Western
Ghats News
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Monsoon heralds winged beauties |
PTI[ THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2002 01:28:27 AM ] |
MUMBAI: Come monsoon, and the western ghats in the state will play host to nearly 150 species of butterflies of myriad hues and sizes. For butterfly lovers, there can be no better sight than that of the green-winged ‘luna moth’ taking to the sky and fluttering about in the dense green foliage chasing glittering rain drops. Joining the monsoon symphony will be the oak leaf butterfly, which, with its wonderfully camouflaged earthy brown colour, pretends to be part of a dead log. But one gentle prod, and the wonderful blue hue of her palm-sized body will unfold. According to Anish Andheria of the National History Asian Sanctuary, the oak leaf butterfly is one that looks akin to a leaf with a mid rib and white and green patches on its wings. But there’s no competition to the ‘atlas moth’, the largest in the world, which is known to display its sheer strength amidst the drumming of the raindrops and the rolling thunder in the skies. The great monsoon show will also include the reddish-hued ‘commander’ as it swishes across the green vegetation even before the batting of an eyelid. The butterfly was given the name by Britishers who were simply bowled over by the sheer variety of butterflies found in the country. They named many of them after ranks in the military hierarchy," explained Mr Andheria. Nature lovers must also keep their eyes open for the cat-legged spider hidden between the crevices of rocks and little burrows. |