Butterfly Safari in the Western Ghats: a possibility? - Part 2

It is rather innocent of us to assume that most butterflies are “pure vegetarians”, sit pretty and sip only nectar. Our conditioning compels us to associate them with “innocent” behaviour and a clean diet. But the truth is far from it! Many species of butterflies in the Western Ghats, such as the Common Map, feed on carrion, rotten fruits, and animal droppings for essential nutrients. Large groups of butterflies, particularly the males, get together on moist soil, riverbanks, or puddles to suck up salts and minerals that they require for reproduction.

I have often wondered on my hikes around the waterfalls of Coorg, can butterflies truly defend themselves? Many apparently defenceless species have evolved to mimic the wing patterns and flight behaviors of toxic species in order to evade predators. Research proves that mimicking butterfly species of the Western Ghats have evolved faster to beat predators (than the non-mimicking ones).

Our in-house Naturalist at Evolve Back Coorg shared many stories about the macro world that inspired awe in me. Among the facts he stated was the fascinating episode of the female Southern Birdwing, one of India's largest butterflies. She exhibits a unique behavior of shooting eggs onto grass blades rather than laying them directly on the host plant. How smart is that!

On our morning trail in North Coorg we also learned that even the larvae of some species are capable of preparing their own defence! Namely the larvae of the Lycaenidae or 'Blues' have a symbiotic relationship with ants. The caterpillars produce a sugary secretion that attracts ants, which in turn protect the caterpillars from predators and parasitoids. While most caterpillars eat plants, the larva of the Apefly butterfly (Spalgis epius), found in this region, is carnivorous, and feeds on woolly aphids.

Another interesting feature is the flight pattern. But in order to observe them in flight one must observe acutely and stand or sit very still while at it. The endemic Travancore Evening Brown (Paratirrhoea marshalli) is known to be highly territorial, with males keeping to higher perches and displaying unique flight patterns. In recent times some of the species found in the Ghats have displayed changes in the wing color of successive generations, depending on the season. This functions as a defence mechanism and helps them blend in with the surroundings.

What if I told you there’s a raven that rules these hills? Meet the Malabar Raven - a large, striking swallowtail often spotted deep in the evergreen forests. Its wings shimmer with rich dark hues and subtle motifs that make it unmistakable in flight. On your morning walk keep an eye out for their caterpillars feeding on host plants like Glycosmis pentaphylla and Clausena heptaphylla, members of the citrus family Rutaceae.

The Large Oakblue, one of the most eye-catching Lycaenids (blues) with hints of metallic blue on the upper side, is found more often along the edges of the canopy or close to forest roads. And sometimes even old coffee estates with native shade trees! If you are looking for the Spotted Small Flats and Silverlines then I strongly recommend checking scrubby clearings, stream banks, and lightly wooded village outskirts, where their host plants grow abundantly.

If you are lucky you may also find the Golden Flitter gliding low through shaded forest trails. Look for its warm brown and yellow colours hovering above the leaf litter.

Another delight is the Coorg Forest Hopper - a skipper butterfly that tends to stay low and is quick to flutter ahead of you as you walk. The fast skipping flight of this butterfly makes it challenging but also rewarding to observe.

The next time you are on a shady forest trail keep an eye out for a butterfly resting with its wings spread flat. These are the “flats,” a group of medium-sized skippers with distinctive spots across the wings and a mottled brown pattern. Its larvae feed on herbs and plants that thrive in forest understorey light gaps.

It is particularly interesting and important to note how specialised the caterpillars are about what they eat. For instance milkweed relatives (Asclepiadaceae) are crucial for danaine butterflies like the Blue Tiger, which sometimes migrate through the forest edges.

In these parts of the Western Ghats the presence of these butterflies is closely related to habitat type, elevation, and the rhythms of seasonal rain and sunlight. Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests around Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Talacauvery, Pushpagiri, and Nagarahole fringes are prime locations for the species we have already identified and discussed above. They prefer dense shade, humid undergrowth, and relatively undisturbed forest trails.

The best window forbutterfly spottingin Coorg is between September and February - just after the monsoon, when fresh foliage supports caterpillar growth and nectar sources are plentiful. You are likely to run into the oakblues, skippers, and silverlines basking on sunny breaks.

I am often asked why I love to watch butterflies. To my mind theirs is a world that is incredibly fascinating with lessons to take home. They are more than just beautiful insects. A healthy butterfly population often signals a thriving ecosystem with intact forests and rich plant diversity.

Continue your booking