Mangalore University campus records 71 butterfly species in first-ever survey

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 5, 2026: The Department of Applied Zoology at Mangalore University has conducted its first-ever campus-wide butterfly survey as part of the nationwide Big Butterfly Month 2026, recording 71 species over five days.

The Butterfly Walk was organised with the support of the Campus Biodiversity Register (CBR) and led by Dr Deepak Naik, a butterfly researcher and faculty member in the Department of Applied Zoology. More than 25 participants, including students from various departments, alumni and IT professionals, took part in the survey.

The team recorded 71 butterfly species belonging to five major families, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the university’s extensive green campus.

According to Dr Naik, Common Crows and Lineblues were among the most frequently sighted species. The survey also recorded several rare and significant species, including the Redspot Duke (Euthalia evelina).

The participants also documented Western Ghats endemics protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, including the Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha), Sahyadri Birdwing (Troides minos) and Tamil Yeoman (Cirrochroa thais).

A major highlight of the survey was the first-ever record of the Indigo Flash (Rapala varuna) on the university campus.

“Butterflies are excellent biological indicators, and their rich presence highlights the overall health of our campus ecosystem,” Dr Naik said.

The Department of Applied Zoology played a key role in organising the conservation initiative. The organisers thanked department chairman Dr MS Mustak for his guidance and encouragement in promoting biodiversity conservation on the campus.