An Island Butterfly Eco Park

at Chingjao
Summary
The present Project Work on “An Island Butterfly Eco Park” at, Pumlen Pat,
Kakching District, Manipur. It will be presented in this work not only to
conserve the faunistic composition in the biodiversity rich North Eastern India
in Indo – Myanmar Hot Spot Area, but also form a Lovers to Amateurs to
determine the identity of as many as 150 species of butterflies, which in turn
will enables us to conserve such graceful species. Kunte 2000, although as
many as 450 species and subspecies of butterflies are concerned for protection
and conservation under different schedules of the Indian Wildlife Act 1972,
those important species pertaining to the context of Manipur can be concerned
for conservation.
The Chingjao is located in the heart of Pumlen Pat (Pumlen Lake) as an Island
and has spread over 21 hectares (approx..) with two major twin hill. Among
these two hills, One will be conserve as a native habitat for Flora and Fauna
which covering around 14 hectares. And the remaining hill having a total of 7
hectares is propose to set up an ecological butterfly park naming “An Island
Butterfly Eco Park” and it will be the First Island Butterfly Eco Tourism Park
in India.
However, To set up a butterfly park or garden, We need series of things, First
and foremost is a suitable piece of land at right location, then modern
technologies, men power, working knowledge of landscaping, scientific
knowledge about butterflies and their habitats, knowledge about flowers and
host plants . And most importantly financial aid to run the garden smoothly.
More than this, to make it a tourist attractive place, we need digital platform for
advertisement, social media and a good selling skills to attract people all over
the globe.
Introduction
Butterflies are one of the important groups of insects belonging to the order
Lepidoptera. They are fascinating organisms, easily recognizable by their bright
look and are regarded as “The Jewel of Creation” (Emmel, 1976). The
wandering flights of these colouful butterflies not only attract amateurs, but also
offer a great aesthetic value to human beings in general. They have been
depicted as a symbol of beauty and grace in the art and literature. Butterflies
play a dual role in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The larval stages cause
appreciable damage to the plants by their voracious leaf feeding habit. But, the
adults incidentally pollinate the flowers as they suck the nectar. In the
ecological food chain, the larval stages of butterflies act as primary consumers
and they in turn, form food to a number of animals like Birds, Reptiles,
Amphibians, Spiders and many other predatory and parasite insects. Therefore,
dwindling density of butterflies will threaten the existence of the above listed
secondary consumers and hence, they are considered as “Flagship Taxa” in
biodiversity inventories due to their important in the ecosystem.
But in the recent years, the habits of butterflies are gradually getting degraded
due to a number of anthropogenic activities viz., habitat destruction,
urbanization, deforestation, forest fire and extensive use of chemical
insecticides etc. As a consequences, the density and diversity of butterfly
species have been drastically affected. Considering the importance of butterflies
in the Forest well as in the diverse Agro – Ecosystems, it has become
imperative to make an inventory of insects throughout the world, extensive
studies on the butterflies of Manipur, which is a part of North – Eastern
Biodiversity Hot Spot Sector, have not been taken up so far with the exception
of a few stray reports (Gupta, 2004; Mondal & Maulik, 2004; Singh and
Varatharanjan, 2010).
Classification of Butterflies
The order Lepidoptera is divided into sub – orders viz., Rhopalocera and
Heterocera, of which the sub – order Rhopalocera comprises the butterflies
while, Heterocera includes moths. Butterflies are grouped into five families
viz., Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae.
Among them, the first four families are under the super – family Papilionidae
and the last family Hesperioidae. Butterflies are endopterygote insects having
club shaped antennae, membranous wings and sectorial proboscis, with
eruciform larvae and adecticous obtect pupa.
The colour pattern of wing varies with species due to the covering by scales.
Therefore, wing venation and colour patterns are used for classification and
identification of the species in addition to their genitalia. Among the scales, a
group of Specialize scales called “Androconia” are peculiar in the males. At
the base of the scale is a small gland which produce an aphrodisiac to excite the
female during courtship. The volatile secretion passes through the hallow stalk
of the scale and is disseminated by the fine hair like processes or plumes at its
tip. These scent scales may be scattered over the upper surface of the wing or
occurring as special patches called “Scent Brands”. The abdomen consists of
ten segments; of which only seven or eight can be seen easily. The end
segments are modified as genitalia for reproductive purposes. In the male, there
is a pair of claspers which grip during mating. Individuals with claspers are
males and those with eggs laying tube or ovipositor are females, which produce
specific scent to attract males of the same species. The glands which secrete
these chemicals are located butterflies based on the tip of the abdomen.
Diversity of Butterflies in India
India is a paradise for butterflies. The study of Indian butterflies began as early
as 1775 with the involvement of J.C. Fabricious and Pieter Cramer. The East
Indian Company Museum at London had a number of butterflies, which were
described by Thomas Horse Field and Frederick Moore during 19th century. In
1883 George Marshall and Lionel De Niceville published the first volume titled
“The Butterflies of India, Burma and Ceylon”. In 1886 and 1890, De Niceville
published two more volumes. These volumes are the first systematic work on
Indian butterfly. The ten volumes of Lepidoptera Indica by Fredick Moore and
C. Swinhoe, published during 1890-1913 illustrate the account of the Indian
butterflies.
Subsequently “Identification of India Butterflies” by Evans (1932), Butterflies
of Indian region by Wynter Blyth, 1957 were also published with a detailed
account. Although literature highlights nearly 1501 species (Smetacek, 2000),
another recent estimated predicts the occurrence of about 1800 species of
butterflies in India.
More than 30,000 species of butterflies are found all over world. Of these India
is home about 15,000 species of butterflies which constitute 65% of Indian
