EARLY STAGES OF THE TRAVANCORE EVENING BROWN PARANTIRRHOEA MARSHALLI WOOD-MASON (SATYRINAE, NYMPHALIDAE, LEPIDOPTERA),

Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 106(2), May-Aug 2009 142-148

EARLY STAGES OF THE TRAVANCORE EVENING BROWN PARANTIRRHOEA MARSHALLI

WOOD-MASON (SATYRINAE, NYMPHALIDAE, LEPIDOPTERA), AN ENDEMIC BUTTERFLY FROM THE SOUTHERN WESTERN GHATS, INDIA

Authors : S. KALESH AND SATYA KRISHNA PRAKASH

Email: kaleshs2002in@yahoo.com

          satyaketavarapu@yahoo.co.in

Descriptions of hitherto unknown early stages of the Travancore Evening Brown Parantirrhoea marshalli Wood-Mason, a rare and endemic butterfly from the southern Western Ghats are presented. Ochlandra travancorica Benth.,Family Poaceae, a gregarious reed seen near water in deciduous and mixed forests, is reported as its larval host plantfor the first time. Even though the caterpillars of this species were found to be common in suitable habitats, the adultswere rarely sighted in its range.

Key words: early stages, endemic species, Travancore Evening Brown, Parantirrhoea marshalli, Satyrinae,Nymphalidae, Lepidoptera, Western Ghats

Travancore Evening Brown Parantirrhoea marshalli was first described in 1880 by J. Wood-Mason in The Journal of Asiatic Society, Bengal. Marshall and de Niceville (1883) stated, “P. marshalli has yet only been found in Travancore, where it was discovered by Mr. H.S. Ferguson on the Ashamboo hills in May.” More than 100 years have passed with only a handful of sightings of this elusive butterfly. Parantirrhoea marshalli is endemic to the southern Western Ghats of peninsular India and is known to occur from Coorg to the As

Ranipuram - A Travelogue (by Ramesh M.)

People are known to have travelled across the globe from history immortal. It is not only for knowing about others, but it is to know oneself, one’s strengths and weaknesses. Ranipuram is surely not a well known place for any travancorian. She is at least 630 kms from Kerala’s capital city, difficult to reach, and little known for hospitality, still I chose it for a solo trip during this summer, notorious for its sun strokes and burns. The idea was to look into myself, to strengthen resolutions, and to build up energy and vision.

THE FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF ACHANKOVIL RESERVE FORESTS: A PRELIMINARY STUDY REPORT

  Authors: Dr. Kalesh.S, Sanjayan. K.B, Jayakumar.K, Ramesh.M, Kiran.C.G, Charan.H, Baiju.K


The Achankovil Reserve Forests (9⁰0’N- 9⁰8’N, 77⁰0’E-77⁰15’E) lies in the proximal drainage area of Achankovil River (Fig.1). The Achankovil Reserve Forests are one of the relatively less explored areas as far as Lepidopteran Fauna is concerned. This survey is the first in the series planned to map the faunal wealth of Achankovil Region and this initial step hoped to generate background data for future works in region. The survey team visited Achankovil region for a period of three days in February 2010. Transect method was used for preparing the Faunal checklists. The Butterfly diversity was particularly impressive even in the dry month at Kanayar and Vazhaperiyar. An impressive 119 species of butterflies were recorded including Travancore Evening Brown Parantirrhoea marshallii, Golden Tree flitter Quedara basiflava, Spotted Angle Caprona agama, and Orchid tit Chliaria othona over three days.