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A second report on () from Ladakh Union Territory and Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh,

Sanjay Sondhi, Balakrishnan Valappil & Vidya Venkatesh

26 May 2020 | Vol. 12 | No. 8 | Pages: 15817–15827 DOI: 10.11609/jot.5606.12.8.15817-15827

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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 May 2020 | 12(8): 15817–15827 ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) PLATINUM OPEN ACCESS DOI: htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.5606.12.8.15817-15827

#5606 | Received 08 December 2019 | Final received 07 May 2020 | Finally accepted 11 May 2020

C o m A second report on buterfies (Lepidoptera) from Ladakh Union Territory m u n and Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, India i c 1 2 3 a Sanjay Sondhi , Balakrishnan Valappil & Vidya Venkatesh t i 1 Titli Trust, 49 Rajpur Road Enclave, Dhoran Khas, near IT Park, P.O. Gujrada, Dehradun, Utarakhand 248001, India. o 2 Nest, Kizhuparamba P.O., Malappuram District, Kerala 673639, India. n 3 5, Rajnigandha, Goraswadi, Malad (W), Mumbai, Maharashtra 400064, India. 1 Indian Foundaton for Buterfies, C-703, Alpine Pyramid, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560097, India. 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected]

Abstract: Additonal buterfy records and natural history observatons are reported from a two-week survey of buterfies in Ladakh and Lahaul in the inner Himalaya in Ladakh Union Territory, and Himachal Pradesh in August 2018. These records follow an earlier report from a two-week survey in June–July 2016, and reports 10 species not sighted during the previous survey. Observatons on early stages of Pieris deota, ladakensis, and Papilio machaon ladakensis are reported, as well as a mass emergence of Parnassius epaphus.

Keywords: , Lepidoptera, mass emergence, palearctc.

Editor: Jatshwor Irungbam, Biology Centre CAS, Insttute of Entomology, České Budějovice. Date of publicaton: 26 May 2020 (online & print)

Citaton: Sondhi, S., B. Valappil & V. Venkatesh (2020). A second report on buterfies (Lepidoptera) from Ladakh Union Territory and Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(8): 15817–15827. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.5606.12.8.15817-15827

Copyright: © Sondhi et al. 2020. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of this artcle in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

Funding: Sanjay Sondhi’s visit was partally funded by Titli Trust. Balakrishnan Valappil and Vidya Venkatesh visits were self funded.

Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests.

Author details: Sanjay Sondhi is a Dehradun-based naturalist and founder Trustee, Titli Trust. An engineering graduate from the Indian Insttute of Kanpur (1987), the study of natural history has been his passion for more than three decades. His natural history interests include studying, photographing and writng about nature with a special interest in birds, buterfies, moths and amphibians and reptles. He has authored numerous books and technical papers on amphibians and reptles, birds, buterfies and moths and other Indian wildlife. Balakrishnan Valappil has been observing Indian Lepidoptera for the last few years. He is interested in the biology of moths and buterfies and is an executve member of Malabar Natural History Society. Vidya Venkatesh is an Inclusive conservatonist, working with Last Wilderness Foundaton on human-wildlife coexistence in central India. Her work involves engaging with forest department and forest communites to conduct outreach programmes, sustainable livelihoods and capacity building. She has been closely working with the Baiga and the Pardhi tribes.

Author contributon: All the three authors partcipated in the feld survey in Ladakh. Sanjay Sondhi drafed the manuscript and prepared some of the plates and the tables. Balakrishnan Valappil prepared some of the plates, provided inputs to and edited the manuscript. Vidya Venkatesh provided inputs to and edited the manuscript.

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to thank Mohd Juma from Destnaton Inde from Leh helped organise their visit, and Zahur, who drove them around Ladakh safely for two weeks, and ended up spotng some buterfies as well!

15817 J TT Second report on buterfies from Ladakh and Lahaul Sondhi et al.

INTRODUCTION Table 1. Route taken during buterfy surveys

Date Route taken Sondhi et al. (2017) reported on buterfies sighted Leh City outskirts (Spituk, Choklamsar) Leh 1 03.viii.2018 during a 12-day survey in Ladakh in June and July 2016, District, LUT Leh City outskirts (Sabu village & Chushut) in Leh 2 04.viii.2018 during which 42 species were recorded. In August District, LUT 2018, the authors undertook another two week survey Leh-Ganglas-South Pullu-Khardung La-North 3 05.viii.2018 in Ladakh Union Territory (LUT). Species not sighted in Pullu-Khardung village in Leh District, LUT Khardung village-Khalsar-Hundar-Skuru-Turtuk in 4 06.viii.2018 2016 are reported here, and a checklist of all buterfies Leh District, LUT recorded is provided with details of locatons, alttudes 5 07.viii.2018 Turtuk and surrounds in Leh District, LUT and number of individuals sighted. Other interestng Turtuk-Skuru-Hundar-Khema-Kinru in Leh District, 6 08.viii.2018 natural history observatons are mentoned. LUT 7 09.viii.2018 Kinru-Khema-Warila Pass in Leh District, LUT

