Paintbrush swift butterfly

23.10.2023

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Why in the news?

Recently, the Paintbrush Swift butterfly has been photographed and documented for the first time in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.

important point:

• The state of Himachal Pradesh is home to 25% of the butterfly species found in India.
• It was observed in 2022 during a field survey conducted under the Wild Bhattiyat Project initiated by the Bhattiyat Forest Range.
• 120 species of butterflies have been documented by the Jangli Bhattiyat project launched by the state forest department in 2022.
• Other butterfly species found in Himachal Pradesh are Anomalous Nawab, Blank Swift, Tailed Jay, Siren, etc.

About Paintbrush Swift Butterfly:

• The paintbrush swift (Baeoris fari) belongs to the Hesperiidae family.
• This species had never been photographed in Himachal Pradesh since its discovery in 1878.
• This butterfly was first described by lepidopterist Frederick Moore more than 145 years ago.
• It is identified on the basis of two distinct locations in the upper forewing cell.
• Two distinct spots in its upper forewing cell distinguish it from closely related species.
• The larvae of this species feed on bamboo and some other grass species.
• This butterfly species is seen on the lower hills of Dhauladhar mountain range.

Habitat distribution:

• Habitat distribution of this species is common in North-East, Central and South India, while it is rarely found in Uttarakhand.

Threats:

• Habitat loss and scarcity of larval host plants are major causes of the decline in the butterfly population. An increase in pesticide use, deforestation, and climate change.

conservation status:

• This species is legally protected in India under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

About Bhattiyat Project:

• Wild Bhattiyat Project is a conservation and research initiative launched by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department specifically within the Bhattiyat Forest Range of Dalhousie Forest Division in Himachal Pradesh, India.

The project is designed to study and document the biodiversity of the area, particularly in the Bhattiyat region.