fauna.The largest butterfly with a wing span of 190 mm is the Southery
Birdwing and tiniest is the Grass Jewd with a 15 mm wingspan. Northeast,
Kerala, Bengaluru, Himalayas, Nilgiri Hills, Rohtang pass, Tiger Hills,
Western Ghats are prominent areas in the harboring maximum species.
Diversity of Butterflies in the North – Eastern India
North – East India is a part of the Indo – Myanmar Hot Spot sector having rich
flora and fauna diversity. As early as 1932, Evans reported the present of 932
species of butterflies in Northeast India. But, Wynter Blyth, 1957 while making
a comparative data of butterflies, out of 1443 species recorded from India, 835
species were known to occur in Northeast India. The International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) has identified Northeast
India as one of the ‘Swallowtail-rich Zones’ under the Swallowtail
Conservation Action Plan1984, (Barua et al., 2004). Considering the
importance of North east Himalaya as a gateway for the Oriental Biota, 33
species from Tirap division of Arunachal Pradesh ( Chaturvedi, 1981) & 155
species from Western Arunachal Pradesh were collected ( Athreya, 2005)
Among them, Nymphalids were 79 species, followed by 30 Lycaenids , 19
Hesperiids ,15 Pieriids , and 12 Papolionids. Kunte , (2006) provided a separate
checklist of butterflies of North east India, consisting of about 200 species
primarily recorded from Namdapha – Pakhei tiger reserve, Arunachal Pradesh.
This data was retrieved from butterfly related website. A checklist of 689
species of butterflies Sikkim was made by Haribal ,1992. Consillidated list of
butterflies in and around Shilling and Tripura were provided by Radhakrishnan
et al. 1989 and Mondal et al. 2000 with record of 58 and 104 species
respectively. Butterfly species of Nagaland was consolidated by Gupta &
Maulik, 2006 and Gupta, 2006. The study showed the presence of more than
400 species under two families viz Pieriidae and Hesperiidae.
Among them, three members of Periidae and two of Hesperiidae listed in
schedule – II (Part I) and six species of Hesperiidae listed in schedule – IV are
protected under the Indian wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Recently, Naro and
Sondhi, 2014, undertook survey of butterflies in Chizami, Phek district of
Nagaland and reported the occurrence of 212 species, of which 34 are legally
protected. Survey of Assam was attempted in Sanctuaries and National Parks.
For instance, 56 species were collected from the Orang Wildlife Sanctuary,
situated in the Brahmaputra, Basistha et al.1999. Later, 29 swallowtails were
collected by Barua & Kalita, 2003, from Manas Biosphere Reserve and
Garbhanga Reserve Forest of Assam. Similarly Bhuyan et al 2005, recorded
nearly 70 species from RRL Campus Jorhat, Assam.
While making a survey at the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Singh et al 2015,
reported the occurrence 211 species including that of 7 rare butterflies. The state
of Manipur though very small geographical area, yet it supports quite a many
species. Faunistic account of four families of butterflies viz., Papilionidae,
Danainae ( Nymphalidae) , Lasiocampidae and Lymantridae from State of
Manipur was given by Mondal and Maulik ,2004.Earlier the Papilionidae was
represented by 26 species under 6 genera, Danainae by 10 species in 4 genera.
Among the species examined, the Papilionidae comprised of 10 species and
Danainae with 5 species. The pioneering work on the group under study of
Manipur dates back to Butler 1885, who dealt with Papilionidae by 12 species,
Danainae by 10 species and Lasiocampidae by 1 species. This was later
abridged by Tailor 1915, who studied the Papilionidae species of the state.
Neither the collections nor their publications of the earlier researchers being
seen by the authors, but their contributions were quoted by Gupta, 2004 and
Alfred & Ramakrishna, 2005 and they have reviewed Butterflies of Manipur
under the state fauna series of Zoological Survey of India. Although the state
fauna is known to some extent through the earlier studies, detailed assessment
of different district has not been done. As the process of shifting cultivation and
other Anthropogenic activities are at an alarming phase, assessment of butterfly
fauna has been initiated at Bishnupur. As a first step, Singh & Varatharanjan,
2007 have made attempts to list 95 species butterflies from Bishnupur district.
Subsequently, Singh & Varatharanjan, 2010 gave a detailed inventory of
butterflies of Keibul Lamjao National Park.
Butterfly Park in India
In last few years there has been a tremendous increase in the interest in
developing butterfly gardens (parks) in India. Many private as well as
government butterfly gardens are coming up at various places across India. It is
a good sign, in the sense we have started appreciating the importance of
butterflies as objects of aesthetic value, for conservation as well as to create
sustainable livelihood options for many. A short visit to a butterfly garden gives
us enormous pleasure. Many people have visited butterfly gardens in Singapore,
London and in India. It was fascinated to see so many colourful butterflies in
these gardens and also to see thousands of visitors enjoying the company of
butterflies. Unfortunately, we do not have a butterfly park as beautiful as the
one in Singapore (on Jenting Island) or in Kuala Lumpur.
Butterfly garden is a garden where you can see lot of butterflies belonging to
different species at one place and in good numbers. An ideal butterfly garden is
nothing but a miniature representation of the forest in the adjoining area where
various plants and flowers are grown. The environment is made as conducive as
possible for butterflies found in the area.
Butterfly Park, Bengaluru
The first Butterfly Park in India was established in Bengaluru city of Karnataka
on 25th November 2006 with the motive of promoting butterfly ecotourism. It is
a part of Bannerghatta National Park and spans over an area of 7.5 acres. The
park houses a conservatory, museum the lifecycles of the butterflies are
displayed. Short movies are shown in the theatre which illuminates the
significance of conservation of butterflies. The park is beautifully adorned with
artificial waterfalls
Butterfly Park, Shimla
In Himachal Pradesh hosts the second butterfly park of India which covers an
area of 10 acres. The state shelters over 300 species of butterflies as per the
estimates of the Zoological Survey of India among which 14 species have been
spotted in the cold desserts of Lahaul and Spiti district. These species have been
conserved in butterfly park of Shimla which houses a conservatory, a natural
