Six New Butterfly Species Recorded in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley

During recent biodiversity surveys in Simong village, Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, researchers documented six butterfly species never before recorded in India. The findings, published in Entomon Journal, highlight the region’s role as an ecological bridge between the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra River in Tibet) and the rich forests on its southern bank in India.

Newly Recorded Species

Among the six newly recorded species are:

• Litin Onyx (Horaga takanamii)
• Tibetan Junglequeen (Stichophthalma neumogeni renqingduojiei)
• Tibetan Duke (Euthalia zhaxidunzhui)

These species were previously known only from Laos, Vietnam, and southeastern Tibet.

How the Discovery Happened

• The discovery occurred serendipitously during a camera-trap survey for mammals in the Litin Community Conserved Area (CCA), about 11 km from Yingkiong.
• Researchers noticed unusual butterflies along their transects, leading to further documentation and identification.

Conservation Significance

• The findings showcase the extraordinary biodiversity of the Siang Valley and underline the importance of local conservation initiatives.
• The Litin clan of Simong village has been actively protecting its ancestral forest through community-based stewardship, enabling such rare discoveries.

Source: DTE