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Blue tiger butterflies migrate towards the Western Ghats with the onset of the north-east monsoon
Why in News?
Millions of butterflies cross peninsular India: the Nymphalidae migration and Western Ghats facts GS-III Prelims tests
Blue tiger and crow butterflies are on their annual migration to the Western Ghats.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
Millions of blue tiger and dark blue tiger butterflies, along with crow butterflies, are moving from the Eastern Ghats towards the Western Ghats as the north-east monsoon sets in.
These milkweed butterflies belong to the family Nymphalidae and undertake one of the most visible insect migrations in peninsular India.
The Western Ghats were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Blue tiger, dark blue tiger and crow butterflies migrate from the Eastern Ghats to the Western Ghats with the north-east monsoon
- These are milkweed butterflies of the family Nymphalidae (brush-footed butterflies)
- Their movement is among the most visible insect migrations in peninsular India
- The Western Ghats were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012
- The Western Ghats are one of the world's biodiversity hotspots
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Blue tiger and crow butterflies belong to the family Nymphalidae, the largest butterfly family.
- Their annual migration in peninsular India runs from the Eastern Ghats towards the Western Ghats with the onset of the north-east monsoon.
- The Western Ghats were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012 and are a global biodiversity hotspot.
- Migration of butterflies is a seasonal movement linked to monsoon rainfall and host-plant availability.
Mains
GS-III (Environment and biodiversity): mass insect migrations signal ecosystem health and the connectivity of habitats between the Eastern and Western Ghats. Threats such as habitat fragmentation, pesticide use and climate-driven changes in monsoon timing affect pollinators and migratory corridors. The way forward lies in protecting corridors, regulating pesticide use, long-term monitoring (including citizen science) and integrating insects into conservation planning under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and biodiversity-hotspot management.
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
Blue tiger and crow butterflies, seen migrating towards the Western Ghats, belong to which butterfly family?
- Papilionidae
- Pieridae
- Lycaenidae
- Nymphalidae
Show answer
Answer: D — The correct answer is Nymphalidae. Blue tigers and crows are milkweed butterflies of the family Nymphalidae.
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