First ever evidence of Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail mating

First ever picture of a pair of Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail in copula

The recording of ‘first ever evidence’ of mating of Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail by the ongoing research and survey team in upper Trashiyangtse could mean Bhutan is host for healthy population of the rare butterfly.

The mating pair to be ever recorded in the world was first sighted by Mr. Sonam Wangdi of Wildlife Conservation Division at a place uphill of their camp in Trashiyangtse on 15th August at 1130am at an altitude of 2418 masl. The team was searching for the eggs of the butterfly when the mating pair was sighted for the first time, which brought much joy and excitement to the joint research team. This mating pair has enabled the research team to confirm the mating time of Ludlow’s Bhutan Swallowtail to be about 4-4.5 Hrs.

A second and a third mating pair has been sighted on the morning of 16th of August by Mr. Sherub of Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE) and Mr. Sangay Dukpa of Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary respectively. The second mating pair had just finished their nuptial process and had separated to fly their ways while the third pair had just entered into their mating process. Both the pairs were found mating on the ground.

The team celebrated their finding with lots of cheers and merry making in the evening. This finding truly deserves a celebration as this is a very significant finding for butterfly conservation in Bhutan and also globally.

Submitted by: Wildlife Conservation Division