8 10.viii.2018 Warila Pass-Serthi-Sakt in Leh District, LUT Sakt-Karu-Upshi-Miru-Latu-Rumste in Leh MATERIALS AND METHODS 9 11.viii.2018 District, LUT Rumste-Tanglang La-Debring-Pang in Leh District, 10 12.viii.2018 A survey was conducted 3–15 August 2018 with LUT Pang-Lachung La-Whiskey nala-Serchu in Leh the aim of covering as many habitats and alttudes as 11 13.viii.2018 District, LUT possible in Ladakh, making it necessary to use a vehicle Serchu-Baralacha Pass-Zing Zing Bar-Darcha-Jispa- 12 14.viii.2018 throughout the survey period. The route (Table 1) Keylong in Lahaul Spit District, HP Keylong-Tandi-Sissu-Teling-Khoksar-Rohtang La- extended through most parts of Leh District, covering its 13 15.viii.2018 Kothi-Manali in Lahaul Spit District, HP central, northern, eastern, and southern parts, as well as the exit through the Lahaul region in Lahaul and Spit District of Himachal Pradesh (HP). The methodology consisted primarily of visual Table 2. Species break up by family and subfamily encounter surveys in suitable habitats for buterfies, Family No of subfamilies No of species

such as alpine meadows, grasslands, crop felds, and 1 Hesperiidae 1 1

edges of stream and lakes. As we did not have permission 2 Lycaenidae 3 11 to collect specimens, we relied primarily on photographs 3 3 18 for identfcaton. In additon to the date and locaton of 4 Pieridae 2 11 sightngs, we also noted the tmes at which individuals 5 Papilionidae 1 1 were encountered. Alttudinal elevatons were recorded using a Garmin Etrex 10. Existng literature was consulted for species identfcaton and distributons (Marshall & de Nicéville recorded along with their locatons, alttudinal range, 1882–1890, Bingham 1905–07; Swinhoe 1912–13; Evans and estmated number of individuals is listed in Table 3. 1927, 1932; Talbot 1939, 1947; Wynter-Blyth 1957; The summary of photographic records of the species not Cantlie 1963; Mani 1986; Smith 1994, 2006; Kinyon recorded in Sondhi et al. (2017) is provided in Image 1–7. 2004; Tshikolovets 2005; Kehimkar 2008; Varshney & Smetacek, 2015; van Gasse 2017). Online sources were also consulted as aids to and identfcaton DISCUSSION (Kunte et al. 2019; Savela 2019). The following secton provides detailed informaton about the additonal species recorded during the survey RESULTS in August 2018 including dates/tmes at which they were recorded, locatons, alttudes as well as relevant natural The 12-day survey resulted in the record of 42 history observatons and taxonomic notes, wherever species of buterfies from fve families in 11 subfamilies necessary. The common names as well as alternatve (Table 2). Many of these species are rare and found in common names (ACN) in use are also mentoned (Evans Palearctc habitats in the inner Himalaya. Seven species 1932; Kunte et al. 2019). The legal protecton accorded are protected under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife to these species, under the Indian Wildlife (Protecton) (Protecton) Act, 1972. A checklist of the species Act, 1972, if any, is mentoned. Photographs of these

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1 2 3a

3b 3c 4

5 6a 6b

7a 7b 7c

Image 1–7. Buterfies of Ladakh and Lahual: 1—Pieris rapae rapae | 2—Colias stolickzana stolickzana | 3—Lasiommata manava (3a ♀ UP), (3b ♀ UN), (3c ♂ UP) | 4—Paroeneis pumilus | 5—Karanasa sp. | 6—Lycaena aditya (6a ♂ UN), (6b ♂ UP) | 7—Parnassius epaphus (7a UN), (7b UP), (7c crevice crawling). © © Sanjay Sondhi. buterfy species are included in Image 1–7. In these Notes on species recorded in Ladakh and Lahaul in images, the upperside of species is only provided if August 2018. this is essental for species identty. In additon, gender of the buterfy in image as male (♂) or female (♀), if Family Pieridae, Subfamily Pierinae, Tribe Pierini known, is mentoned. Pieris rapae rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Small Cabbage White) During the previous survey, we searched extensively for P. rapae rapae (Linnaeus, 1758), but did not record any individuals. During this visit we recorded this species

