A team of butterfly enthusiasts recently uncovered a major finding within the Tale Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in the Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh. The elusive Neptis philyra, commonly referred to as the long-streak sailor, was unexpectedly discovered by them, making it the first documented sighting of this butterfly species in India.
Atanu Bose, an enthusiast of butterflies, was confident that the Neptis philyra butterfly he encountered was a species previously unknown in India. He subsequently informed his associates Mahesh Baruah (Bongaigaon), Abhishek Dutta Choudhury (Bongaigaon), and Anitava Roy (West Bengal) about this exciting discovery.
The Neptis genus is known for its wide variety, consisting of around 160 identified species. India has documented 26 species of Neptis. According to Greek mythology, Philyra was a nymph born to Oceanus and Tethys. The butterfly exhibit wings with notched edges, displaying a deep brownish-black hue on the upper side and a yellow-brown shade on the underside. Its forewing showcases a distinctive white streak in the form of a “hockey stick” pattern, accompanied by spots in spaces 2 and 3.
Tale Wildlife Sanctuary boasts a wide array of primary vegetation, including temperate conifers, as well as temperate and subtropical broadleaved forests. The lush floral landscape consists of various oak and rhododendron species, along with bamboo and conifer types. Conifers thrive in the valley region, while the hilltops are covered with flourishing broadleaved forests within the Tale Valley.
