Coimbatore: Butterfly enthusiasts and researchers inform that the early monsoons this year have led to the early migration of butterflies.
Coimbatore: Butterfly enthusiasts and researchers inform that the early monsoons this year have led to the early migration of butterflies.
Butterflies are little rainbows with even more colours than the rainbows. These swift little insects move from place to place in a blink of the eye. Butterflies are the primary reason for the growth of rare plants in the mountain forests and in dense forest areas. Incessant heavy rains tend to spoil the habitat of butterflies and so lakhs of butterflies tend to decorate the skies with brilliant colours and migrate from the Western Ghats to Eastern Ghats before the onset of the South west monsoon rains. They breed there and during the North east monsoon season they fly back from the Easternn Ghats to the Western Ghats.
Even though this event takes place every year, in a trend not witnessed for the past eight years butterflies have migrated earlier than usual this year, inform enthusiasts. It is visibly notable when more than 150 butterflies take off from areas such as the Singanallur lake, Vellalur lake, Sulur lake and Puttuvikki.
Migration to the Western Ghat regions of Coimbatore and Nilgiris district usually takes place due to the conducive climate, food and for breeding purposes. Butterflies from Kollimalai, Yercaud and Pacchamalai of the Eastern Ghats and other areas migrate during the months of September and October. They usually travel a distance of 150 lms to 250 kms in the daylight. They fly three meters above the ground and rest in the night and continue their journey the next day. One the migration happens they do not go back and wait until the next season. The return journey towards the Eastern Ghats usually takes place in the months of April and May.
The Coordinator of Kovai Iyarkai Amaippu and Pattampoochi Amaippu informed that the migration has taken place much earlier In the current year. Further, he said, "For more than the past one week butterflies such as dark blue tiger, blue tiger, common crow, double branded crow, lime butterfly, common emigrants, plain tiger, crimson rose, striped tiger are spotted frequently. These are seen migrating towards the Western Ghats. Usually the migration of butterflies takes place in the month of September, however, this year it has been noticed in August- September. We have to wait to know if the usual migration that takes place in September will happen this year too."
He also said, "This migration trend that has not been noticed in the past eight years is now happening. It has been alleged that this is mainly because of the heavy rains that have been witnessed in the Eastern Ghats.Butterflies do not usually travel in the same direction. However, they travel in a straight line and at a constant speed.
On behalf of the TNBS a new table for the calculation of migration of butterflies has been released. The public, bird and butterfly enthusiasts, researchers and all others can take part in this and provide information regarding the butterflies listed in the form if they are spotted in large numbers in their neighbourhood. Their quantity, time, time of the day, direction of flying and type can all be filled up and sent to the email id. [email protected].
With the help of this data a report will be prepared. Further, migration of butterflies can be witnessed in large numbers on the Mettupalayam- Ooty road, Kotagiri road and other hilly areas. Hence people driving in the areas where there are large numbers of butterflies must drive at a controlled speed.