park and a museum.
Butterfly Park, Pune
The state of Maharastra also owns a Butterfly Park located in the Pune city
which was inaugurated on the Women’s Day, 8th March 2011, by the veteran
actress Dimple Kapadia. The park has been founded by the Pune Municipal
Corporation and encompasses an area of two acres. Through the project, a dirty
drain has been converted into beautiful park. It is the home to about 80 butterfly
species and also hosts a jogging track, waterfalls and rock garden.
Butterfly Park, Chandigarh
Butterfly Park in Chandigarh was on 23rd May 2011, which is marked as
Biodiversity Day by the Environment Society of India. It spans over an area of
7.5 acres. The place is embellished with meticulous landscaping and is covered
with vast variety of shrubs and trees. As the butterflies cannot live without
flowers, diverse flowering plants have been planted in the park.
Butterfly Park, Sikkim
Butterfly Park situated is the first open air butterfly park of India located at
Rangrang. It encompasses an area of 14 acres. Sikkim is one of the butterfly
hotspot of the world and the thus the park is rich in terms diversity of these
winged creatures. It hosts butterfly enclosures, interpretation pavilions,
landscape parks and research centres.
Butterfly Conservatory of Goa
Butterfly Conservatory of Goa stands in Ponda city stretching over an area of
400 square metres. It is a private park established with the efforts of a few
common people who converted a barren land without any natural source of
water into a wonderful park hosting vast assemblage of butterflies, endemic
plants and beautiful streams. It serves as a cherished tourist destination.
Ovalekar Butterfly Farm, Maharashtra
Ovalekar Butterfly Farm is located in Thane district of Maharashtra was
established by Rajendra Ovalekar over his two acres of land. It is a small
butterfly park serving as the home for about 100 species of butterflies. A unique
feature of park is that, Ovalekar personally escorts the visitors around the park
and explains them about butterflies.
Goals of Butterfly Garden
Butterflies are beneficial to the environment through the biotic relationship they
maintain with the plants they visit and their preferences for organic, native
habitats. Although, larval caterpillar feeds on its host plant, this minimal
damage is often worth the benefits that come from the adult butterfly. With the
visual appeal of these showy insects, humans are drawn to increase their
knowledge of butterflies, resulting in a greater understanding of our role in
protecting them.
Pollination
Butterflies are attracted to brightly coloured, fragrant flowers and feed on
nectar produced by flowers. As the butterflies travel from one flower to another,
they pollinate the plants, resulting in further development of plant rely on
pollinators, such as butterflies, for reproduction.
Conservation of Resources
Butterflies preference for native plants can be considered an environmental
benefits since landscaping with native plants is a more sustainable practice.
Natives are better adapted to their climate, so they require fewer resources to be
maintained and are hardier. Because they are a common host to butterflies,
native plant habitats are appealing to many home owners.
Encouraging Habitats and Wildlife
Butterflies are extremely susceptible to pesticides. By not requiring the use of
harmful chemical applications, native habitats not only provide a safe haven for
butterflies. This includes spiders and ladybugs, which are natural predators of
damaging insects often found on edible plants. They adult butterfly and larval
caterpillar are also good food sources for wildlife, such as birds and lizards.
Promote Environment Awareness
Butterfly habitats provide intriguing natural settings through the colourful
appeal of the flowers and insects. This aesthetic draws human interest, which
can result in a greater awareness of the environment and better understanding
of our role in preserving natural habitats.
Intrinsic
Butterflies are intrinsically valuable and are worthy conservation in their own
right. Butterflies are part of life on Earth and an important component of its rich
biodiversity. They have been around for at least 50 million years and 150
million year ago. Butterflies and moths are highly diverse groups comprising
25,000 species. Butterflies are flagship species for conservation in general and
in particular for invertebrates.
Aesthetic
Butterflies are part of our natural heritage and have been studied for 300 years.
Butterflies are beautiful and many are iconic and popular. People like
butterflies, there are many references to the butterflies in literature, from Bible
through Shakespeare to modern day literature, and from poetry to musical
lyrics. Butterflies are used by advertisers and illustrators the world over as way
of indicating that something is environmentally friendly. Butterflies are often
portrayed as the essence of nature or as representing freedom, beauty or peace.
Education
Butterflies have fascinating lifecycles that are used in many countries to teach
children about natural world. The transformation from egg to caterpillar to
chrysalis is one of the wonders of nature. Other educational aspects include the
intricate wing patterns iridescence and as examples of insects migration.
Scientific
Butterflies are an extremely important group of ‘model’ organisms used, for
centuries, to investigate many area of biological research, including such
diverse fields as navigation, pest control, embryology, mimicry, evolution,
genetics, population dynamics and biodiversity conservation. The long history
and popularity of butterfly study have provided a unique data resource on an
insect group unmatched in geographical scale and timescale anywhere in the
world. This has provide extremely important for scientific research on climate
change.
Ecosystem
Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy
ecosystems. They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise
over two – thirds of all species. Areas rich butterflies are rich in other
invertebrates.
These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including
pollination and natural pest control. Butterflies are an important element of the
food chain and are prey for birds and other parasites, many of which are
specific to individual species or groups of species. Butterflies have been widely
used by ecologists as model organisms to study the impact of habitat loss and
fragmentation and climate change.
Health
People enjoy seeing butterflies both around their homes and in the countryside.
Over 10,000 people record butterflies in India above, involving getting outside
