Rare Butterfly Form Spotted Near Puducherry

Discovery

A rare philomela form of the Common Wanderer butterfly, known scientifically as Pareronia hippia, has been spotted for the first time in Poothurai of Villupuram district. Butterfly enthusiast Smita Rani Mishra documented the insect at Matur Udyanam, a unit of Sri Aurobindo Ashram.

Details

The butterfly was resting and fluttering among campus plants during hot and humid summer weather. It showed distinct features like pale yellowish wing bases, translucent whitish areas, dark veins, and a faint yellow color near the base. Noted lepidopterist and former Bombay Natural History Society director Isaac Kehimkar confirmed the identification.

Significance

This species is usually found in northeastern India, making records in peninsular India very rare. Naturalists note this finding expands the known range of the rare form in southern India and points to the ecological value of green spaces kept by institutions. Experts suggest further checks in the area will show if the insect is just a visitor or part of a local southern group.