first clear evidence recently,1987b). Therea few have booklets been andseries checklists of butterfly on studies in Bhutan since the early 1900s. More Sherriff.after it wasIn August first discovered 2011, some by matingtwo English pairs Wangchuk (2007), Singh (2012), Wangdi et al. ofbotanical B. ludlowi collectors, were Franksighted Ludlow and captured and George at (2012,butterflies 2013),Wangdi have been published;& Sherub (2012a, Van der 2012b, Poel & BWS in Bhutan by the team of researchers of et al. (2012), Dorji & Motoki Conservation Division (WCD), Ugyen Wangchuk 2014), Harada et al Institutethe Butterfly for SocietyConservation of Japan of (BSJ),Environment Wildlife Nidup(2013), (2015).Collectively BWS (2013), Dorji these(2014), works Singh gives & Chib an (UWICE) and BWS ( (2014), Singh (2014), Nidup . (2014) and Harada et al., 2012). During the survey,Bhutan the Government team also official made notoverview available of the for richBhutan. butterfly fauna of Bhutan. release, 2011; Kuenzang, 2011; However, a comprehensive list of butterflies is species and reported 130 species from Trasiyangtseopportunistic valley. observations Three species, on other Naga butterfly Giant studies were conducted in the western part of Hopper (Apostictopterus fuliginosus), Cerulean BhutanIn the pastincludes years Chukha, the majority Paro, Haa, of Thimphu,butterfly Hairstreak (Neozephyrus suroia) and Euthalia amplifascia (Wangdi, et al. 2012, 2013). BhutanPunakha andwhich Gasa reported districts. Yazaki265 species& Kanmuri of were the first records from Bhutan (1985) have studied thoroughly in western of Bhutan in the lowland forest of Sunkosh river butterflies. Later Harada (1987) also reports Arun Pratap Singh (2012) also studied butterflies have152 speciespreviously of studied.butterflies Van from der westernPoel & 2010. The study was the part of the biodiversity WangchukBhutan where (2007) Yazaki supported & Kanmuri by Conservation (1985) impactfor 18 days assessment in between for Januarythe proposed 2009 toSunkosh March Internationals Rapid Assessment Program hydroelectric power project, and the survey 23 was carried out along the Sunkosh River to of 200 species of butterflies. Which includes diversitystudy the ofbutterfly the area. diversity, He reported identify 213 species species of Papilionidae (22sp.), Pieridae (21 sp.), Lycaenidae conservation priority and to know the butterfly Glory(49 sp.), (Bhutanitis Nymphalidae ludlowi (89) whichsp.) and is protectedHesperiidae as in Schedules I and II of the Indian Wildlife (22 sp.). The presence of Ludlow’s Bhutan of butterflies of which 11 species were listed Red list as Vulnerable is an important species of of conservation priority as they were ‘RARE’ conservationNational Butterfly importance of Bhutan in BWS. and listed in IUCN’s in(Protection) occurrence Act, across 1972, their of which distribution 10 species range are in the region (Singh, 2012). These species are In 2011, Department of Science, Pale Wanderer (Pareronia avatar Mendrelgangang Central School (MCS), Tsirang Nacaduba pactolus continentalis), Prosotas aluta), Large coelestis four-), in Tsirang district as part of the conservation Lineblue ( Elymnias vasudeva vasudeva), educationhave initiated programs documentation for the ofschool butterfly students. fauna White-edgedBarred Lineblue Bushbrown ( (Mycalesis mestra retusJezebel), Great Palmfly Evening ( Brown (Melanitis zitenius zitenius), Yellow Rajah (Charaxes marmax), resultsSingh & were Chib the(2014) sightings reported of Sordid 125 species Emperor of Blackvein Sergeant (Athyma ranga ranga), Pale (butterfliesChitoria sordida from ),Tsirang. Blackvein The Sergeant most significant (Athyma Hockeystick Sailer (Neptis manasa manasa) ranga ranga), Creamy Sailer (Neptis soma and Creamy Sailer (Neptis soma soma). soma), Blue Duke (Euthalia durga durga) and Chocolate Albatross (Appias lyncida) which In 2012, UWICE, Bumthang under the were protected under different schedules of supervision of Karma Wangdi and Sherub the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 supportpublished from three Bhutan field Foundationguides on Papilionidae, and Bhutan (amended in 2002). Singh (2014) further TrustNymphalidae Fund for and Environmental Hesperiidae withConservation financial reported 116 species of butterflies of Dzamling ofNorzoed Tsirang Community with the sighting Forest, of Tsirang few important adding globally28 species rare at thespecies known like, butterfly Great checklistDarkie (BTFEC). These three field guide books contain (Allotinus drumila drumila), Yellow Dryad 42 species of Papilionidae, 164 species of (Aemona amathusia amathusia), Straightwing DorjiNymphalidae & Motoki and 93(2013) species also of Hesperiidae.reported the Blue (Orthomiella pontis pontis) and Great presence of the Restricted Purple Emperor Swift (Pelopidas assamensis). (Mimathyma bhavana) in Bhutan from sub- tropical evergreen forest of Chukha district. The species was reported from the Tala from Phobjikha valley and along the highway Hydroelectricity Project area. In the same area betweenDorji (2014) Phobjikha reported and80 species Wangduephodrang of butterflies the authors also encountered some rare species as part of the conservation and sustainable Athyma jina) livelihoods program taken up by RSPN. and Panther(Neurosigma siva). of butterflies; Bhutan Sergeant ( Nidup et al survey in Manas range of Royal Manas National . (2014) also conducted butterfly sanctuary.In 2009, workersThe BWS at BWSmanagement conducted plan surveys (Van which Coon (Sancus fuligo) was a new record for deron butterflyPoel & Dukpa, fauna 2013)at the reportedvicinity andthe presenceinside of Park (RMNP) and reported 91 species among Bhutan. In continuation, he further reported 181 24 Comm.) were also referred for additional source few species of conservation importance. of information during the compilation. The species of butterfly from RMNP which includes a present checklist follows the common names The above mentioned surveys give a brief idea prescribed by Evans (1932), Talbot (1939, 1947) Bhutanon the richhas diversitynever been of butterfliesproduced. inThere Bhutan. has literature.and Kehimkar The (2008)status dueon tothe unavailability rarity of the of beenBut, noa completeattempt in checklistpreparing on a standard butterflies up-to- of the common names of butterflies in Bhutanese butterflies in the checklist is purely based on adate checklist checklist of butterflies of Bhutan. Thus, our Indian context (Evans, 1932; Talbot, 1939, 1947; aim is to fill this gap of knowledge by preparing ResultsWynter-Blyth, 1957; Kehimkar, 2008). Materialsof and the butterflies