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(Image 1) in multple locatons. On 03 August 2018, Family Pieridae, Subfamily Coliadinae 15.30h, Choklamsar near Leh, alttude 3,211m, at least Colias stolickzana stolickzana Moore, 1882 (Orange half a dozen individuals recorded. Most individuals were Clouded Yellow) worn. Distnctly smaller in size than Indian Cabbage 10 August 2018, 10.18–10.53 h, below Warila Pass, White Pieris canidia indica; very much whiter above, with alttude 5,205m. About 3km beyond the Warila Pass, a much narrower border on FW apex, along with a small, the meadows were teeming with actvity of Clouded sometmes indistnct spot on UPF disc. On 04 Aug 2018, Yellows, but the buterfies were not sitng at all. At 14.44h, Chushut, Leh outskirts, alttude 3,500m, about one point, we ended up chasing buterfies across the half a dozen individuals were recorded. On 06 Aug 2018, meadows for 30 minutes without getng a photograph. 12.00h, farm felds beyond Hundar, alttude 3,123m, a In fight, the buterfies were bright orange above. few individuals were recorded. On 06 August 2018, A few distant photographs revealed the UNH veins 17.34h onwards, Turtuk, alttude 2,857m at least 15 were not pale yellow, and dark discal spots usually individuals were spoted in the farm felds above Turtuk present, thereby identfying them as Colias stolickzana and photographed roostng in the evening afer 18.00h. stolickzana Moore, 1882 (Image 2) and separatng them On 07 August 2018, 07.39h, Turtuk., 08.15–12.00 h felds from the similar Colias eogene (Evans 1932; Talbot 1947; above Turtuk, alttude 2,918m, 120 individuals counted. Tshikolovets 2005). 10 August 2018, 16.53h, Sakt Village, alttude 3,740m, one individual. Family Nymphalidae, Subfamily Nymphalinae, Tribe Pieris rapae rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) is a range- Nymphalini restricted pierid, which is known only from Aglais ladakensis Moore, 1878 (Ladakh Tortoiseshell) and Ladakh Union Territory in India (Wynter-Blyth 05 August 2018, 10.33h, South Pullu, alttude 1957; Tshikolovets 2005; Varshney & Smetacek 2015). 4,663m. A solitary individual recorded at the edge of While we recorded the buterfy at multple locatons in the stream before South Pullu. The individual few reasonable numbers, there are a few published records swifly over the grassy patch, setled and took to of this species from Kashmir. The Buterfies of India wing again. The buterfy did not return to the area, website (Kunte et al. 2019) has only a single record of despite SS spending 30 minutes searching the area. 10 this species from , and no records from India. August 2018, just below Warila Pass, alttude 4,927m. A report by Bhardwaj et al. (2012) reported this species Photographed by LV at the stream below Warila Pass. 12 from Har-ki-dun in Gangotri Pashu Vihar Natonal Park August 2018, 07.00–08.00 h, Rumste, alttude 4,558m. but presented no evidence in the form of photographs A kilometer afer Rumste, enroute to Tanglang Pass, lots or specimens; hence this record from Utarakhand of caterpillars and pupae found on netle plants along remains unverifed (Sondhi & Kunte 2018). Going by the side road. The plant was identfed as the Himalayan numbers we encountered during our visit, P. rapae is or Northern Netle Urtca hyperborea Jacquem. ex locally abundant, especially in fowering felds. Wedd (Urtcaceae), whose local name is ‘Dzatsut’ or ‘Zozot’ (Chaurasia et al. 2008). The caterpillar and its Pieris deota de Nicéville, 1884 (Kashmir White) pupae were successfully reared, and its early stages 09 August 2018, 10.06h. Spoted an individual near documented (Images 9–17). Interestngly, though the Khema. 09 August 2018, 10.50–12.45 h, Khema, alttude caterpillars and pupae were abundant on most Urtca 3,628m. Numerous individuals spoted before, at and hyperborea plants that we examined, we spoted only beyond Khema Village. We spoted an egg-laying female two adults during our two-week visit, leading us to (Image 8a–c). The host plant, yet to be identfed, had believe that the emergence of this species had yet to dozens of caterpillars of Pieris deota. 11 August 2018, occur in large numbers. We did not record A. ladakensis 10.07h, Sakt-Rumste road, alttude 3,632m. A few during our Ladakh survey in June and July 2016 (Sondhi individuals spoted in felds along the road. Numerous et al. 2017). caterpillars of Pieris deota recorded on the host plant, which is yet to be identfed. We reported this species xanthomelas fervescens Esper, 1781 (Large during the survey undertaken in 2016 (Sondhi et al. Tortoiseshell) 2017), and as during the earlier survey in 2016, the 09 August 2018, 10.33h, just beyond Khema, alttude species was not common anywhere. 3,628m. A single individual spoted alongside the road just afer village Khema. 11 August 2018, 09.20h, Sakt-Rumste road, alttude 3,604m. A single individual