and walking considerable distances. Several hundreds of thousands of people
garden for wildlife in the India, many of them specifically for butterflies.
Economic
Thousands of people travel abroad each year looking wildlife including
butterflies. Eco tours bring valuable income to many. European countries and
developing countries around the world. Every butterfly has developed its own
suite of chemicals to deter predators and parasites, find a mate and overcome
the chemical defenses of its host plant. Each of these chemicals has a potential
value and could be exploited economically.
Ornamental
Anybody can rear a butterfly in his house, that’s pretty simple. You can search
for caterpillars on larval host plants of butterflies like a Lime tree Citrus spp. or
a Curry Leaf tree Murraya koenigii may have caterpillars of Common Mormon
Papilio polytes and Lime Butterflies Papilio demoleus. Pick that caterpillar and
bring with it a stock of tender leaves to feed it on. Keep it in a transparent box.
Keep some sticks in the box for the caterpillar to pupae. Clean the box every
day for the excreta.
The caterpillar will get converted to a pupa one day. One fine morning you will
notice that a beautiful butterfly has emerged from the pupa. Free it as soon as it
is ready to fly. It’s your baby after all.
Opportunities
In India, we can have small closed butterfly gardens at major International
Airports and in major Zoos for recreation. For maintaining these gardens, we
can start rearing butterflies of beautiful and colourful, not necessarily rare or
those protected under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972),
with the help of tribal communities and create thousands of jobs. The pupae
reared from such centres can be supplied to butterfly parks around the country.
This can very well be done in villages around Western Ghats and the Himalayas
by setting up of big nurseries of local larval host plants in village lands or in
private lands. What is needed is little flexibility in the Indian Wildlife
Protection Act (1972). Readymade butterfly pupae are brought and kept in
special enclosure in closed butterfly gardens. The butterflies are released when
they emerge from these pupae (Dr. Raju Kasambe).
Procedures of Butterfly Park
Understanding the laws of the land
Butterfly garden can be a closed one or an open one. A closed butterfly garden
can be an entire garden covered with green nets. The butterflies are released into
this enclosed area either as adult butterflies or are reared in the garden itself. In
Singapore and London butterfly parks, they procure Pupa (chrysalis) and keep
them in small boxes till the butterflies emerge. As soon as the butterflies emerge
they are released into the garden. In absence of any predators, the butterflies
survive till they die naturally.
But the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) considers butterflies as wild
animals and it is illegal to keep any wild animal in an enclosure (or captivity, in
the legal language). As soon as there is an enclosure, it becomes a Zoo. And to
run a Zoo, permission is required from Central Zoo Authority of India and also
it is mandatory to follow their guidelines for establishing and managing a Zoo.
Getting permission from this authority (though creating a butterfly park may be
a good objective) is ‘Mission Impossible’ for a general citizen.
But permission can be taken by Government Zoos, if they want to set up
“Butterfly Enclosures” in their zoos. Zoos in India have so much of land; they
should actually prove that they can create butterfly parks in India. Hence, for
private butterfly parks or gardens (owned by individual or a corporate), the only
and best option is to set up an ‘Open Butterfly Garden’ on your own land. Here
the butterflies are free ranging and no butterfly is captured. Luckily, we don’t
need any permission to create an open butterfly park in India.
Understand the life cycle of butterflies
Before starting work on setting up a butterfly garden one must understand the
life cycle of butterflies. Butterfly life cycle completes in four stages viz., Egg,
Caterpillar (Larva), Pupa (Chrysalis) and Adult butterfly. Every butterfly lays
its eggs on one few selected species of plants, which are called larval host
plants. The caterpillars emerge from these eggs and feed voraciously on the
leaves or these larval host plants. The caterpillar moults few times and stops
eating after certain growth and gets metamorphosed into a pupa. After few
days, an adult butterfly emerges from this pupa.
That means butterflies need the larval host plants on which their caterpillars
will grow and food for the adult butterflies on which they will survive.
Life Cycle of Butterfly viz., Egg, Caterpillar & Pupa
Landscaping for butterfly Park
It is important to have a good location for the butterfly garden, especially the
open butterfly garden. The best location will be near a patch of forest, as the
butterflies can be attracted to the garden by fulfilling the necessary
requirements. However, it is not necessary to have big plot to attract butterflies
to the garden. Even a small plot can be converted into a decent butterfly garden.
It is better to avoid setting up a new butterfly garden in very dry areas or very
cold areas, deserts, and in highly urbanized areas with not many butterfly
species around.
Once the land is acquired, it is important to do landscaping of the plot as per the
requirements of a butterfly garden. If it already has lot of tree, there is no need
to cut the tree, but to ensure plantation of new plants at the right locations.
Landscaping should be in such way that there are places which provide shade,
lot of sunshine, and wet patches too.
How to attract butterflies
Once the location of the butterfly garden is decided, we need to know what the
requirements of butterflies are or what are the things which attract them? As in
India, we cannot have a closed butterfly garden, the only option we have is to
attract the butterflies and make them stay around in the butterfly garden. They
will surely stay, if we fulfil their requirements in the garden itself.
Larval Host Plants
As mentioned above the life cycle of a butterfly completes in four stages, and
each butterfly species lays its eggs on a specific plant (or a choice of few
species of plants). The larva (or caterpillars) feed on these plants and hence
these plants are termed as larval host plants (LHP). For example the Common
Rose butterfly lays its eggs on Aristolochia indica, Spot Swordtail, Common Jay
and Tailed Jay lays their eggs on Polyalthia longifolia, Common Mormon lays
its eggs on Murraya koenigii (Curry Leaf) and Citrus aurantifolia (Lime tree).

