MADURAI: The butterfly count carried out in Madurai yesterday has given some interesting results as 39 species belonging to five families were recorded and gave interesting data to butterfly enthusiasts.
On September 24th 2024, the Post Graduate and Research Department of Zoology of The American College in Madurai had organized butterfly count and it was carried out in the sprawling American College main campus in Madurai and also at satellite campus in Chatharapatti near here.
Dr.E.Joy Sharmila, Associate Professor- PG Head and Dr.P.Velladurai, Associate Professor- UG Head, took special efforts for this butterfly count in which students, faculty and researchers had participated and cam out with their data and findings while research scholar Archana had highlighted the importance of butterflies.
“Butterfly count is organized every year in the month of September. This gives the students insights into biology and conservation of butterflies. The PG and Research Department of Zoology has been carrying out butterfly count from the year 2007 and a butterfly garden was set up in the college campus here,” a press release received from the college yesterday has informed.
BUTTERFLIES SIGHTED:
The PG and Research Department of Zoology of American College in Madurai has received funding for four butterfly projects and research scholar Archana is receiving funding from Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology.
“In the butterfly count on September 24th 2024, our teams recorded 39 species belonging to five families. It includes eight species of Pieridae, 10 species of Papilionidae, 15 species of Nymphalidae, four species of Lycaenidae and two species of Family Hesperiidae. Among the butterflies sighted include Common Nawab, Southern Bird Wing and Common Banded Peacock were recorded for the first time in the satellite campus at Chathrapatti and here besides many other species,” the American College press release has said.
The largest butterfly of Tamil Nadu- which is Southern Birdwing- had been recorded in Alagar Hills in the year 2014 and in Sirumalai Hills in 2021. “Research work on butterflies is being carried out under the guidance of Postgraduate Head Dr.E.Joy Sharmila. The butterfly count program arrangements were made by K.J.Dhananjeyan and Cristo Queensly and several students and members of zoology associations of the college took part,” the release added.
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