Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail |
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The Bhutanitis ludlowi, also known as the Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail, is a rare and beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the Papilionidae family, which includes many large and colorful butterflies. This special butterfly is found mainly in Bhutan and has recently been seen in parts of India. It's part of the Parnassiinae group, which also includes the famous Apollo butterflies.
Discovery and Rediscovery
For a long time, not much was known about the Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail. Scientists had only a few specimens. These were collected in Bhutan between 1933 and 1934 by two botanists, Frank Ludlow and George Sheriff. They found these butterflies living in forests at high altitudes, about 2,000 to 2,200 meters above sea level.
For many years, people wondered if this butterfly still existed. Then, in August 2009, something amazing happened. Karma Wangdi, a forestry officer from Bhutan, found a specimen in the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. This was the first clear proof in about 75 years that the butterfly was still alive!
Even more exciting, in August 2011, a research team saw and even filmed mating pairs of these butterflies. This happened in the same sanctuary. It was a special moment because they found the first butterfly on August 12, which was the exact date Ludlow and Sheriff found their first one in 1933. Because of its rarity and importance, the Bhutanitis ludlowi later became the national butterfly of Bhutan.
There was once a claim that this butterfly was found in China. However, it was later shown that the photo used as proof was actually a changed picture of a specimen from the British Museum (Natural History). So, for now, it's believed that this butterfly is mostly found in Bhutan and nearby India.
Life and Habits
The 2011 expedition helped scientists learn a lot about the Bhutanitis ludlowi. Its favorite plant for laying eggs is Aristolochia griffithi. This plant is also used by other types of Bhutanitis butterflies. The eggs of the Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail are smaller than those of other butterflies in its group. They are laid in a unique way, stacked on top of each other like a small pile.
When these butterflies fly, they are very fast. They beat their front wings deeply and often glide through the air. Interestingly, their back wings don't power the flight; they just trail behind. Unlike many other swallowtail butterflies, the B. ludlowi does not constantly flutter its wings when it is feeding on flowers. They often feed on the flowers of Viburnum cylindricum.
In 2012, a live photo of the B. ludlowi was taken near the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India. This was an important sighting because another similar butterfly, Bhutanitis lidderdalii, also lives in that area. This suggests that these two types of butterflies might live in the same places.
The B. ludlowi looks a lot like its close relative, B. lidderdalii. However, the Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail has wider wings. Its stripes across the wings are grey, while the other butterfly has white stripes.
Conservation Efforts
The Ludlow's Bhutan swallowtail is a protected species. Like all butterflies in its group, it is listed on Appendix II of CITES. This means that international trade of this butterfly is strictly controlled. Even though it is protected, collectors still highly desire it.
The IUCN, which is an organization that tracks endangered species, has listed the B. ludlowi as vulnerable. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered. Collecting butterflies in Bhutan is not allowed to protect them.
However, there are efforts to help this butterfly. The Butterfly Society of Japan is working with the Bhutanese government. They are trying to learn how to raise these butterflies in captivity. This could help reduce the need to collect them from the wild. If they can be raised sustainably, it might also help local communities earn money. This is similar to successful butterfly farming programs in places like Indonesia.
Images for kids
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Open wing position of Bhutanitis ludlowi Gabriel, 1942 - Mystical Bhutan Glory