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a b c

Image 8. Pieris deota life cycle: a—♀ egg laying, b & c Pieris deota caterpillars. © Balakrishnan Valappil. was recorded in rocky habitat with some shrubs, from view. 10 August 2018, 11.00h, ~ 4km below Warila alongside the road, near a stream. We did not record N. Pass. Two individuals spoted alongside the road. 11 xanthomelas during our Ladakh survey in June and July August 2018, 15.52–16.30 h, Rumste, alttude 4,379m. 2016 (Sondhi et al. 2017). Spoted at least 40–50 individuals in the meadow alongside a stream, approximately 3km beyond Rumste. Family Nymphalidae, Subfamily , Tribe 12 August 2018, 07.30h, Rumste. Some individuals were actve at 07.30h the next morning in the same meadow. Lasiommata menava Moore, 1865 (Dark Wall) We did not record P. pumilus during our Ladakh survey 04 Aug 2018, 08.34h, Sabu Village, Leh outskirts, in June and July 2016 (Sondhi et al. 2017). This litle- alttude 3,900m. Solitary sightng of the female. 07 known species, whose distributon extends from Kashmir August 2018, 09.24h, felds above Turtuk, alttude eastwards to Nepal (Smith 2006; Sondhi & Kunte 2018), 2,918m. Spoted a male and a worn female amongst the was surprisingly common locally. Tshikolovets (2005) rocks bordering the felds above Turtuk. While the male recorded it from Rupshu in 1998 and this remains the (Image 3c) is entrely dark brown above, the female has only recent published record of this species from India. a bright tawny sub-apical patch on the upperside of the forewing (Image 3a, 3b). We did not record L. menava Karanasa sp. during our Ladakh survey in June and July 2016 (Sondhi 05 August 2018, 15.07h, North Pullu, alttude et al. 2017). Lasiommata menava’s known range is 4,658m. A solitary individual (Image 5) was recorded at from Baluchistan and Chitral in Pakistan east to Kashmir the stream edge; only its underside was photographed. (Evans 1932; Talbot 1947; Tshikolovets 2005; Varshney It was not possible to identfy this to the species level & Smetacek 2015), however, a recent record by Abhay without collectng specimens and molecular phylogeny Soman and team from Himachal Pradesh extends its and/or genitalia dissecton. known range eastwards (Anonymous 2019). Family Lycaenidae, Subfamily Theclinae Paroeneis pumilus (Felder & Felder, [1867]) (Ladakh Satyrium (Superfua) deria (Moore, 1865) (Indian Mountain Satyr) White-line Hairstreak) 09 August 2018, 14.00h onwards, enroute to 15 August 2018, 10.13–10.37 h, Tandi, alttude Warila Pass, alttude 4,139m. Spoted in a meadow, 2,992m. On a dry hill slope, 4km from Tandi Village, approximately 12km before Warila Pass. We counted at we spoted a large number of Satyrium deria. On a least 40–50 individuals. The buterfy (Image 4) had a partcular fower species, a small shrub with pinkish- very weak fight; never fying for long. The buterfies purple fowers, there were always hairstreaks to be would setle amongst the grass blades, ofen hidden found; sometmes up to fve individuals on a single bush.

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10

9

11 12a 12b 13

14 15

16a 16b 16c 17

Image 9–17. Aglais ladakensis life cycle: 9 & 10—Imago | 11,12(a,b)—Early instar caterpillar | 13—Final instar caterpillar | 14—Pupaton | 15—Hostplant Urtca hyperborea | 16(a–c)—Pupa| 17—Pupal leaf cell. 9–16 © Balakrishnan Valappil, 17 © Sanjay Sondhi.

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Table 3. Checklist of buterfies recorded during the August 2018 survey along with locality, alttude range, and abundance.

Estmated number Common name Scientfc name Locatons seen at Alttude range in m of adults Hesperiidae, Hesperiinae, Hesperiini Below Warila Pass, below Tanglang 1 Chequered Darter Hesperia comma dimila 4,900 3 Pass, below Baralacha Pass Lycaenidae, Lycaeninae 2 Ladakh Copper Lycaena aditya South Pullu 4,348 1 Below Baralacha Pass, Patsio, Keylong, 3 Common Copper Lycaena phlaeas 2,900–4,900 15–20 Tandi, Kokhsar Lycaenidae, Polyommatnae 4 Common Mountain Blue Albulina lehanus Khardung, Khema, Kinru, Sakt 3,700–4,130 10 5 Bright Green Underwing Pamiria chrysopis Keylong 3,000 6–8 Sabu (near Leh), South Pullu, North 6 Dusky Green Underwing Pamiria omphisa omphisa 3,900–4,800 20 Pullu, Warila Pass South Pullu, Ganglas, Hundar, Turtuk, 7 Lahaul Meadow Blue Polyommatus ariana 3,000–4,600 85–90 Zing Zing Bar, Keylong, Kokhsar Spituk, Choklamsar, Sabu (all near Leh), 8 Ladakh Meadow Blue Polyommatus stolickzana 2,800–3,200 10–12 Turtuk, Keylong, Sisoo, Kokhsar 9 Sea Jewel Blue Plebejus samudra samudra Spituk (near Leh), Turtuk 3,000 5–7 Pseudophilotes vicrama 10 Eastern Baton Blue Ganglas, Turtuk 2,900–3,200 2 vicrama Choklamsar, Chushut (near Leh), 11 Hill Hedge Blue Celastrina argiolus kollari 2,900-–3,200 15 Hundar, Turtuk Lycaenidae, Theclinae, Theclini 12 Indian Whiteline Hairstreak Satyrium deria Tandi 3,000 15–20 Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae, Nymphalini Aglais caschmirensis 13 Indian Tortoiseshell Below Baralacha Pass 4,900 1 caschmirensis Before South Pullu, below Warila Pass. 14 Ladakh Tortoiseshell Aglais ladakensis 3,600–4,300 2 Larvae near Rumste. 15 Large Tortoiseshell Khema, between Sakt & Rumste 3,600 m 2 fervescens Between Khardung & Khalsar, Turtuk, 16 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui between Sakt & Rumste, Miru, below 3,500–4,290 4–5 Baralacha Pass Nymphalidae, Nymphalinae, Melitaeini 17 Blackvein Fritllary Melitaea amoenula Near Khema & Kinru 3,600–4,100 10–12 Nymphalidae, Heliconiinae, Argynnini Argynnis jainadeva South Pullu, beyond Khardung, Khema, 18 Highbrown Silverspot persephone 3,800–4,400 17–20 Kinru, enroute to Warila Pass IWPA, SCH II Nymphalidae, Satyrinae, Satyrini 19 Common Satyr swaha garuna Patsio, Keylong, Tandi, 3,000–3700 35–40 Aulocera brahminus 20 Narrow-banded Satyr brahminus near Khoksar, below Rohtang La 3,000–3,600 4–5 IWPA, SCH II Callerebia kalinda kalinda 21 Scarce Mountain Argus Tandi 3,200 1 IWPA, SCH II Short-branded Hyponephele brevistgma 22 Khema, between Sakt & Rumste, Miru 3,600–3,800 5 Meadowbrown brevistgma 23 Dusky Meadowbrown Hyponephele pulchra Keylong, Tandi, Kokhsar 3,000–3,200 15–20 Hyponephele pulchella 24 Tawny Meadowbrown Ganglas, South Pullu 4,200 2 pulchella 25 Tawny Satyr Karanasa cf. huebneri 25 km before Serchu, afer Serchu 4,400 8–10 26 Satyr sp. Karanasa sp. North Pullu 4658 1 Paralasa mani mani 27 Yellow Argus Ganglas, near South Pullu, 4,200–4,500 4 IWPA, SCH II Sabu (near Leh), beyond Khardung 28 Tawny Rockbrown Pseudochazara lehana 3,600–4,400 12–15 village, Khema, near Serchu 29 Dark Wall Lasiommata menava Sabu (near Leh), Turtuk 2,900–3,900 3

