8th Butterfly Meet Chakrata, Uttaranchal

After the successful 7th All India Butterfly Meet conducted at Buxaduar WLS and Samsing, West Bengal; the discussion triggered about next meet. A though came that previous meets were either in north east India or south India. So next time why not explore western Himalaya?

At this point I had already visited Chakrata in Oct 2006 while I was doing PGD in natural resource management and sustainable development with Ecologicl Society, Pune. Unfortunately I didn't had camera in that trip and had very poor knowledge of Himalayan butterflies so overall documentation of the butterflies was very poor. But that visit showed me that Chakrata is promising area for butterflying and will have a different spectrum of species than previous butterfly meets. Hence I proposed the meet at Chakrata. It was scheduled from 29th September to 3rd October 2008.

Chakrata is located approximately 110Km from Dehradun. The height of Chakrata village from mean sea level is about 7000ft. During the meet we visited several places around chakrata whose altitude varied from 4000 ft to 10000 ft. We tried to cover maximum type of eco systems around Chakrata and hence at the end of the meet we could claim a checklist of 142 species. during the meet we stayed at a hotel named Himalayan Paradise which is situated about 4km from Chakrata near a place called Guasa bridge. The location of hotel is very picturesque and in the lap of nature. Large diversity of birds and butterflies could be spotted just sitting in the balcony of the hotel.

All members of the meet gathered at Dehradoon on the morning of 29th September and started journey towards Chakrata in two Sumo vehicles. Since the target of day 1 was just to reach Chakrata we were spending a lot of time in mountains. We were stopping at every place where we could spot butterfly activity. This activity gave good results. Our checklist exceeded over 50 on day 1 itself. Orange Oakleaf, Clubbed beak, Spangle, Redbreast, Spotted Sawtooth, Peacock Royal, Common Map, Common Flash were the highlights of the Day.

The second day was set to explore around Chakrata village and our hotel. We started our activity around 8am when first sunlight entered into the valley. The first important sighting was of Chapman's cupid, Common Punch and Circe. Then the walk towards Chakrata revealed the presence of Common Wall, Striated and common Satyr, Common Yellow swallowtail, Common Copper and white bordered copper. After spending about 2 Hrs on the route we traveled by vehicle directly towards Forest Bungalow. Its a remnant from British era which is now renovated. There is an excellent botanical garden around Forest Bungalow. This garden also posses wide variety of ornamental and wild flowers. This attracted a good number of butterflies like Large Silverstripe, common brimstone, Marginated hedge blue, Common Woodbrown, Common Treebrown etc. The return journey was uneventful as the weather became very much cloudy. The temperature dropped around 15 degree Celsius and the only butterflies which could be seem were Argus and hedge blues. A brief opening in the clouds gave us sighting of common beak and green sapphire. The cloudy conditions were gone after some time but by that time it was evening and sunlight was already week to boost up the temperature. So butterfly activity faded. But that created good opportunity for bird watching and I was able to spot several himalayan birds like himalayan pipit, himalayan crested bulbul, black bulbul, several variety of tits etc.

Day 3 was planned to explore lower altitude. The trail which we were going to take known as Tiger Falls trek; was a promising trail but the trekking was exhaustive too. From the experience of previous two days we worked out that butterfly activity is maximum during 8 to 12 in the morning. The activity necessarily terminates around 4pm. The trek was going to take at least 5 hours considering that we were going to take butterflying stops. So it wasn't possible to cover the top and the bottom of the valley at same time if we all moved together. So I divided our team in two groups. First group was supposed to trek from our hotel to Tiger falls via Khoya channi village. Second group was supposed to travel directly to Tiger falls by vehicle and explore the area. I was with the trekker group. Five of us started moving towards valley at 8. Valley was very narrow and hence it was almost 10 when first ray of light touched the bottom of valley. But then we had butterflies all around us. The hot sighting of this trail were Yellow Coaster, Great Mormon, Paris Peacock, Tabby, Western Courtier, Blue Admiral, Common Brimstone, spotless and small grass yellow, Glassy bluebottle and Cornelian. As we reach at the bottom of the valley and met with other team we added few more hot sightings into our checklist like Powdery green sapphire, Water snow flat, Common Nawab and Orange bordered Argus. We were back to hotel tired but satisfied.

Day 4 was scheduled for exploring higher altitudes. Here also we decided to cover two locations. First was a trek to place called Budher. Second location was a place called Devban. The trekker team went to Budhre caves and another team went to Devban where direct approach by vehicle is possible. Budher caves are high altitude meadows with Deodar and pine forest on the lower slopes. Deoban is typical Deodar forest at high altitude. Budher has a very beautiful cave consisting of stalactite and stalagmite structures while at Deoban you can see a deodar tree with girth of 640cm. This day opened up with cloudy sky but with intermediate opening.

