Butterflies of Bhutan: Mountains, hills and valleys between 800 and 3000m

The Dzongkha word for butterfly is chimla, which means 'small flying thing', something like a small identified flying object. In Dzongkha no names exist for individual species of the estimated 800 to 900 butterfly species of Bhutan. Specification of a butterfly beyond chimla refers to colours or sizes. However, this lack of names does not indicate a lack of respect for butterflies. Most butterflies are beautiful and a few such as the Bhutan Glory and the Kaiser-I-Hind are internationally protected by the Convention on the Inernational Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to which Bhutan is signatory. These very rare butterflies are not included in this booklet since they are rarely seen. Some butterfly species fly at 5000m while others prefer the lower valleys, some like grasslands, others forests, some prefer hot and dry, others cool and humid areas. Butterflies are excellent indicators of environmental conditions. When habitats are destroyed, butterflies are among the first species to disappear, often because their host plants disappear. This booklet is a collection of pictures of 136 species found in Bhutan's hills, mountains and mid-altitude valleys. All photographs are of live butterflies. No specimens were collected or killed while making this guide. Its aim is to stimulate interest in butterflies among the people of Bhutan as well as among visitors to this beautiful country. We hope that this booklet will be useful to conservationists, nature clubs and the general public. Little is known about the butterflies of Bhutan. The British Natural History Museum in London has a large number of specimens from Bhutan, mostly collected by explorers during the first half of the last century, but no systematic studies seem to have been carried out. Bhutan probably has some 800 to 900 species of butterflies (Dr. Torben Larsen, pers. comm.). 800 to 900 species is a huge number for a small country such as Bhutan. There are more butterfly species in Bhutan than in the whole of North America (679 species) or of Europe (440 species). The incredible range of habitats present in Bhutan, from subtropical in the south to alpine in the north presents a vast array of habitat niches for butterflies. Also, both Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan species are found in Bhutan. The largest number of butterflies is found in the subtropical zone, but an amazing number can be found at midelevations and in the mountains even at elevations above 5000m. The hardy high-altitude butterflies fly only during the summer.