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Estmated number Common name Scientfc name Locatons seen at Alttude range in m of adults Enroute to Warila Pass, below Warila 30 Ladakh Mountain Satyr Paroeneis pumilus 4,100–4,340 >100 Pass, near Rumste Pieridae, Pierinae, Pierini Spituk, Choklamsar, Sabu, Chushut (all near Leh), Hundar, Khalsar, Turtuk, 31 Large Cabbage White Pieris brassicae nepalensis 2,900–3,800 >200 Khema, Sakt, Rumste, Miru, Keylong, Tandi Choklamsar (near Leh), Hundar, 32 Indian Cabbage White Pieris canidia indica 2,900–3,200 15–20 Turtuk, Kokhsar Choklamsar & Chushut (near Leh), 33 Small Cabbage White Pieris rapae rapae 2,800–3,800 >150 Hundar, Turtuk, Sakt Pieris deota 34 Kashmir White Khema, Sakt 3,600 8–10 IWPA, SCH II Below Tanglang Pass. Below Baralacha 35 Lofy Bath White Ponta callidice kalora 4,900 3 Pass Ponta chloridice 36 Lesser Bath White Khema, Miru 3,600–3,800 3 IWPA, SCH II 37 Bath White Ponta daplidice moorei Miru 3,800 6–7 Pieridae, Coliadinae Spituk, Choklamsar, Sabu, Chushut (all 38 Pale Clouded Yellow Colias erate erate 2,900–3740 ~20 near Leh), Hundar, Turtuk, Sakt Turtuk, below Baralacha Pass, Serchu 39 Dark Clouded Yellow Colias feldi feldi 2,800–4,900 10–15 Keylong, Tandi, Kokhsar Colias ladakensis ladakensis 40 Ladak Clouded Yellow Kinru, below Tanglang Pass 4,100–4,900 10–12 IWPA, SCH II Colias stolickzana 41 Orange Clouded Yellow stolickzana Below Warila Pass 5,205 5–7

Papilionidae, Parnassiinae, Parnassiini Before South Pullu, between Ganglass Parnassius epaphus and Khardung La, near North Pullu, 42 Common Red Apollo 4,600–5,400 >300 epaphus before Warila Pass, before Tanglang Pass

Many individuals were worn. We estmated between recent published records of this species from India. We 15–20 individuals on that partcular hill slope alone, did not record L. aditya during our Ladakh survey in June leading us to believe that the species is locally common in and July 2016 (Sondhi et al. 2017). Tshikolovets (2005) appropriate nectaring habitat. We had sighted just two reported only three records of this species from Stok, individuals of this species in June and July 2016 (Sondhi Dras Valley and Namika La from northwestern Ladakh et al. 2017). SS had also spoted a few individuals of this confrming that it is an extremely rare species. L. aditya species in Gangotri Natonal Park, Utarakhand (Sondhi has a narrow distributon from Chitral District (Pakistan) 2019) on 25 June 2018. These previous sightngs in to Kashmir (India) (Evans 1927, 1932; Tshikolovets 2005; Ladakh and Utarakhand always consisted of one or two Varshney & Smetacek 2015). individuals; hence the large numbers of S. deria spoted at a single locaton near Tandi was unusual. This species Family Lycaenidae, Subfamily Polyommatnae, Tribe was reported as Superfua deria Moore, 1865 during the Polyommatni last survey, and now stands revised to Satyrium deria Pamiria chrysopis (Grum-Grshimaïlo, 1888) (Bright (Moore, 1865) (Krupitsky et al. 2018). Green Underwing) 15 August 2018, 08.30–09.03 h, Keylong, alttude Family Lycaenidae, Subfamily Lycaeninae 2,993m. 4–5 individuals recorded. 15 August 2018, Lycaena aditya (Moore, [1875]) (Ladakh Copper) 12.38h, Kokhsar, alttude ~3,200m. 2–3 individuals 05 August 2018, 09.35h, near Ganglas, alttude recorded. Two species of Underwings Albulina metallica 4,348m. A solitary male of Lycaena aditya (Image 6a, and Albulina omphisa were recorded during our previous 6b) was sighted amidst short shrubs before South Pullu. survey (Sondhi et al. 2017). These species are now listed The buterfy was observed basking. When it took to under the genera Pamiria based on revised classifcaton wing, it few rapidly and did not re-appear. There are few using molecular data (Talavera et al. 2012). In additon,

