Range extension of
Malabar Tree Nymph Idea malabarica (Moore) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra and a
review of distribution records
Manoj Jadhav 1 & R.M. Sharma 2
Zoological Survey of India,
Western Regional Centre Pune, Maharashtra411044, India
1 jadhav.manoj83@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 rmsharma53@yahoo.in
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/JoTT.o3267.949 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:995D8DE3-C460-4CAE-8534-E459B9D7FF02
Editor: Anonymity
requested. Date
of publication: 26 January 2013 (online & print)
Manuscript details: Ms #
o3267 | Received 25 July 2012 | Final received 15 October 2012 | Finally
accepted 31 December 2012
Citation: Jadhav, M. & R.M. Sharma (2013). Range extension of
Malabar Tree Nymph Idea malabarica(Moore) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to northern
Western Ghats of Maharashtra and a review of distribution records. Journal
of Threatened Taxa 5(1): 3556–3558; doi:10.11609/JoTT.o3267.949
Copyright: © Jadhav & Sharma 2013. Creative
Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium,
reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and
the source of publication.
Funding: In-house
study programme.
Competing Interest: None.
Acknowledgements: The
authors express their sincere gratitude to Dr. K. Venkataraman,
Director, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata for
constant support and providing facilities. We also wish to thank Dr. Muhamed Jafer Palot,
Assistant Zoologist, Zoological Survey of India, Calicutfor his critical reading, suggestions in improvement of first draft and sparing
valuable literature. Our thanks are also due to Dr. Neelesh Dahanukar, Indian Institute of Science, Education and
Research, Pune for valuable help rendered in preparing map and Dr. S.S. Jadhav, Senior Zoological Assistant, Zoological Survey of
India, Pune for inputs to enhance the quality of the paper.
The publication of this article is supported by the Critical Ecosystem
Partnership Fund (CEPF), a joint initiative of l’Agence Française de Développement,
Conservation International, the European Commission, the Global
Environment Facility, the Government of Japan, the MacArthur Foundation and the
World Bank.
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figures, images, tables -- click here
While surveying insects on the outskirts of Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary near DimbheDam (1905’23”N & 73044′31”E at 662m) on 14 April 2012, our attention was caught by a group of three butterflies
hovering over Lantana flowers near a stream with their slow and floating
flight. One of them was collected
using an insect net and preserved (Image 1). It was identified as a Malabar Tree
Nymph Idea malabarica (Moore) on the basis of
literature, especially Evans (1932), Wynter-Blyth
(1957), Kunte (2000) and Kehimkar(2008).
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily:Danainae
Idea malabarica (Moore) 1877
Material examined: 1 ex, 14.iv.2012, near bridge on road
to Dimbhe Dam, Pune District, Maharashtra, coll. Manoj Jadhav (Z.S.I. W.R.C.,
Pune, Registration No. Ent.02/1110).
Wing span: 112
mm.
Idea malabarica (Moore)
is reported as confined to wet evergreen forests with heavy rainfall areas
south of Goa to southern Western Ghats up to Kerala and is endemic to this area
(Evans 1932; Wynter-Blyth 1957; Larsen, 1987; Kunte 2000; Rangnekar 2007; Kehimkar 2008; Sharma & Borkar2008). Largest among milkweed
butterflies, unmistakable due to its slowest flight among Indian butterflies,
prefers wetter forests between 300–1200 m in the hills (Wynter-Blyth 1957).
Barring a single record of Ghoshet al. (1990) from Raigarh District as a new report
for Maharashtra State, no further records of Idea malabarica from any of the districts of Maharashtra, northern Western Ghats is
available (Gaonkar 1996; Kunte1997 & 2001; Rane & Ranade2004; Padhye et al. 2006; Gaikwadet al. 2009; Sharma 2009; Aland et al. 2011). Padhye et al.
(2012) presented latitudinal distribution of I. malbaricain Western Ghats. But it’s
occurrence in the range of 18– 20 0N latitude is not yet
reported.
Butterflies have specific habitat requirements depending
upon their feeding and reproduction needs (larval host plants). Earlier, Idea malabarica was considered a monophagous species feeding on Aganosoma cymosa (Apocynaceae) but Susanth (2005)
reported Parsonsia spiralis(Apocynaceae) as its new larval host plant. Nevertheless, it is not yet known out of
two known host plants, which one is being used by the
butterfly to survive in this area. However, it can be said with certainty that the sacred groves in the
vicinity must include both host plants.
The record of Idea malabarica from Dimbhe, Pune District of northern Western
Ghats, Maharashtra extends its known range significantly northwards from Raigarh (about 275km) and southern Western Ghats or Goa
(about 530km). A distribution map
(Image 2, Table 1) for Idea malabarica in
Western Ghats is provided based on the published records (Ghosh& Chaudhary 1986; Ghoshet al. 1990; Radhakrishnan 2000; Sreekumar& Balakrishnan 2001; Arun2003; Arun & Azeez2003; Palot & Abdurahman2003; Borkar & Komarpant2004; Ali et al. 2004; Dunston & Raj 2005; Radhakrishnan & Palot 2007; Rangnekar 2007; Kunte 2008; Alagumurugan et al. 2011).
The occurrence of Malabar Tree Nymph, an endemic
butterfly of southern Western Ghats in the new geographical area is interesting
to study: the factors which made the species extend its
range to a considerable degree; to explore whether the butterfly is using other
species of Apocynaceae as food plant in the study
area and finding new areas conducive for its survival.
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