During Budher cave trail, thousands of Common woodbrowns were spotted involved in basking and puddling activity. Along with that Dark Clouded yellow, Common Satyr, Hill jezeble, Dusky Hedge Blue, Chestnut Tiger were important sightings. The most important sighting in this trail was Queen of Spain fritillary. The deoban trail gave a rare sighting of lesser punch. Other sightings were similar to Budher caves. Only things is that large congregation of woodbrowns was seen only in Budher trail.

The night of day four gave a surprising sighting of Forstein's Cat Snake at our hotel. It was trying to enter into a room when it was spotted. Being a non-venomous snake it was easy to capture and handle. So I took liberty of that and got pretty nice photographs of the snake.

The fifth was our last day and we just eplored around our hotel in the morning. By noon we were already on the way to Dehradoon. But rather than taking the same road by which we arrived we took a road towards Mussoori and then towards Dehradun. When we came at a lower altitude we added few more in our checklist. Zebra blue, Malayan, Common line blue, common pierrot, Clear sailor, commander were the highlights. We reached Dehradoon around six and we had about 3 hrs before we board in the train but since it was time to part we were making most of it. It would be another year before we meet together.

Link to the Photographs of Chakrata Meet
https://picasaweb.google.com/pinakin.karve/8thButterflyMeetChakrataUttaranchal

