On an early Sunday morning, a group of approximately 30 participants gathered for a guided butterfly walk in a forested area at the Matriniketan farm gate in the Pondicherry Bioregion. The purpose of the walk was to observe and learn about the diverse butterfly species of the area and their symbiotic relationship with local native plants.

The Morning Walk and Discoveries

The walk started at 6:30 a.m. to take advantage of the early morning conditions. As butterflies are cold-blooded, they require sunlight to warm up before they can become active. This allowed us to observe many species at rest or moving slowly, providing a great opportunity for close observation and photography without disturbing them.

The trail followed a mud path surrounded by dense bushes and trees. The abundance of butterflies was because of the many flowering native shrubs and creepers in the area, which provide nectar and as host plants for butterfly caterpillars.

Facilitator Ms. Shankardevi guided the group, providing instruction on how to identify different butterfly species and explaining the complete lifecycle of the butterfly. The children in the group were captivated by the opportunity to see all stages—eggs, small caterpillars, mature caterpillars, cocoons, and adult butterflies—all in one location.

The Importance of Host Plants and Conservation

A key educational component of the walk was the discussion on the threats facing butterfly populations. Shankardevi explained that the habitats of many butterflies are disappearing due to development and construction, which results in the removal of native plants. The ornamental and hybrid plants that replace them are useless to butterflies.

The facilitator emphasized that if butterflies cannot find their specific host plants, they will not lay their eggs, and there is a significant danger of the species disappearing over time.

Observed Species

Over the course of the three-kilometer walk, the group observed approximately 25 species of butterflies. A list of the identified species is provided below:

1. Tawny Coster
2. Blue Tiger
3. Dark Wanderer
4. Common Wanderer
5. Crimson Rose
6. Common Mormon
7. Common Crow
8. Chocolate Pansy
9. Lemon Pansy
10. Small Grass Yellow
11. Common Pierrot
12. Common Jezebel
13. Common Leopard
14. Commander
15. Common Hedge Blue
16. Plains Cupid
17. Plain Tiger
18. Striped Tiger
19. Tiny Grass Blue
20. White Orange Tip
21. Yellow Orange Tip
22. Common Evening Brown

Despite the distance covered, the walk was an eye-opening educational experience for all participants highlighting the critical connection between butterfly species and their native host plants and the importance of conserving these habitats. The event was a reminder of how human activity can impact local ecosystems and the need to protect the natural environment for future generations.