Moist temperate forest butterflies of western Bhutan

• Main Author: Arun P. Singh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society 2016-03-01
• Series: Journal of Threatened Taxa
• Subjects: Biodiversity hotspot; Bhutanitis lidderdalei; Bunakha; Dochula Pass; eastern Himalaya; Ha Chu River; Lepidoptera; Wang Chu River.
• Online Access: http://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/2297

<p>Random surveys were carried out in moist temperate forests (1,860–3,116 m) around Bunakha Village and Dochula Pass, near Thimphu in western Bhutan, recording 65 species of butterflies.  Of these, 11 species, viz., Straightwing Blue <em>Orthomiella pontis pontis </em>Elwes, Slate Royal <em>Maneca bhotea bhotea </em>Moore, Dull Green Hairstreak <em>Esakiozephyrus icana </em>Moore, Yellow Woodbrown <em>Lethe nicetas </em>Hewitson, Small Silverfork<em> Zophoessa jalaurida elwesi </em>Moore, Scarce Labyrinth, <em>Neope pulahina</em> (Evans), Chumbi Wall <em>Chonala masoni </em>Elwes, Pale Hockeystick Sailer <em>Neptis manasa manasa </em>Moore and White Commodore <em>Parasarpa dudu dudu </em>Westwood, are restricted to the eastern Himalaya, northeastern India and Myanmar.  Two other species, Tawny Mime <em>Chiasa agestor agestor </em>(Gray) and Himalayan Spotted Flat <em>Celaenorrhinus munda</em> Moore have been only rarely recorded from Bhutan and a few individuals of the rare Bhutan Glory <em>Bhutanitis lidderdalei </em>Atkinson were also recorded near Bunakha. </p><div> </div>