Four new butterfly species discovered

Bhutan now has a total of 732 butterfly species with the discovery of four new species called Khaki Silverline in the Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park.

The four new species are Scobura isota -Khasi Forest Bob, Niphanda cymbia- Pointed Perrot, Horaga viola – Brown Onyx and Horaga syrinx- Ambon Onyx (Female)

A team from the Ugyen Wangchuk Institute for Conservation of Environment (UWICE) discovered the new species during a survey on butterflies in Darla, Lhamoizingkha and Phuntsholing areas.

Karma Wangdi, a research assistant with the institute, confirmed the new species have not been recorded earlier.

Karma Wangdi, lepidopterist with UWICE, also confirmed the additional species as of the family of Lycaenidae (Blues) and Hesperiidae (Skipper).

With the new addition, Bhutan now has 177 species of Lycaenidae and 145 Hesperiidae.

UWICE in Bumthang has been playing a hands-on role to further authenticate all the new discoveries in Bhutan.