Northeast Desk, 7th April: In a momentous breakthrough, a group of butterfly enthusiasts has uncovered the elusive Neptis philyra, colloquially known as the long-streak sailor, within the picturesque confines of the Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, nestled in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district. This remarkable find marks the first recorded sighting of the Neptis philyra species in India.
The dedicated team behind this extraordinary discovery hails from diverse regions, including Atanu Bose, Mahesh Baruah, and Abhishek Dutta Choudhury from Assam’s Bongaigaon, alongside Anitava Roy from West Bengal. Their expedition received a significant boost from the support of the Wiki Loves Butterflies program and benefited immensely from the invaluable field expertise of Kojmama Taman and Punyo Chada.
The Neptis philyra, initially described by M. Ménétriés in 1859, predominantly inhabits regions of East Asia, spanning from eastern Siberia to Vietnam. Its range encompasses diverse territories, including Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Tibet, and Yunnan.
This groundbreaking discovery has been meticulously documented and published in the esteemed Journal of Tropical Lepidoptera Research, an international scientific journal headquartered in Florida, USA.
The identification of Neptis philyra not only enhances our comprehension of butterfly biodiversity within India but also emphasizes the critical significance of collaborative endeavors in wildlife exploration and conservation. This discovery stands as a testament to the invaluable contributions of dedicated enthusiasts and the pivotal role of concerted efforts in safeguarding our natural heritage.
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