15824 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 May 2020 | 12(8): 15817–15827 J TT Second report on buterfies from Ladakh and Lahaul Sondhi et al.

18 19a 19b

20a 20b 21 22

23b

23a 23c 24a 24b 24c

Image 18–24. Papilio machaon life cycle: 18—Imago | 19(a,b)—Hostplant Heracleum candicans, plant and fowers | 20(a,b) & 21—Early instar caterpillar | 22, 23(a–c)—Final instar caterpillar | 24(a–c)—Pupa. © Balakrishnan Valappil.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 May 2020 | 12(8): 15817–15827 15825 J TT Second report on buterfies from Ladakh and Lahaul Sondhi et al.

the individuals spoted at Keylong and Kokhsar were individuals) (Image 7a,b). Some of the individuals we incorrectly identfed as omphisa in the 2016 survey, observed we worn, while others were very fresh, and we whereas they are actually Pamiria chrysopis. These also spoted quite a few matng pairs. Older literature correctons are now made in the updated checklist does mentons swarming Parnassius (Wynter-Blyth (Table 3). 1957), but there are few recent published records of this phenomenon from India. On occasion, the buterfies Family Papiliononidae, Subfamily Papilioninae, Tribe would sit on the ground and atempt to crawl into a Papilionini crevice formed by rocks on the ground (Image 7c), Papilio machaon ladakensis Moore, 1884 (Common making it difcult to photograph. Yellow Swallowtail) These new records reveal that much needs to be 05 Aug 2019, 09.51h, near Ganglas, alttude 4,348m. studied across seasons in high alttude cold deserts of Numerous caterpillars of P. machaon in early and late India. The impact of unbridled tourism, climate change instars were spoted on its larval host plant Heracleum and other anthropogenic factors are yet to be quantfed candicans Wall (Apiaceae). An incomplete life cycle of and urgent assessments of Lepidoptera in these regions the buterfy was recorded, as the adult did not emerge are needed across the country. (Images 18–24).

