One more butterfly species has been sighted on the Tropical Butterfly Conservatory in Srirangam right here taking the whole variety of species recorded contained in the conservatory to this point to 116. The newest butterfly species that was recorded on Friday was the Darkish Palm Dart, mentioned a Forest Division official. The species may very well be generally present in plains.
To draw butterfly species, about 300 species of host and nectar crops have been raised contained in the 27-acre conservatory. The host crops raised contained in the conservatory embody lemon, False Ashoka, custard apple and curry leaf, whereas the nectar crops embody Bauhinia purpurea, Zinnia peruvian and Ixora coccenia.
“In the course of the North-East monsoon season, the conservatory with its inexperienced surroundings might be anticipated to draw extra butterfly species,” mentioned V. Muthukrishnan, a Junior Analysis Fellow working below the Forest Division on the conservatory.
The plush inexperienced surroundings contained in the conservatory has additionally attracted varied hen species because it was thrown open to guests in late 2015. The Forest Division official mentioned the 93rd hen species was not too long ago recorded on the conservatory. The newest to be recorded was the Scaly breasted munia. The conservatory which was attracting guests in good numbers from Tiruchi and elsewhere within the State has remained shut for guests since late March owing to COVID-19 pandemic.
