New butterfly species recorded in Arunachal named after Zubeen Garg

GUWAHATI

A caller taxon of butterfly recorded successful a wood of Arunachal Pradesh’s Leparada territory has been named aft Zubeen Garg, the taste icon of Assam, whose decease connected September 19, 2025, triggered a storm.

The researchers — Roshan Upadhaya, a student astatine Punjab’s RIMT University, and Kalesh Sadasivan of Travancore Natural History Society — person projected Basar Duke arsenic the communal sanction for Euthalia zubeengargi, which was observed during tract surveys conducted successful 2025. The erstwhile is an Arunachal constabulary constable.

Their findings successful semi-evergreen forests astatine elevations of 600-750 metres appeared successful the latest contented of Entomon, a quarterly diary published by the Association for Advancement of Entomology, an Indian non-governmental organisation.

Despite months of observation, the researchers documented lone 2 antheral individuals, 1 collected specimen and different photographed successful the wild, indicating that the taxon whitethorn beryllium uncommon oregon highly localised.

“The butterfly belongs to the genus Euthalia, a radical commonly recovered crossed South and Southeast Asia. Members of this radical are typically seen successful forested habitats and are known for their earthy brownish wings marked with airy spots,” Mr. Upadhaya said.

He said the recently discovered taxon stands retired for its chiseled helping patterns and structural features, which allowed them to corroborate it arsenic a abstracted species. 

Field observations suggested that Euthalia zubeengargi prefers cool, shaded wood interiors. The butterfly was seen resting connected debased vegetation, feeding connected histrion sap and occasionally gathering minerals from damp surfaces adjacent streams.

“The butterfly appears to beryllium progressive chiefly from precocious greeting to aboriginal afternoon, making short, dilatory flights betwixt adjacent plants,” the researchers noted, besides underlining that dense, moist wood undergrowth plays a important relation successful its survival.

The study, however, acknowledged that overmuch astir the butterfly’s beingness cycle, including its breeding signifier and big plants, remains unknown.

Euthalia zubeengargi is 1 of much than 80 taxon from this radical recorded successful India’s northeastern region.