Cigaritis conjuncta

Facts for Prelims

Cigaritis conjuncta

News: Recently, Biologists reported the discovery of a new butterfly species in the Western Ghats.

Background:
• The new member in the family has been named Conjoined Silverline (Cigaritis conjuncta) based on fused spots and bands on the underside of wings, and shiny silver lines in the centre of those bands.

About:
• The species was initially observed in 2008 within the Brahmgiri wildlife sanctuary.
• It stands as the first butterfly species reported from the Western Ghats in the last four decades.
• Despite its small size, comparable to a one-rupee coin, this butterfly holds substantial conservation value.
• The species is exclusively found in the mid-elevation evergreen forests of the Western Ghats mountains.

Key activities:
• The Conjoined Silverline butterflies are active during sunny days, starting early in the morning and continuing until the afternoon.
• Both male and female butterflies prefer resting on shrubbery.
• Males engage in sunbathing with their wings opened up halfway and the Females also exhibit similar sunbathing behavior, resembling other Cigaritis species.