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Vol. 21 (4), December, 2019 BIONOTES
144
RECORD OF MYCALESIS ADAMSONI (WATSON, 1897)
(LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) FROM POKHARA AND
GODAVARI, NEPAL
SHRISTEE PANTHEE1, MAHENDRA SINGH LIMBU2, BANDANA SUBEDI3
SANJAYA RAJ TAMANG4 & AMRIT POUDEL5
1*Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal, Nainital 263 136, Uttarakhand, India
shristeesharma3@outlook.com
2Godavari, Kathmandu, Nepal
mahen_limbu@yahoo.com
3Pokhara-21, Kristinachnechaur, Nepal
bandanasubedi84@gmail.com
4 Kathmandu Forestry College, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
sanjaytamang841@gmail.com
5Madi-12, kaski, Nepal
paudel.amritnp@gmail.com
Reviewer: Peter Smetacek
Key Words: Mycalesis adamsoni, Nymphalidae, Butterfly, Nepal
Abstract
M. adamsoni (Watson, 1897) was recorded in
Pokhara valley in April, May, August and
September during monthly butterfly survey
from 2017 to 2018. The confirmation of the
species in Godavari area was based on
photographic evidence collected in 2011. This
note reports the westward range extension of
M. adamsoni to the central midlands of Nepal.
Introduction
Mycalesis adamsoni (Watson, 1897) is a
locally common butterfly species. It inhabits
broadleaf forests with dense bamboo
undergrowth in hilly regions with heavy
rainfall. Its global distribution ranges from
Australia to Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and
Burma (= Myanmar) (Watson, 1897). Evans
(1932) reported this species as rare from
Manipur (India) and northern Myanmar.
Gogoi (2013) recorded many individuals of M.
adamsoni from Assam, India. This paper
presents records of M. adamsoni from Pokhara
and Kathmandu valley of Nepal. The nearest
colony of M. adamsoni is reported from
Assam.
Material and Methods
A monthly butterfly survey was conducted in
Pokhara (800 m above m.s.l.) from 2017 to
2018.
In 2017 on August 7, 11, 17 & 30) and
September, 2 &18, M. adamsoni was recorded
and photographed in two different forest areas:
Banpale forest, Institute of Forestry (IOF) and
Raniban forest of Pokhara Valley. In 2018 on
April 6, 21 and 30 and May 11, individuals
were recorded from Banpale Forest, IOF and
Raniban forest. In addition to the above, there
was a photographic record from Godavari area
by MSL in 2011 (1500 m above m.s.l.) but it
was not identified until recently. The habitat
of M. adamsoni comprises forest dominated
by Castanopsis and Schima species in
Pokhara.
Material Examined
The identifying key of this species is, the
origin of v7 is pushed back before end cell on
hindwing (Evans, 1932) which was clearly
noticeable and wingspan measured was 50 to
61mm.
Result and Discussion
During the survey, a healthy population of M.
adamsoni was observed in their flight period.
Dry season forms were noted in the month of
Vol. 21 (4), December, 2019 BIONOTES
145
April and May whereas wet season form were
noted in August and September. M. adamsoni
was observed settling on dry leaves of small
bushes near forest trails and basking on stones
in the forest near a lake. Watson (1897)
reported this species from 560 m to 1400 m
from Thailand whereas in Nepal this species
was recorded between 800 m and 1500 m
elevation. This study shows Pokhara as the
westernmost habitat from where the species
has been recorded till date. The two study
areas considered in this survey, Pokhara and
Kathmandu valleys, are about 200 km apart
and the nearest known colony is found in
Assam. The unexpected record of a healthy
population in two valleys suggests that this
species was present earlier but
misidentification led to the exclusion of this
species from the known butterfly fauna of
Nepal. It is likely that other populations of the
species occur in the intervening areas between
Assam and Pokhara but so far they have not
been located.
The species has two broods, a dry season
brood in April and a wet season brood in
August and September. The limited flying
time of the species may be one of the reasons
that it has been overlooked so far.
Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to the Principal, Institute
of Forestry, Pokhara Campus for granting
permission to conduct this study and to Colin
Phillip Smith for confirmation of species as a
new record for Nepal.
References
Evans, W.H. 1932. The Identification of
Indian Butterflies. 2nd Edition. Bombay
Natural History Society, Bombay, India.
x+464 pp., 32 pl.
Gogoi, 2013. A preliminary checklist of
butterflies recorded from Jeypore-Dehing
forest, eastern Assam, India. Journal of
Threatened Taxa. 5(2): 3684–3696.
Watson, E.Y.1897. Notes on a collection of
butterflies from the North Chin Hills and
Upper Chindwin District, Burma. J. Bombay
nat. Hist. Soc. 10(4): 634-687, 1 pl.
Fig.1: M. adamsoni, verso view,
Raniban Forest.
Fig.2: M. adamsoni, recto view,
Banpale Forest IOF.
Fig.3: Dry season form of M. adamsoni
Fig.4: Wet season form of
M. adamsoni
