Published: 18th Apr, 2022
Context
The rare butterfly Palmking has been spotted for the first time in Tamil Nadu.
About
About Butterfly Palmking:
- The unique woody species was earlier seen only in Kerala.
- It is the first recorded instance of the rare species in Tamil Nadu.
- Palmking was first recorded in South India by British scientist S.Ferguson in 1891.
- More than a Century later, it was rediscovered in 2007 in Thenmala by C. Susanth.
- Distribution:
- This butterfly is widely distributed across parts of India, Myanmar, Indo China, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand.
- It occurs in the Indonesian archipelago and the Philippines.
- In India, Palmking sightings were recorded in the forests of Arippa, Shendurney, Periyar Tiger Reserve in the south of Western Ghats.
- The butterfly is characterised by its brown colour and dark bands and is described as reclusive, mostly resting in the shade.
- It is not easy to spot a Palmking because its wood colour makes for easy camouflage and it rarely spreads its wings.
- Palmking belongs to the Nymphalidae subfamily and feeds on palm, coconut and calamus varieties of plants.
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