Butterflies Specie needs Host Plants

The caterpillar which feeds on the LHP metamorphoses into a pupa in due
course of time. The pupa is generally well camouflaged and stays immobile till
an adult butterfly emerges out of it (there is nothing like a ‘baby butterfly’).The
more is the diversity of larval host plants in the butterfly garden the more
number of butterfly species will start breeding in the garden. And there is more
chance of the butterflies staying back in the area if they can fulfil all their
requirements in the area. Hence, as a part of developing the butterfly garden, it
is a continuous process to find out more and more larval host plants and plant or
grow them in the garden. It is important to have better understanding among the
staff (at least the gardener) of the butterfly garden to prevent uprooting of the
larval host plants, mistaking them to be useless weeds. This is important in view
of the fact that some butterfly species lay their eggs on grasses.
Attracting ‘nectar-loving’ butterflies
As butterflies do not have teeth they cannot eat solid food. The butterflies can
only sip liquid food with the help of a very thin tongue, called Proboscis. And
they do not grow once they are borne, they do not need a diversity of food for
physical growth. What they need is liquid food which is rich in energy and acts
like fuel for maintenance of their life activities. The best energy-rich food
available around us is the nectar in flowers. The other source of liquid food is
rotten fruits.
Many species of butterflies like the nectar of flowers. The butterflies are
attracted to the flowers due to their bright colours. Hence it is necessary to plant
plots of flowering plants in the garden. The flowering plants should be selected
carefully in such a way that throughout the year the garden has some plants
flowering. Some of the common plants which attract lot of butterfly species for
nectaring are Lantana spp., Jamaican Blue Stachytarphaeta spp., Cockscomb
Celosia spp., wild Xenia spp. and Ixora species. A small herb Tridax indica
attracts lot of blue (lycaenid) butterflies for nectaring.

