What is the News?
The rare butterfly Palmking (Amathusia phidippus) was sighted for the first time in Tamil Nadu.
What is Palmking (Amathusia phidippus)?
Palmking is a butterfly species that belongs to the Nymphalidae sub-family. It was first recorded in South India by British scientist H.S.Ferguson in 1891. More than a century later, it was rediscovered in 2007.
Characteristics: This butterfly is characterized by its brown colour and dark bands and is described as reclusive, mostly resting in the shade.
– It is not easy to spot a Palmking because its wood colour makes for easy camouflage, and it rarely spreads its wings.
Diet: Palmking feeds on palm, coconut and calamus varieties of plants.
Distribution: This butterfly is widely distributed across parts of India, Myanmar, Indo China, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand. It is also found in the Indonesian archipelago and the Philippines.
– In India, Palmking sightings were recorded in the forests of Arippa, Shendurney, Periyar Tiger Reserve in the south of Western Ghats.
Source: This post is based on the article “Rare butterfly Palmking spotted for the first time in Tamil Nadu” published in The Hindu on 11th April 2022.
