[caption id="attachment_184846" align="alignnone" width="550"]
Khivikhu Khaki Silverline Spindasis[/caption]
Dimapur, May 23 (EMN): There is a rich haul of birds and butterfly species in Nagaland. For instance, a recent conclave on biodiversity in Zunheboto district has reported about 212 species of birds, 155 species of butterflies and more than 200 species of moths so far.
A biodiversity event called the Nagaland Biodiversity Meet was conducted during May 9-16 to document biodiversity in the villages of Sukhai, Ghukhuyi, and Kivikhu in Zunheboto district, according to updates. Conservation groups such as the Centre of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Energy & Resources Institute have been working in this landscape for the past three years, with support from the Nagaland Forest department.
"As an outcome of their efforts, these three villages have voluntarily formed community conserved areas jointly called the Tizu Valley Biodiversity Conservation & Livelihood Network in order to protect their forests and associated biodiversity," the updates, from the institute, stated.
Surveys by the team prior to the biodiversity programme have resulted in a checklist of 212 species of birds, 155 species of butterflies and more than 200 species of moths so far, the update stated.
"Many new and interesting records have already been documented. Flocks of the rare white-headed morph of the Himalayan Black Bulbul (Hypsipetesleucocephalus) have been seen in Sukhai and Kivikhu. The extremely rare birds, Naga Wren-babbler Spelaeornischocolatinus and Hodgson’s Frogmouth (Batrachostomushodgsoni) have been sighted in the landscape," the group stated.
Amongst the butterflies, the endemic Naga Emperor (Chitorianaga)and the RufousSilverline(Spindasisevansii) have been reported here; both are extremely rare species, the updates stated.
Among moths, the Comostola Hauenstein has been recorded for the first time from Nagaland, while Kranandalucidaria has been reported for the first time from India. Despite these very interesting records, the area’s biodiversity remains unexplored, the updates added.
Other interesting butterfly species that were recorded include the Orange-breasted Freak (Calinaga brahma), Manipur Map (Araschniadohertyi), KhakiSilverline (Spindasisrukmini) among many others, whose identities are being verified, the updates informed.
Further, it was stated that more than 250 species of moths were recorded including the male and female of the rare Picture-winged Leaf Moth (Glanycusinsolitus). The records of birds, butterflies and moths will be shared through Biodiversity Atlas – India (bioatlasindia.org), the institute stated.
