When butterflies flutter by in the Western Ghats: Wayanad's Brahmagiri, Vythiri turn hotspots

Imagine a vibrant cluster of butterflies fluttering onto plants around you, when you least expect it. If you are a traveller who loves to check out these delicate beings in beautiful clusters, as they feed on the nectar of their favourite plants, it's time to head to your favourite spots in the Western Ghats.

This is the migratory season of butterflies like blue tiger, milkweed, pansies, dark blue tiger, common crow, double banded crow and more. They can be spotted in large congregations, on tall trees, near streams and shola forests, where there is enough moisture.

Where to spot them
According to conservation biologist PA Vinayan, they can be spotted in any part of the Western Ghats, where the plant named Crotalaria, aka rattlepod, is present.

"They flock together whenever the humidity is right for their flight. There aren't enough studies on the details yet, but their arrival is also connected to good rain," he says.

KR Vancheeswaran, the President of the Wayanad Tourism Organisation and wildlife enthusiast, says the butterflies are in abundance this season in Brahmagiri Hill and in the Vythiri region of Wayanad.

"They are mostly found in regions with minimal sound pollution and untouched terrains. I have spotted them out of the blue, during treks to these regions," he says. Butterflies like blue tigers feed on plants that provide them with chemicals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which help male butterflies produce courtship pheromones, he says. It also ensures protection against predators.

What hosts them
"Thousands of them can gather on one rattlepod plant," says Vancheesvaran, listing those that serve the butterfly congregations. "Alongside rattlepod, wattakaka volubilis, calotropis and heterostemma are also some of the other main hosts. The butterflies migrate and form congregations in the October to December period," adds Vancheeswaran.

What to be careful of
If you are a butterfly enthusiast, here's what to know before checking out the congregations:
a) Avoid fast movement around them. This might scare the butterflies.
b) The butterflies don't mind if we go closer to observe them or click pictures, as they would generally be focused on collecting the alkaloids from the plant.
c) Avoid touching or grabbing them, as their bodies are extremely fragile.