Butterflies are attracting to Nectar of Flowers

Every butterfly has its own choice of flowers it visits, due to the fact that the
length of their proboscis varies in different species. Butterflies with short
proboscis may not be able to sip nectar from flower with a long tubular corolla.
Many large sized swallowtail butterflies are not able to sip nectar from very
small flowers as the flowers cannot bear their weight. Hence some of the
swallowtails do not land on the flower and keep fluttering while nectaring. Thus
we need to a have a variety of flowering plants in the garden to cater to the
needs of the various species of butterflies. Also while planting the flowering
trees the trees should be planted keeping in mind their expected height to which
it will grow.
This will provide a vertical dimension to the garden. Small plots of flowering
plants of a particular species should be planted, this adds to the aesthetic value
of the butterfly garden, besides attracting hordes of butterflies.
Attracting the ‘Non-nectar-loving’ Butterflies
It is a wrong notion that all butterflies love nectar in flowers. There are many
species of butterflies (many belong to the brush-footed and brown butterflies)
which never visit a flower. These butterflies like to get their stock of food from
rotten fruits, decaying fish, crabs, or prawns, the scat or dung or urine of wild
animals and so on. These butterflies locate the food because of the strong smell.
Some of the butterflies which are attracted to these include the Common Nawab
Polyura athamas, Black Charaxes solon and Tawny Rajah Charaxes bernardus,
Blue Kallima horsfieldii and Orange Oakleaf Kallima inachus, Common Baron
Euthalia aconthea, Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda, Angled Castor
Ariadne ariadne, Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra and many
bushbrowns. Bye the way, I strongly smell a conspiracy in naming butterflies,
which feed on urine and fecal matter and rotten things, as Rajahs and Nawab.

Butterflies are attracted to Rotten Fruits and Juicy Flower

Rotten fruits can be kept in feeding trays in the butterfly garden to attract these
butterflies. These feeding trays with rotting fruits may attract ants, which in turn
will disturb the butterflies. To manage this problem, each feeding tray should be
kept in another slightly larger tray filled with water. This will prevent ants to
reach the bowl with fruits, creating a moat-like situation like a. The feeding tray
can also be kept hanging in trees at various locations in the garden.
Attracting ‘alkaloid-loving’ males
Males of some butterfly species need specific alkaloids for reproduction. These
alkaloids are provided by plants like Crotalaria, Heliotropium, and Eupatorium
species. The male butterflies flock these plants in huge numbers to suck these
alkaloids and is a pleasant sight to see the butterflies engrossed in the activity.
They need these chemicals to synthesize sex pheromones to attract females.
Developing small plots of these plants ensure flocks of butterflies especially the
tiger butterflies namely, Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace, Glassy Tiger Parantica
aglea, Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala septentrionis, Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus,
Striped or Common Tiger Danaus genutia, and Nilgiri Tiger Parantica
nilgiriensis and the crow butterflies namely, Common Indian Crow Euploea
core, Brown King Crow Euploea klugii. These are also called brush-footed
butterflies.

Butterfly Species need Alkaloids for Reproduction

Attracting ‘mud-loving’ butterflies

In the landscape of the butterfly garden, if there is natural depression it should
be watered more often to create a muddy spot and a wet patch. Plastic sheets
can be buried under this muddy spot to manage to moisture level. Fine sand
should be spread along the fringe of his muddy place and rotten leaf litter be
mixed in the soil from time to time. Many butterflies (especially males of many
species) visit such damp and muddy places to get their daily dose of water,
minerals and various chemicals needed for their physiological needs. This is
known as ‘Mud-Puddling’. Yellows of many species gather on mud for mud-
puddling in huge numbers.
Also, before planting the plots of plants, a permanent arrangement for watering
the plants should be done. This could be the sprinklers or other methods, which
will save lot of manpower in future needed to water the entire garden nearly
every day.

Many Species of Butterflies gather at Wet Muddy Patches for Mud Puddling

What should not be done?

