A swarm of yellow butterflies at Peringad, a coastal area in Pavaratty Panchayat, is attracting quite a few enthusiasts.
An expert team of the Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, led
by Dr. T.V. Sajeev observed that the butterflies are of the species
Eurema Hecabae (popularly known as Manja pappathi).
“The reason for immediate increase in population of the butterflies
is the proliferation of two plant species—Sessmania servicea and Cassia
mimosoides in the area. The plants have flowered and they provide food
for the adult butterflies. Moreover these plants also serve as the host
plants for the larval states of the butterfly,” Mr. Sajeev said. The
team found more than 26 lakh of eggs and 13 lakh of larvae of the
butterflies in the grass on the panchayat ground near the Peringad
Coastal Research Centre. Apart from Eurema Hecabae, butterflies such as
Common Rose, Blue Tiger, Stripped Tiger, Common crow, Common Castor and
Grass Jewel are also found in the area. The experts also observed many
mating pairs of butterflies in the area.
The life spans of these butterflies are just a
month. The KFRI will conduct further studies to find out whether there
are more reasons for the proliferation of the butterflies.
