130 butterfly species recorded from Pasighat

From our correspondent

Itagar, Nov 21: A team of environmentalists recorded about 130 species during its survey of butterfly species in the foothill areas near Pasighat town in East Siang district recently.

The team, under the banner of ‘State Foundation for Biodiversity Conservation’ and in collaboration with the State’s Forest Department conducted a two-day camp and the second edition of Butterfly and Biodiversity Meet at Pasighat on November 18 and 19 last.

The researchers say that butterflies play vital role in pollition and have a biotic factor on the environment. They are very sensitive to tural phenomenon, like climate change and ecological disaster.

Siang valley, adjacent to Dihang-Dibang Biosphere Reserve (DDBR), is a suitable habitat for varieties of butterflies. The tural flora, endowed with evergreen forests and angiosperms and perennial streams supports comfortable survival and tural breeding of the winged species.

According to the Itagar-based State Forest Research Institute (SFRI) report, the hilly state so far has recorded more than 450 species of butterflies in the DDBR.

One of the rarest species – Bhagadatta (Austenia Purpurascens) – discovered by Bombay tural History Society in 1915 near then Abor Hills in East Siang district— was rediscovered at Molo area of the DDBR after a century.

The butterfly study team, led by Dr Joram Khopey, also conducted survey on medicil herbs found in the tural vegetation.