Dr R K Gupta
Every one of us is fascinated by the world of butterflies during childhood or throughout the life. The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir is enriched with the diverse number of butterflies among which swallowtails are the most liked due to their bright colour and pattern. Thus, it’s a matter of pride for the entomologists of J&K that one of our favourite insects has been declared as ‘Butterfly’ of the UT of J&K. The foremost question arising in every mind would be, if there are so many butterflies in the arena of J&K why ‘Blue pansy declared as UTs butterfly?. Like national bird of India, the Blue pansy resembles more or less to peacock with the bright blue colour and spots on the wings. Besides, Blue pansy is prevalent in both rural and urban environment providing ecosystem services like psychophily.
Apart from beauty and elegance, this butterfly is unique in the sense that it deceives its prey and frightens and pulls away its enemy predators through their wing spots resembling eyes of predators. There are plenty of plants and weeds on which it can complete its life cycle in J&K, among which Asystasia gangticais is the most preferred. It lays eggs on the underside leaves of the host plants singly which takes about 3-4 days to hatch wherein young caterpillar emerges and feed upon their own egg shells as first meal. Then the first instar caterpillars feed on young leaves and moults up to fifth instar within 15-18 days. The sixth instar caterpillar are structurally similar to fifth instar but with distinct changes in its marking and colourings, which lasts for 4-5 days and eventually it stops to feed on the underside of the leaves to spin silk pair hanging vertically making prepupa. The pupal period is about 7 days, thereafter butterfly starts emerging from their pupa.
The declaration of Blue pansy as the butterfly of the Union Territory by the Jammu and Kashmir administration will give added momentum to the efforts of entomologists, environmentalists and ecologists to raise awareness and support the conservation efforts for the region’s abundant biodiversity coupled with preserving and safeguarding of he environment for coming generations. Butterflies are one of the best researched groups of invertebrate species and are regarded as environmental quality indicators. They are closely related to plants and aid in pollination. They serve as an inspiration to poets, writers, fashion designers and stylists besides bioengineers and robotic scientists. Both scholars and nature lovers have been enthralled by the Blue pansy’s declaration as UT Butterfly. Its conservation would be not just a visual treat but also a sign of a healthy ecology.
The proclamation of the Blue pansy as the ‘Butterfly’ of the UT of J&K have various ramifications. First of all, it emphasises the significance of conservation efforts and the necessity to safeguard natural ecosystems, both of which are essential to the survival of this species. The government wants to encourage a sense of responsibility for protecting the environment and its people by increasing awareness among the general public, students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts. Additionally, this proclamation may benefit ecotourism in J&K. The area is already a well-liked vacation spot for nature enthusiasts because of its varied landscapes, which include lush meadows, deep forests, and magnificent valleys. The government can draw more visitors who are eager to discover and appreciate the distinctive flora and fauna of the area by showcasing the Blue pansy as a symbol of J&K’s natural beauty. As a result, local economies can benefit and sustainable tourist practises can be promoted. The selection of the Blue pansy as the official butterfly also acknowledges the cultural importance of these animals in J&K in addition to the ecological and economic considerations. In numerous civilizations all around the world, butterflies have long been linked to beauty, change and freedom. The government commemorates J&K’s natural heritage and how it is woven into the fabric of the community by paying homage to the Blue pansy and recognising its presence in the area.
Since butterflies are thought of as bioindicator species of an ecosystem, it is necessary to regularly monitor the local butterfly fauna in order to spot any potential environmental changes in the future and take the necessary precautions to prevent them. On the basis of past year data/ museum collection at SKUAST- Jammu the ‘Blue pansy’ sweep catch is at decline so the current initiative of government will be a boost for butterfly conservation. Since the world is facing apocalypse of insects especially butterflies which has been reduced to an extent of about 53%.
The government’s step is the most appreciable for ecosystem health of J&K. More initiatives are still awaited in the area of conservation of insect pollinators, natural enemies and detrivores. For instance, a rapid decline in aquatic insects glow-worms and wild and non Apis bees has been observed by the scientists of SKUAST-Jammu. The University is already engaged with entomological education involving scholars, academicians, non-governmental organisations and farmers through awareness campaigns, workshops and conservation projects centred on beneficial insects and its habitat through Entomological Science Academy.
In nutshell, we can say that the government’s campaign not only emphasises the ecological importance of the Blue pansy but also encourages eco-friendly travel and cultural sensitivity. Interested readers may visit insect museum and butterfly park of SKUAST-Jammu for preserved and live repository of this insect.
(The author is Head Department of Entomology SKUAST-Jammu)
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