Checklist of the Meet is as follows

Day 1

29th September, 2008

Chakrata Road - CHR

Day 2

30th September, 2008

Chakrata & Forest Guest House - CH

Day 3

1st October, 2008

Tiger Fall trek route - TF

Day 4

2nd October, 2008

Budher Cave - BC & Deoban - DB

Day 5

3rd October, 2008

Mussourie Road - MRd

Serial

Family

Common Name

Scientific Name

CHR

CH

TF

BC

DB

MRd

Very Common

Common

Rare

1

Papilionidae

Common Rose

Pachliopta aristolochiae

Y

Y

Y

2

Papilionidae

Common Jay

Graphium doson

Y

Y

3

Papilionidae

Tailed Jay

Graphium agamemnon

Y

Y

4

Papilionidae

Common Bluebottle

Graphium sarpedon

Y

Y

5

Papilionidae

Glassy Bluebottle

Graphium cloanthus

Y

Y

6

Papilionidae

Common Mormon

Papilio polytes

Y

Y

Y

Y

7

Papilionidae

Great Mormon

Papilio memnon

Y

Y

8

Papilionidae

Lime Butterfly

Papilio demoleus

Y

Y

Y

9

Papilionidae

Common Batwing

Atrophaneura varuna

Y

Y

10

Papilionidae

Spangle

Papilio protenor

Y

Y

Y

11

Papilionidae

Redbreast

Papilio alcmenor

Y

Y

12

Papilionidae

Common Yellow Swallowtail

Papilio machaon

Y

Y

13

Papilionidae

Common Peacock

Papilio polyctor

Y

Y

14

Papilionidae

Paris Peacock

Papilio paris

Y

Y

15

Pieridae

Common Wanderer

Pareronia valeria

Y

Y

Y

16

Pieridae

Common Jezebel

Delias eucharis

Y

Y

17

Pieridae

Hill Jezebel

Delias belladona

Y

Y

Y

18

Pieridae

Spotted Sawtooth

Prioneris thestylis

Y

Y

19

Pieridae

Psyche

Leptosia nina

Y

Y

Y

20

Pieridae

Indian Cabbage White

Pieris canidia

Y

Y

Y

Y

21

Pieridae

Pioneer

Belenois aurota

Y

Y

22

Pieridae

Common Gull

Cepora nerissa

Y

Y

23

Pieridae

Common Emigrant

Catopsilia pomona

Y

Y

Y

Y

24

Pieridae

Mottled Emigrant

Catopsilia pyranthe

Y

Y

Y

Y

25

Pieridae

Small Grass Yellow

Eurema brigitta

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

26

Pieridae

Common Grass Yellow

Eurema hecabe

Y

Y

Y

27

Pieridae

Three-spot Grass Yellow

Eurema blanda

Y

Y

28

Pieridae

Spotless Grass Yellow

Eurema laeta

Y

Y

Y

29

Pieridae

Dark Clouded Yellow

Colias fieldii

Y

Y

Y

30

Pieridae

Common Brimstone

Gonepteryx rhamni

Y

Y

Y

31

Lycaenidae

Peacock Royal

Tajuria cippus

Y

Y

32

Lycaenidae

Blue Tit

Chliaria kina

Y

Y

33

Lycaenidae

Cornelian

Deudorix epijarbas

Y

Y

34

Lycaenidae

Common Flash

Rapala nissa

Y

Y

35

Lycaenidae

Common Copper

Lycaena phlaeas

Y

Y

36

Lycaenidae

White-bordered Copper

Lycaena pavana

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

37

Lycaenidae

Powdery Green Sapphire

Heliophorus tamu

Y

Y

38

Lycaenidae

Green Sapphire

Heliophorus androcles

Y

Y

39

Lycaenidae

Sorrel Sapphire

Heliophorus sena

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

40

Lycaenidae

Common Ciliate Blue

Anthene emolus

Y

Y

41

Lycaenidae

Common Pierrot

Castalius rosimon

Y

Y

42

Lycaenidae

Zebra Blue

Leptotes plinius

Y

Y

Y

43

Lycaenidae

Common Lineblue

Prosotas nora

Y

Y

44

Lycaenidae

Common Cerulean

Jamides celeno

Y

Y

45

Lycaenidae

Pea Blue

Lampides boeticus

Y

Y

Y

46

Lycaenidae

Dark Grass Blue

Zizeeria karsandra

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

47

Lycaenidae

Pale Grass Blue

Pseudozizeeria maha

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

48

Lycaenidae

Grass Jewel

Freyeria trochylus

Y

Y

49

Lycaenidae

Tiny Grass Blue

Zizula hylax

Y

Y

50

Lycaenidae

Lime Blue

Chilades laius

Y

Y

51

Lycaenidae

Chapman's Cupid

Everes argiades diporides

Y

Y

Y

52

Lycaenidae

Red Pierrot

Talicada nyseus

Y

Y

53

Lycaenidae

Quaker

Neopithecops zalmora

Y

Y

Y

54

Lycaenidae

Malayan

Megisba malaya

Y

Y

55

Lycaenidae

Gram Blue

Euchrysops cnejus

Y

Y

56

Lycaenidae

Dusky Hedge Blue

Oreolyce vardhana

Y

Y

57

Lycaenidae

Margined Hedge Blue

Celatoxia marginata

Y

Y

58

Lycaenidae

Plain Hedge Blue

Celestrina lavendularis

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

59

Lycaenidae

Orange-bordered Argus

Aricia astrarche

Y

Y

60

Lycaenidae

Plains Cupid

Chilades pandava

Y

Y

61

Lycaenidae

Plum Judy

Abisara echerius

Y

Y

62

Lycaenidae

Lesser Punch

Dodona dipoea

Y

Y

63

Lycaenidae

Tailed Punch

Dodona eugenes

Y

Y

64

Lycaenidae

Common Punch

Dodona ouida

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

65

Nymphalidae

Common Beak

Libythea lepita

Y

Y

66

Nymphalidae

Club Beak

Libythea myrrha

Y

Y

67

Nymphalidae

Dark Blue Tiger

Tirumala septentrionis

Y

Y

68

Nymphalidae

Common Tiger

Danaus genutia

Y

Y

69

Nymphalidae

Plain Tiger

Danaus chrysippus

Y

Y

70

Nymphalidae

Glassy Tiger

Parantica aglea

Y

Y

Y

Y

71

Nymphalidae

Chestnut Tiger

