JAMMU, MAY 20:- In a significant development for Indian biodiversity, the elusive butterfly species Euthalia malaccana has been officially recorded in India for the first time. The species, previously known only from Southeast Asia, was photographed by Roshan Upadhaya, a police constable posted in Basar, Leparada district of Arunachal Pradesh.
The identity of the species was confirmed through photographic evidence, validated by citizen science expert Dr. Taslima Sheikh. This finding extends the known range of Euthalia malaccana into the Indian subcontinent.
The collaborative work has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication in the April 2025 issue of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterología, a reputed international journal focused on butterflies and moths. The discovery not only enriches the documented diversity of Indian Lepidoptera but also highlights the growing impact of citizen-led biodiversity research initiatives.
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