Zographetus mathewi Latest News
A team of lepidopterists have identified a new butterfly species in the Western Ghats and named it as Zographetus mathewi.
About Zographetus mathewi
- It is a newly described skipper butterfly belonging to the family Hesperiidae and adds a new entry to the genus ZographetusWatson.
- It is the 15th species in this oriental group and the fifth to be recorded from India.
- Its proposed common name is Sahyadri Spotted Flitter in reference to the Western Ghats, locally known as Sahyadri.
- Habitat: The species is endemic to the low-elevation forests of Kerala.
Features of Zographetus mathewi
- It is part of the Zographetus satwa species-group, characterised by unique features such as wing venation patterns and secondary sexual traits, including swollen forewing veins in males.
- It can be further distinguished by a basal hair tuft on the underside of the forewing, yellow-ochre scaling on the hindwing underside, and distinct genitalia structures in both males and females.
- Butterflies maintain the ecosystem by acting as pollinators, prey, biological pest control, induce genetic variation in plants, and enhance environmental beauty.
- These are valuable indicators of the environment, whose health can influence their presence, abundance, and diversity.
Source: TH
Zographetus mathewi FAQs
Q1: What is the meaning of lepidopterists?
Ans: A lepidopterist is an entomologist who specialises in studying butterflies and moths.
Q2: What does Hesperiidae mean?
Ans: It is a large family of skipper butterflies (superfamily Hesperioidea) comprising the typical skippers see hesperia compare megathymidae.