One of the most important rules to be followed in butterfly gardening is to
strictly avoid the use of any insecticide, pesticide, weedicide or any similar
chemicals to kill or control some pests. These will eventually kill the butterfly
caterpillars (which are nothing but butterflies to be borne) and drive the
butterflies away from your butterfly garden. Another thing is avoiding
plantation of rose plants. These are useless for butterflies and need spaying of
insecticides to protect it from various moth caterpillars. Avoid using chemical
fertilizers. Instead, the garden can have a small place where natural fertilizers
can be produced using the leaf litter, cattle dung and other garbage from the
garden. This natural fertilizer should be used for the larval host plants for their
healthy growth.
Landscaping
While setting up an open butterfly garden, it is necessary to have a plan
of landscaping. But if there are trees already in place, the plan should be
designed accordingly without cutting the existing trees. The plan should clearly
describe the plots for flowering trees and take care of the needs of various
species of trees as per their requirement and dependence on sunlight. There
should be a small nursery totally enclosed to protect small saplings of various
plants collected for the garden. Few saplings of each larval host plant (at least
the rare once) should be protected here as genetic pool. Sometimes entire plants
are finished by hordes of caterpillars. This stock will help replenish the plants
in the garden again.

The Chingjao Island (Pumlen Pat), Kakching District, Manipur

The Chingjao Island (Pumlen Pat), Kakching District, Manipur
(Propose to Conserved Native Flora and Fauna)

The Chingjao Island (Pumlen Pat), Kakching District, Manipur

(Propose for Butterfly Eco Park)
Landscaping should involve plan of narrow footpaths in the garden which
allows access to most of the areas in the garden. These if planned well can
prevent trampling of the plants by visitors, while trying to photograph some
butterfly. These may not be of concrete, but of mall bricks to allow movement
of caterpillars. Sunshine is very important in the life of butterflies as they are
cold blooded animals and need to bask in sunlight before they start their
activities in the morning. They because active after basking in sunlight for some
time. Hence the garden should have lot of flower beds with lot of sunshine.
While planting large trees in the garden, lot of planning and futuristic thinking is
needed. When they grow, they should not create shadow in entire butterfly
garden. If he garden is very big, the trees can be planted along the eastern edge
or they should be planted along the western edge or forming a line running
north-south in the middle of the garden. This will keep big areas with lot of
sunlight.
A small shade for visitors with resting facilities, a tea and snacks kiosk and
basic amenities like toilets ensure the comforts of the visitors. Butterfly Garden
landscaping should take into consideration many factors like parking space etc.
Manpower
To manage an open butterfly garden you need to hire at least one gardener, a
plant expert, a butterfly expert and a person to manage the entire set up. Off
course, one man can play few roles out of these.

Financial Management of the Garden

You need some seeding money to start with butterfly gardening and there is no
guarantee that it will earn you money. If you have the land needed to set up the
butterfly garden available with you, the initial cost will be less. But there is
recurring cost to maintain a butterfly garden which includes purchase of
saplings, gardener, honorarium to butterfly and plant experts (many roles can
be played by one person), electricity bills, and water bills and so on. Butterfly
garden needs proper management and regular maintenance, otherwise the weeds
overgrow the larval host plants and soon it loses the beauty of being a ‘butterfly
garden’.
Time Table
1st Year Plan – Layout the Butterfly Park, Construct Green House, Water tank
and basic amenities and Identified Host Plant and Butterflies Species.
2nd Year Plan – Collection and Plantation of Host Plans and Local Flowers and
maintaining.
3rd Year Plan – Maintaining Host Plants and Fencing and construct Gazebo.
4th Year Plan - Collection of eggs and adult butterflies to start settle.
5th Year Plan – Adaptation and Habitat to the Park.
6th Year Plan – Open to Public Domain.
 Budget
Cost Expenditure
Sl.no. Particular Quantity Amount (Rs.)
1. Poly house with Drip 1; 500Sqm 5,00,000/-
2. Footpath ( Brick) 5,600 m 25,00,000/-
3. Solar Water Pump with Solar Plate 1 2,50,000/-
4. Solar Street Lamp 25 @ 20,000/- 50,00,000/-
5. Water Oval Shape 5, 6,00,000/-
5 X 10,000 Ltrs ,
6. Bamboo Bridge 450 feet 12,00,000/-
7. Manpower Zoology @ 21,00,000/-
1. Chief Investigator
2. Assistant
3. Assistant
Botany @ 21,00,000/- 72,00,000/-
1. Chief Investigator
2. Assistant
3. Assistant
Florist @ 18,00,000/-
Project Coordinator
@ 12,00,000/-
(5 year tenure)
8. Labour 15 no. 1,35,00,000/-
Wages @ 500/day
(5 year tenure)
9. Host Plants & Local Plants and Orchids 1500 Plant @350/Piece 9,00,000/-
2500 Plant @150/Piece
10. Butterfly Egg /Adult 150, 1 egg @ 350, 52,500/-
11. Drip Sprinkle with Pipe Sprinkle 50@ 2,500/- 2,12,500/-
Pipe Coil 25 @ 3,500/-
12. Gazebo/ Hut & Fencing (Bamboo) 4 @ 2,00,000/- 8,00,000/-

