New Butterfly Species Basar Duke Discovered in Arunachal Pradesh

Key facts

• A rare butterfly species, scientifically named Euthalia (Limbusa) zubeengargi, has been discovered in the Basar region of the Lepa Rada district in Arunachal Pradesh.
• The species has been given the common name Basar Duke and is named after the Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg.
• The discovery was made by Roshan Upadhaya, a PhD scholar and member of the Arunachal Pradesh Police (APP), and Kalesh Sadasivan.
• The butterfly is distinguished by its olive-brown wings with white markings and a turquoise-green underside.
• The species inhabits shaded understories of semi-evergreen forests at altitudes between 600 and 700 metres above sea level.
• The find is considered exceptionally rare and highly localised, with only two male specimens recorded despite repeated surveys.