Of Dibang Valley, Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, India

Of Dibang Valley, Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, India

JoTT NOTE 4(12): 3137–3160 Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Dibang is protected under Mehao Wildlife Valley, Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Sanctuary (93030’–95045’N & Pradesh, India 28005’–28015’E) (MWS) (Image 1). Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi The Dibang River originates in the western part of China and flows through this valley in a north- Centre for Biodiversity and Natural Resource Conservation, Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam south direction. It is one of the main tributaries of the University, Silchar, Assam 788011, India Brahmaputra. Email: [email protected] The vegetation is characterized by tropical evergreen forests (up to 900m), subtropical and The Mishmi Hills (95049’–95059’ N & 28006’– temperate forests (900–1800 m), temperate broad leaf 28023’E) are located in the eastern region of Arunachal forest (1800–2800 m) and temperate conifer forest Pradesh. The altitude varies from 400–3568 m. The (2800–3500 m) (Champion & Seth 1968). hill range lies to the north of the Assam Valley. The major part of the Mishmi Hills is in the Dibang Methods Valley districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The Dibang Study Area: 1. Sally Lake (Image 2): The Lake is Valley districts have two divisions - Lower and Upper about 5km from Roing Town and lies at an altitude of Dibang Valley. The headquarters of the two districts about 400m. The lake is very close to the Deopani are Roing and Anini, respectively. Roing lies on River and is surrounded by hills. Small streams flow the plains near the Lohit River while Anini is at an through the bamboo forest into the open areas. The elevation in the mountains and near the international lake is protected under MWS. border with China. The valley is bounded on the north 2. Deopani River Bed: The river bed remains dry by China, on the east by Lohit District of Arunachal throughout the year. The river gets its water from Pradesh, on the west by Siang District of Arunachal the streams originating in the surrounding hills near Pradesh and on the south by Tinsukia District of Deopani. High elevation forest exists in this area. The Assam. Part of the Lower Dibang Valley (281.5km2) plains have secondary forest growth. 3. Dibang River-bed (Image 3): It lies west of the Mishmi Hills and is not under the jurisdiction of MSW. There are several small villages like Chidu. The vast Date of publication (online): 10 October 2012 grassland of Nizamghat (elevation of 266m) is in this Date of publication (print): 10 October 2012 ISSN 0974-7907 (online) | 0974-7893 (print) area. Editor: Peter Smetacek 4. Tiwarigaon (Image 4a): A small village on the way to Mayodia, lying at an elevation of around Manuscript details: Ms # o2975 1300m. The place is the perfect place for the study Received 25 October 2011 Final received 14 September 2012 of high montane butterflies and is 28km from Roing Finally accepted 16 September 2012 Town. Citation: Gogoi, M.J. (2012). Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Dibang Valley, 5. Mayodia pass (Image 4b): The area lies on the Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 4(12): 3137–3160. way to Anini and is about 56km from Roing Town. This area is the highest elevated point on the way from Copyright: © Monsoon Jyoti Gogoi 2012. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any Roing-Hunli at 2,666m and is distinguished by a cold medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication. rocky mountain. Acknowledgements: The work was undertaken by the author under North Orissa University, to complete fourth semester M.Sc. dissertation in Wildlife Survey methods and Conservation Biology. I am thankful to Ipra Mekola, an active wildlife conservationist and respected person of Idu-mishmi community. Along with The methodology involved checklist surveys on him, I thank Kavi Angama, Chipra Mekola and Abidur Rahman. I also thank sunny days from 07 March–22 June, 2011 to determine Rakesh Saur who helped in preparing the map. the maximum number of species. Visual search and OPEN ACCESS | FREE DOWNLOAD Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | October 2012 | 4(12): 3137–3160 3137 Butterflies of Dibang Valley M.J.Gogoi Image 1. Satellite imagery showing areas covered during field study (Map: Rakesh Saur) photography were conducted on a regular basis during rare and endangered species encountered were de the day. Occasional surveys were undertaken after Nicéville’s Windmill Byasa polla which is included 16:00hr to locate shade loving butterflies. Searches on Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act were conducted near water sources, damp patches (IWPA), (1972); Khaki Silverline