Parantica sita

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

72

Nymphalidae

Striped Blue Crow

Euploea mulciber

Y

Y

Y

Y

73

Nymphalidae

Common Crow

Euploea core

Y

Y

Y

74

Nymphalidae

Common Nawab

Polyura athamas

Y

Y

75

Nymphalidae

Common Evening Brown

Melanitis leda

Y

Y

76

Nymphalidae

Bamboo Treebrown

Lethe europa

Y

Y

77

Nymphalidae

Common Treebrown

Lethe rohria

Y

Y

Y

78

Nymphalidae

Banded Treebrown

Neopa confusa

Y

Y

79

Nymphalidae

Straight-banded Treebrown

Neope verma

Y

Y

80

Nymphalidae

Common Woodbrown

Lethe sidonis

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

81

Nymphalidae

Common Wall

Lasiommata schakra

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

82

Nymphalidae

Long-brand Bushbrown

Mycalesis visala

Y

Y

83

Nymphalidae

White-line Bushbrown

Mycalesis malsara

Y

Y

84

Nymphalidae

Nigger

Orsotrioena medus

Y

Y

85

Nymphalidae

Straited Satyr

Aulocera saraswati

Y

Y

Y

86

Nymphalidae

Common Satyr

Aulocera swaha

Y

Y

Y

Y

87

Nymphalidae

Ringed Argus

Callerebia ananda

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

88

Nymphalidae

Hybrid Argus

Callerebia hybrida

Y

Y

89

Nymphalidae

Pallid Argus

Callerebia scanda

Y

Y

90

Nymphalidae

Common Four-ring

Ypthima hubenri

Y

Y

91

Nymphalidae

Common Five-ring

Ypthima baldus

Y

Y

92

Nymphalidae

Large Three-ring

Ypthima nareda

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

93

Nymphalidae

Himalayan Five-ring

Ypthima sakra

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

94

Nymphalidae

Tawny Coster

Acraea violae

Y

Y

95

Nymphalidae

Yellow Coster

Acraea issoria

Y

Y

Y

96

Nymphalidae

Large Silverstripe

Childrena childreni

Y

Y

Y

97

Nymphalidae

Queen of Spain Fritillary

Issoria lathonia

Y

Y

Y

98

Nymphalidae

Rustic

Cupha erymanthis

Y

Y

Y

99

Nymphalidae

Common Leopard

Phalanta phalanta

Y

Y

100

Nymphalidae

Common Sergeant

Parathyma perius

Y

Y

101

Nymphalidae

Himalayan Sergeant

Athyma opalina

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

102

Nymphalidae

Staff Sergeant

Athyma selenophora

Y

Y

103

Nymphalidae

Common Lascar

Pantoporia hordonia

Y

Y

104

Nymphalidae

Small Yellow Sailer

Neptis miah

Y

Y

105

Nymphalidae

Common Sailer

Neptis hylas

Y

Y

Y

106

Nymphalidae

Himalayan Sailer

Neptis mahendra

Y

Y

107

Nymphalidae

Creamy Sailer

Pantoporia soma butleri

Y

Y

108

Nymphalidae

Clear Sailer

Neptis clinia

Y

Y

109

Nymphalidae

Common Map

Cyrestis thyodamas

Y

Y

110

Nymphalidae

Tabby

Pseudergolis wedah

Y

Y

Y

Y

111

Nymphalidae

Angled Castor

Ariadne ariadne

Y

Y

Y

112

Nymphalidae

Common Castor

Ariadne merione

Y

Y

Y

113

Nymphalidae

Circe

Hestina nama

Y

Y

114

Nymphalidae

Western Courtier

Sephisa dichroa

Y

Y

Y

115

Nymphalidae

Common Jester

Symbrenthia lilaea

Y

Y

116

Nymphalidae

Himalayan Jester

Symbrenthia hypselis

Y

Y

117

Nymphalidae

Blue-tail Jester

Symbrenthia niphanda

Y

Y

118

Nymphalidae

Indian Red Admiral

Vanessa indica

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

119

Nymphalidae

Painted Lady

Cynthia cardui

Y

Y

120

Nymphalidae

Commander

Moduza procris

Y

Y

Y

121

Nymphalidae

Indian Tortoiseshell

Aglais cashmiriensis

Y

Y

122

Nymphalidae

Blue Admiral

Kaniska canace

Y

Y

Y

123

Nymphalidae

Blue Pansy

Junonia orithya

Y

Y

Y

124

Nymphalidae

Yellow Pansy

Junonia hierta

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

125

Nymphalidae

Chocolate Pansy

Precis iphita

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

126

Nymphalidae

Grey Pansy

Junonia atlites

Y

Y

Y

Y

127

Nymphalidae

Peacock Pansy

Junonia almana

Y

Y

Y

Y

128

Nymphalidae

Lemon Pansy

Junonia lemonias

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

129

Nymphalidae

Great Eggfly

Hypolimnas bolina

Y

Y

Y

130

Nymphalidae

Orange Oakleaf

Kallima inachus

Y

Y

Y

131

Hesperiidae

Indian Skipper

Spialia galba

Y

Y

132

Hesperiidae

Common Small Flat

Sarangesa dasahara

Y

Y

133

Hesperiidae

Spotted Small Flat

Sarangesa purendra

Y

Y

134

Hesperiidae

Fulvous Pied Flat

Coladenia dan

Y

Y

Y

135

Hesperiidae

Water Snow Flat

Tagiades litigiosa

Y

Y

136

Hesperiidae

Golden Angle

Caprona ransonnetti

Y

Y

137

Hesperiidae

Straight Swift

Parnara guttatus

Y

Y

Y

Y

138

Hesperiidae

Bevan's Swift

Pseudoborbo bevani

Y

Y

139

Hesperiidae

Small Branded Swift

Pelopidas mathias

Y

Y

140

Hesperiidae

Grass Demon

Udaspes folus

Y

Y

Y

141

Hesperiidae

Veined Scrub Hopper

Aeromachus stigmatus

Y

Y

142

Hesperiidae

Indian Dart

Oriens pseudomaesa clio

Y

Y