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Source: The post is based on the article “White tufted royal butterfly, a rare species, found in Kerala’s Kannur” published in TOI on 12th January 2023
What is the News?
A team of butterfly observers and researchers have found white tufted royal butterfly, a rare butterfly species in Kannur, Kerala.
What is White tufted royal butterfly?
White tufted royal butterfly is a rare butterfly species.
It is protected under Schedule 2 of the Wildlife Protection Act.
The wingspan of the butterfly is just 32-40 mm. Its larvae feed on Scurrula parasitica, a plant belonging to the Loranthaceae family.
The species had been spotted in Agasthyakoodam in 2017 and the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary in 2018.
Significance of finding: There were eight species of the butterfly. While two are common, the others are rare. Since we are able to get the egg, the life cycle of the butterfly can be documented.
Threats: The survival of such rare species is under severe threat and steps should be taken to protect the hills.