Family Papilionidae, Subfamily Parnassiinae, Tribe REFERENCES Parnassiini Parnassius epaphus Oberthür, 1879 (Common Red Anonymous (2019). Lasiommata menava Moore, 1865 – Dark Wall. Apollo) In: Kunte, K., S. Sondhi & P. Roy (chief editors). Buterfies of India, v. 2.72. Indian Foundaton for Buterfies. Available from htps:// 05 August 2018, 10.33h, before South Pullu, alttude www.ifoundbuterfies.org. Accessed 09 December 2019. 4,600m. Two individuals at the edge of the stream. Bhardwaj, M., V.P. Uniyal, A.K. Sanyal & A.P. Singh. (2012). Buterfy 05 August 2018, 12.00–13.00 h, between Ganglas and communites along an elevatonal gradient in the Tons Valley, Western Himalayas: implicatons of rapid assessment for Khardung La. At alttude between 4,700–5,174 m conservaton. Journal of Asia-Pacifc Entomology 15: 207–217. on the stretch of road leading up to Khardung La, tll Bingham, C.T. (1905–07). The Fauna of Britsh India, including Ceylon up to about a kilometer from the pass, we witnessed and Burma (Buterfies), Vol. 1 & II. Taylor and Francis, London. Chaurasia, O.P., N. Khatoon & S.B. Singh (2008). Field Guide. Floral a mass emergence of P. epaphus. We estmated Diversity of Ladakh. Published by Field Research Laboratory/ between 100–200 individuals fying on the road and in Defence Research and Development Organizaton, Leh, 198pp. Cantlie, K. (1963). The Lycaenidae porton (except the Arhopala group) the meadows surrounding the road. Everywhere we of Brigadier Evans’ The Identfcaton of Indian Buterfies 1932 looked, we could see Parnassius species on the wing. (India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma). Bombay Natural History Society, Some Parnassius individuals were victms of road kills Bombay, vi+156pp. Evans, W.H. (1927). The Identfcaton of Indian Buterfies. Bombay on account of passing vehicles. 05 August 2018, 13.20– Natural History Society, Bombay, x+302pp+32pl. 14.45 h, between Khardung La and North Pullu, alttude Evans, W.H. (1932). The Identfcaton of Indian Buterfies. 2nd revised 4,824m. On passing Khardung La, we observed very few editon. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay, x+454pp+32pl. Kehimkar, I. (2008). The Book of the Indian Buterfies. Bombay Natural individuals of Parnassius. 05 August 2018, 14.46h, 5km History Society and Oxford University Press, Oxford, xvi+497pp. beyond N. Pullu, afer Khardung La, alttude 4,824m, one Kinyon, S. (2004). Illustrated Checklist for the Buterfies of Myanmar. individual. 10 August 2018, 09.47–10.20 h, before Warila Smithsonian Insttuton. 197pp. Krupitsky, A.V., I.G. Pljushtch & O.V. Pak (2018). Systematcs of the Pass, alttude 5,200m, 30–40 individuals. Afer Warila Satyrium (Superfua) deria (Moore, 1865) species group with Pass, 2–3 individuals. 12 August 2018, 09.32h, before descripton of a new species from (Lepidoptera, Tanglang Pass, alttude 5,343m, 15–20 individuals. Lycaenidae). Zootaxa 4399(2): 261–271. Kunte, K., S. Sondhi, & P. Roy (chief editors) (2019). Buterfies of Afer Tanglang Pass, no sightngs. Our observatons of India, v. 2.72. Indian Foundaton for Buterfies. Available from the swarms of P. epaphus at numerous locatons had htp://ifoundbuterfies.org/. Accessed 09 Dec 2019. some paterns. All the swarms at Khardung La, Warila Marshall, G.F.L. & L. de Nicéville (1882–90). The Buterfies of India, Burmah and Ceylon. Vol. I-III. The Calcuta Central Press Co., Pass and Tanglang Pass were in meadows around the Calcuta. road, about a kilometer below the pass, on the south- Mani, M. S. (1986). Buterfies of the Himalaya. Oxford & IBH Publishing Co, 181pp+25pl. facing slopes. In each of the passes, we recorded a very Savela, M. (2019). Lepidoptera and some other life forms. htp://fp. small number of Parnassius individuals (0–5), on the funet.f/index/Tree_of_life/insecta/lepidoptera/. Accessed 09 Dec north-facing hills slopes. In contrast, the south facing 2019. Smith, C. (1994). Buterfies of Nepal. Revised Editon, Tecpress Service hill slopes of Khardung La, Warila Pass and Tanglang L.P., Bangkok, Thailand, 368pp. Pass, we observed large numbers of Parnassius (20–200 Smith, C. (2006). Illustrated Checklist of Nepal’s Buterfies. New

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Revised and Updated Editon. Walden Book House, Kathmandu, Talavera, G., V.A. Lukhtanov, N. Pierce & R. Vila (2012). Establishing Nepal, 129pp. criteria for higher-level classifcaton using molecular data: Sondhi, S. (2019). Superfua deria Moore, 1865 – Indian White-line the systematcs of Polyommatus blue buterfies (Lepidoptera, Hairstreak. In: Kunte, K., S. Sondhi & P. Roy (Chief Editors). Buterfies Lycaenidae). Cladistcs 29: 166–192. of India, v. 2.72. Indian Foundaton for Buterfies. Available from Talbot, G. (1939). The Fauna of Britsh India, including Ceylone and htps://www.ifoundbuterfies.org. Accessed 09 December 2019. Burma: Buterfies. Vol. 1. Taylor and Francis, London. 600pp. + 3pl. Sondhi, S. & K. Kunte. (2018). Buterfies and Moths of Pakke Tiger Talbot, G. (1947). The Fauna of Britsh India, including Ceylone and Reserve. Second Editon. Titli Trust (Dehradun), Natonal Centre for Burma: Buterfies. Vol. 2. Taylor and Francis, London. 506pp. + 2pl. Biological Sciences & Indian Foundaton for Buterfies, Bengaluru, Tshikolovets, V.V. (2005). The Buterfies of Ladak (N. W. India). vi+242pp. Published by Vadim V. Tshikolovets, Pardubice, Czech Republic. Sondhi, S., B. Valappil, Y. Sondhi & A. Sondhi (2017). A report on some 176pp. + 30pl. buterfies (Lepidoptera) from Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir and van Gasse, P. (2017). Buterfies of the Indian Subcontnent - Annotated Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 9(3): Checklist. Unpublished report. 9971–9987. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.3024.9.3.9971-9987 Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957). Buterfies of The Indian Region. Bombay Swinhoe, C. (1912–13). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. X. Rhopalocera. Natural History Society, Bombay, xx+523pp.+72pl. Family Hesperiidae. Reeve & Co, London, 361pp. + 78pl.

