Moist temperate forest butterflies of western Bhutan

Abstract

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 Orthomiella pontis pontis Elwes, Slate Royal Maneca bhotea bhotea Moore, Dull Green Hairstreak Esakiozephyrus icana Moore, Yellow Woodbrown Lethe nicetas Hewitson, Small Silverfork Zophoessa jalaurida elwesi Moore, Scarce Labyrinth, Neope pulahina (Evans), Chumbi Wall Chonala masoni Elwes, Pale Hockeystick Sailer Neptis manasa manasa Moore and White Commodore Parasarpa dudu dudu Westwood, are restricted to the eastern Himalaya, northeastern India and Myanmar. Two other species, Tawny Mime Chiasa agestor agestor (Gray) and Himalayan Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus munda Moore have been only rarely recorded from Bhutan and a few individuals of the rare Bhutan Glory Bhutanitis lidderdalei Atkinson were also recorded near Bunakha.

Keywords

• Biodiversity hotspot
• Bhutanitis lidderdalei
• Bunakha
• Dochula Pass
• eastern Himalaya
• Ha Chu River
• Lepidoptera
• Wang Chu River.