Spindasis rukmini is in the forest, open sunny areas, blossoming flowers another interesting species which is also included on and bird droppings. Searches were also conducted Schedule I of the IWPA, (1972). on hill tops, especially in the catchment areas of hill The matter of greatest concern is that Byasa polla, streams, as well as from top to bottom of hill streams Spindasis rukmini were recorded outside the protected to record the maximum number of species. Butterflies area of MWS. The species were recorded in a small were photographed from different angles as often as village called Chidu near Nizamghat. The area is possible to obtain sufficient photographs to enable undergoing deforestation due to increase of settlements positive identification of species. Butterfly species in the area and clearing of land for agriculture. were identified using the identification keys of Watson Logging has also been observed on a small scale in (1897), Evans (1932), Talbot (1947), Smith (1994), the area. The increasing use of pesticides in the citrus Pinratana (1985), Haribal (1992), and photographic orchards is another concern in the area. Overall, the guides of Kehimkar (2008). last remaining lowland forest of Lower Dibang Valley is facing a serious threat to its continued existence at Results and Discussion present. All these raise serious concerns regarding the The field study resulted in the recording of 294 survival of butterflies in the area. The record of such butterfly species belonging to 156 genera, from rare species in the area shows the potential biodiversity Dibang Valley (Table 1). This includes 33 species of the area and reflects the need for notification of more of Papilionidae, 26 species of Pieridae, 59 species protected areas in Arunachal Pradesh. of Lycaenidae, 115 species of Nymphalidae and It is stressed that the present survey covered the 61 species belonging to Hesperiidae. Noteworthy period from March–June 2011. Doubtless, there will 3138 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | October 2012 | 4(12): 3137–3160 Butterflies of Dibang Valley M.J.Gogoi Table 1. Annotated list of butterflies recorded in the Mishmi Hills, Arunachal Pradesh during the study period (March–June 2011). Indian Indian Scientific name Common name Scientific name Common name WPA 1972 WPA 1972 32. Meandrusa lachinus Schedule Papilionidae Brown Gorgon lachinus II Part II 1. Pachliopta aristolochiae Common Rose aristolochiae 33. Meandrusa payeni evan Yellow Gorgon 2. Troides helena cerberus Common Birdwing Pieridae 3. Troides aeacus aeacus Golden Birdwing 34. Eurema andersoni One-Spot Grass Schedule II andersoni Yellow Part II 4. Atrophaneura varuna Common Batwing Three-Spot Grass astorion 35. Eurema blanda silhetana Yellow 5. Atrophaneura aidoneus Lesser Batwing 36. Eurema brigitta rubella Small Grass Yellow De Nicéville's Schedule I 6. Byasa polla Common Grass Windmill Part IV 37. Eurema hecabe hecabe Yellow 7. Byasa polyeuctes 38. Gandaca harina Common Windmill Tree Yellow polyeuctes assamica Schedule II 39. Dercas verhuelli 8. Byasa dasarada dasarada Great Windmill Tailed Sulphur Part II doubledayi 9. Papilio agestor agestor Tawny Mime 40. Catopsilia pomona Common Emigrant pomona 10. Papilio epycides epycides Lesser Mime 41. Catopsilia pyranthe Mottled Emigrant 11. Papilio clytia clytia Common Mime pyranthe 12. Papilio polytes romulus Common Mormon 42. Colias fieldii fieldii Dark Clouded Yellow 13. Papilio demoleus 43. Ixias pyrene familiaris Yellow Orange Tip Lime Butterfly demoleus 44. Pareronia avatar avatar Pale Wanderer 14. Papilio castor castor Common Raven 45. Appias lyncida hippoides Chocolate Albatross 15. Papilio helenus helenus Red Helen Schedule 46. Appias nero galba Orange Albatross Schedule II IV 16. Papilio nephelus chaon Yellow Helen Part II Schedule II 47. Appias albina darada Common Albatross Schedule I Part II 17.Papilio memnon agenor Great Mormon Part IV 48. Appias lalage lalage Spot Puffin 18. Papilio protenor Spangle Schedule II euprotenor 49. Appias indra indra Plain Puffin Part II 19. Papilio alcmenor Redbreast Large Cabbage alcmenor 50. Pieris brassicae White 20. Papilio polyctor ganesa Common Peacock 51. Pieris napi montana Green-veined White 21. Papilio paris paris Paris Peacock Indian Cabbage 52. Pieris canidia indica White 22. Graphium antiphates Fivebar Swordtail pompilius Schedule II 53. Cepora nadina nadina Lesser Gull Part II 23. Graphium agetes agetes Fourbar Swordtail 54. Prioneris thestylis Spotted Sawtooth 24. Graphium doson axion Common Jay thestylis 25. Graphium evemon Schedule II Lesser Jay 55. Prioneris clemanthe Redspot Sawtooth albociliatis Part II 56. Delias belladonna lugens Hill Jezebel 26. Graphium chironides Veined Jay chironides 57. Delias berinda Dark Jezebel 27. Graphium agamemnon 58. Delias acalis pyramus Red-breast

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