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Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 May 2020 | 12(8): 15817–15827 15827 PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. OPEN ACCESS All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

May 2020 | Vol. 12 | No. 8 | Pages: 15767–15966 Date of Publicaton: 26 May 2020 (Online & Print) www.threatenedtaxa.org DOI: 10.11609/jot.2020.12.8.15767-15966

Communicatons Avifaunal diversity of Tilyar Lake, Rohtak, Haryana, India – Jagjeet Singh, Sandeep Antl, Vivek Goyal & Vinay Malik, Pp. 15909–15915 Mammalian fauna in an urban infuenced zone of Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha, India Life-history traits and courtship behaviour of four poorly known endemic – Subrat Debata & Kedar Kumar Swain, Pp. 15767–15775 bush frogs (Amphibia: Anura: Rhachophoridae) from the Western Ghats of India Species in peril: assessing the status of the trade in pangolins in Nepal – A.V. Abhijith & Shomen Mukherjee, Pp. 15916–15921 – Prayash Ghimire, Nirjala Raut, Pragya Khanal, Suman Acharya & Suraj Upadhaya, Pp. 15776–15783 A frst record of Camacinia hartert Karsch, 1890 (Odonata: Libellulidae) from Arunachal Pradesh, India Diversity and synanthropy of fies (Diptera: Calyptratae) from Ecuador, with – Arajush Payra, K.A. Subramanian, Kailash Chandra & Basudev Tripathy, new records for the country Pp. 15922–15926 – Karen Blacio, Jonathan Liria & Ana Soto-Vivas , Pp. 15784–15793 Occurrence of Fulgoraecia (= Epiricania) melanoleuca (Lepidoptera: Buterfy diversity in Gidakom Forest Management Unit, Thimphu, Bhutan Epipyropidae) as a parasitoid of sugarcane lophopid planthopper – Thal Prasad Koirala, Bal Krishna Koirala & Jaganath Koirala, Pp. 15794–15803 Pyrilla perpusilla in Tamil Nadu (India) with brief notes on its life stages – H. Sankararaman, G. Naveenadevi & S. Manickavasagam, Pp. 15927–15931 Buterfy diversity in heterogeneous habitat of Bankura, West Bengal, India – Kalyan Mukherjee & Ayan Mondal, Pp. 15804–15816 A preliminary survey of soil nemafauna of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, Goa, India A second report on buterfies (Lepidoptera) from Ladakh Union Territory and – Kiran Gaude & I.K. Pai, Pp. 15932–15935 Lahaul, Himachal Pradesh, India – Sanjay Sondhi, Balakrishnan Valappil & Vidya Venkatesh, Pp. 15817–15827 Thirty-nine newly documented plant species of Great Nicobar, India – Kanakasabapathi Pradheep, Katukkunnel Joseph John, Iyyappan Jaisankar & Collectng parasitc Aculeata (Hymenoptera) from rice ecosystems of Sudhir Pal Ahlawat, Pp. 15936–15944 Tamil Nadu, India – J. Alfred Daniel & K. Ramaraju, Pp. 15828–15834 Notes An annotated checklist of sea slug fauna of Gujarat coast, India – Piyush Vadher, Hitesh Kardani & Imtyaz Beleem, Pp. 15835–15851 An observaton of homosexual fellato in the Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius (Temminck, 1825) (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Pteropodidae) Additonal descripton of the Algae Hydroid Thyroscyphus ramosus (Hydrozoa: – K.S. Gopi Sundar & Swat Kitur, Pp. 15945–15946 Leptothecata: Thyroscyphidae) from Palk Bay, India with insights into its ecology and genetc structure Diurnal observaton of a Malayan Krait Bungarus candidus (Reptlia: – G. Arun, R. Rajaram & K. Kaleshkumar, Pp. 15852–15863 Elapidae) feeding inside a building in Thailand – Cameron Wesley Hodges, Anji D’souza & Sira Jintapirom, Pp. 15947–15950 Floristc compositon and distributon patern of herbaceous plant diversity in fallow lands of the central districts of Punjab, India An additonal record of the Tamdil Leaf-liter Frog Leptobrachella tamdil – Jashanpreet Kaur, Rajni Sharma & Pushp Sharma, Pp. 15864–15880 (Sengupta et al., 2010) (Amphibia: Megophryidae) from Dampa Tiger Reserve, Mizoram, India Morphological and molecular phylogenetc studies on Batarrea phalloides – Vanlalsiammawii, Remruatpuii, V.L. Malsawmhriatzuali, Lalmuansanga, (Agaricales): a new report to Indian mycobiota Gospel Zothanmawia Hmar, Saisangpuia Sailo, Ht. Decemson, Lal Biakzuala & – R. Kantharaja & M. Krishnappa, Pp. 15881–15888 H.T. Lalremsanga, Pp. 15951–15954

Diversity of polypores in Kerala Agricultural University main campus, Records of dragonfies and damselfies (Insecta: Odonata) of Dipang Lake, Vellanikkara, Kerala, India with two new records to Nepal – M. Kiran, C.K. Adarsh, K. Vidyasagran & P.N. Ganesh, Pp. 15889–15904 – K.C. Sajan & Juddha Bahadur Gurung, Pp. 15955–15961

Henry’s Ratan Calamus henryanus Becc. (Arecaceae), a new record to India Short Communicatons – Selim Mehmud & Himu Roy, Pp. 15962–15966

On the evidence of the Irrawaddy Dolphin Orcaella brevirostris (Owen, 1866) (Mammalia: Cetartodactyla: Delphinidae) in the Hooghly River, West Bengal, India – Gargi Roy Chowdhury, Kanad Roy, Naman Goyal, Ashwin Warudkar, Rashid Hasnain Raza & Qamar Qureshi, Pp. 15905–15908 Publisher & Host

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