Four new lycaenid butterfly records from the Kumaon Himalaya , India

1555 During the last two decades, there have been reports of range extensions for several species of butterflies to the western Himalaya. Almost all of these reports have resulted from work in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, comprising the administrative divisions of Kumaon and Garhwal that lie to the west of Nepal. These include Plebejus eversmanni Staudinger (Smetacek 1992), Rapala pheretima Hewitson (Smetacek 1995), Talicada nyseus GuérinMenéville (Singh 2005a), Poritia hewitsoni Moore (Singh 2003a), Ampittia dioscorides Fabricius (Singh 2003b), Delias acalis Godart (Smetacek 2001), Pontia daplidice and Pontia glauconome (Smetacek 2002) and Zesius chrysomallus Hübner (Singh 2005b). In addition, populations of some butterflies like Pazala mandarinus garhwalica Katayama (Katayama 1986) and Meandrusa lachinus Fruhstorfer (Singh 2006) have been discovered recently. In the present paper, four species are reported for the first time from the Kumaon Himalaya. All were recorded at low elevation at the base of the outermost

The species occurs along the Himalaya from Dehra Dun eastwards and also in Delhi (Smetacek 2009).There are no reports of the species from the area between Dehra Dun and Delhi and the possibility that the distribution is disconnected cannot be ruled out.
All the locations mentioned above, except Gethia Sanatorium, are on the motor road between Haldwani and Bhimtal.Jones Estate is in the Bhimtal Valley.Gethia Sanatorium is on the road between Haldwani and Bhowali.
The earliest report of this butterfly from the Kumaon Himalaya was by Atkinson (1882), who added an interrogation mark, suggesting that he was uncertain of the record.This report was subsequently ignored by authors (Hannyngton 1910;Evans 1932;Peile 1937; Wynter-Blyth 1957) who did not find the butterfly.
The first specimen of this butterfly, a female, was recorded in the middle of Haldwani Town (400m) on 21.i.2002 as it crossed a busy road and dived into a fruit seller's pile of oranges.Numerous records followed, as it ascended the hills during the succeeding years, from Haldwani 400m, 21.i.2002;Chandadevi 800m, 7.vii.2003;Celery 1000m, 2.ix.2003Jones Estate 1500m 21.ii.2004.It is now well established in the area and is on the wing during January, February, June, July, August, September and November.
The species bears a large orange area on the distal half of the hindwing recto.Evans (1932) noted that this orange area is extensive, with a width of ¼ inch, in the southern Indian subspecies nyseus, while it is restricted, well under ¼ inch, in the east Himalayan subspecies khasiana Swinhoe.In addition, the markings on the hindwing verso are reduced in nyseus, with most of the discal band absent.In khasiana, these markings are large and complete.
The specimens examined have a wide orange area on the hindwing recto, ¼ inch or more.On the hindwing verso, all the specimens examined except one (Jones Estate 21.ii.2004) have an incomplete discal band.This latter specimen is not as heavily marked on the verso surface as the specimen depicted in Evans (1932), so it is reasonable to place it under ssp.nyseus.
This suggests that the present infiltration originated in southern India.It is possible, as Singh (2005a) suggests, that the species was carried in succulent plants brought from southern India and, finding the climate conducive, managed to colonise the area.This, however, overlooks Atkinson's (1882) record and the fact that its known larval foodplant, Kalanchoë  2011-10, JoTT 2011-11, 5.vi.2003 female; female;Bhujiaghat 700m, 26.iv.2004 female. Leg. et coll. P. Smetacek.Forewing Length: 12-15 mm.Distribution: Sri Lanka, southern India and from Nepal to Australia.
Remarks: The present records constitute a westward extension to the known distribution of this species.There were several females about, of which I took one on each occasion.Unfortunately, I could not find a male, so it is not possible to ascertain the subspecies to which this population belongs, since the distinction is based on males.Forewing Length: 15mm.Distribution: Southern India and from Nepal to Tavoy.Other subspecies are found in South East Asia, the Philippines and Sulawesi.

Spangled Plushblue
Remarks: This is a westward extension to the known distribution of this species.The specimen recorded descended from the rather high canopy and settled briefly on a leaf some 3m above the ground.It is likely that the species is commoner at the canopy level than it is at ground level.