New record of butterfly in Melghat Tiger Reserve

Nagpur: With tigers hogging all limelight, a forest guard has found a new record of double-banded judy butterfly in the Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR).
According to a study conducted in 2008 by research scholar Jayant Wadatkar from Amravati University and Raju Kasambe of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), MTR had 101 species of butterflies but the double-banded judy was not part of it.
Sipna division deputy conservator of forests (DyCF) Divya Bharathi M said the double-banded judy is not in the checklist of 101 species of butterflies recorded in 2008.
She said forest guards are preparing biodiversity registers in every beat and have been observing dragonflies, damselflies, spiders, butterflies and other insects during their regular patrol. “This is part of an initiative to create passion and interest among frontline staff to move in the forests. During this survey, forest guard Rameshwar Kathole posted in Hatru range recorded double-banded judy, which is a new record for MTR,” Divya Bharathi told TOI.
Double-banded judy (abisara bifasciata) is a species belonging to the Riodinidae family, generally called Metalmarks. The butterfly has a distribution across peninsular, east and northeast India.
The DyCF added, “We are taking broad measures to develop scientific temperament among the frontline staff. DSLR cameras and field guides are given to guards in every range and the staff is advised to use them along with the GPS device during their routine work.”
Every ecosystem has a complicated network of dependency and it is critical to embrace biodiversity, she said.