13. Boat (Wooden) 3 @ 35,000/- 1,05,000/-

14. Basic Amenities Viz., Toilet, Urinal & 2 @ 10,00,000/- & 21,00,000/-
Parking Space 1,00,000/-
15. Material Cost Grass Cutter, Sword & 2,50,000/-
Spade etc.
17. Miscellaneous Cost 300/ Day 9,00,000/-
Total Amount Rs. 3,60,70,000/-
Manpower
Subject Specialist of Zoology (Butterfly)
1. Dr. L. Bijen Meetei M.Sc Zoology, Chief Investigator
2. Laishram Gopen Singh B.Sc Zoology, Assistant
3. Lc. Surjit Luwang B.Sc CBZ, Assistant

Subject Specialist of Botany (Plant)

1. Dr. L. Supriya Devi M.Sc Botany, Chief Investigator
2. H. Binobai M.Sc Botany, Assistant
3. Sagolsem Mandali Devi M.Sc Botany, Assistant

Florist
1. S. Rameshwar Singh State Awardee Crafts
2. Kh. Bijen Singh State Awardee Landscape

Program Co-ordinator
1. Sagolsem Gyagarin Singh MBA Program Co-ordinator
Evaluation
It is increasing becoming evident from different parts of the country that the
density and diversity of butterflies are becoming scare. For instance, it has been
estimated that the diversity and density lepidopteran forms have been reported
to dwindle to the extent of 30-40% in the Eastern Himalyas. There are a number
of factors which threaten the survival and diversity of butterflies in the
ecosystem and many researchers have studied this aspect in the context of
conservation of butterflies. Habitat destruction, fragmentation of habit, use of
chemical pesticides cultivation of monoculture crop, fire, grazing,
industrialization, ploughing up the meadowland, cutting down hedges and grass
verges etc, cause much harm on butterflies,Modal,1998; Kunte,2000. Therefore,
minimizing the above factors will lead to the process of conservation of
beneficial insects in general and butterflies in particular. However, with the aim
to conserve these beautiful forms, Kunte, 2000 has discussed various measures
to enhance their population. Some of the methods relevant to Manipur are
highlighted here.
i) Development of data base for the local fauna and flora and this
exercise forms an essential and basic component of conservation.
ii) General awareness may be created among the public and children
through various methods in order to protect them.
iii) Growing the larval hosts and nectar plants for adults are two simple
but effective steps these lepidopterans.
iv) Adequate steps may be taken to control the fire and grazing in the
protected areas so as to maintain the diversity of insects in their in
their natural habitat.
v) Participation of local people for the task of rearing butterflies from the
caterpillars may be encouraged. This will pave way for not only
enhancing the density and composition of butterflies but also provide
revenue to the low income families.
vi) Many Countries and State have butterfly parks, breeding centres and
research stations. Similar to that a few centres can be established in
certain specific areas of Manipur or existing parks can be strengthened
further for this purpose.
vii) Captive breeding, butterfly farming and in situ propagation of
butterflies can be attempted as like the one established by Kerala
Forest Research Institute, for the endangered or threatened or
vulnerable species on priority basis, Mathew & Anto, 2007.
In many hot and humid areas mortality of butterflies takes place due
to extreme climate conditions. But with reference to Manipur,
 prevailing climate appears to be so conductive and congenial for
butterflies. The Spring and Autumn season reflect appreciably good
density of insects, followed by Summer and the least witnessed in
Winter months. Therefore, breeding the butterflies in their native
habitat can enrich their diversity as well as density.

Endorsement
The Department has already agreed with the surrounding villages and the
project will be taken up under guidelines of the Forest and the Wildlife
Protection Act 1972. We all assure villagers to provide sustainable development
and the importance of their responsibility to conserve and protect the forest and
environment under this project.
Next Steps
To establish a Research and Breeding Centre of Butterflies.
To induct a Poly house for host plants preservation.
To induct an Apiculture Centre.
To establish An Organic Manure Project, as freely available of raw materials
(Phumdis, Water Hyacinth, Water lettuce and Duckweed etc. in the lake).
To prepare some refreshment stations and Boat racing, Fishing, Watersports.

Reference
1. Butterflies of Manipur,
M.Ingobi Singh & R.Varatharanjan. (2015)
2. Butterfly Gardening in India: An Introduction,
Dr.Raju Kasambe.
3. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, (website).
4. Photo, Pexel (website), pbs (website).
5. India Net Zone (website)
Map