THATTEKAD BUTTERFLY PARK
Butterfly park is another major attraction of Thattekad bird sanctuary. This beautiful garden for butterflies set on 30 cents of land is planted with a variety of host plants needed for all the different butterfly species found locally. Here visitors can observe different cycles in the life of a butterfly,from egg to larva, to pupa and adult. Thattekad bird sanctuary butterfly park have listed more than 200 species of butterflies in surveys with an average of 60 to 70 species found regularly.
Odonata is an order of carnivorous insects encompassing the dragonflies (Anisoptera) and the damselflies (Zygoptera). Dragonflies are generally larger, and perch with their wings held out to the sides whereas damselflies have slender bodies, and hold their wings over the body at rest. 154 species of 0donates have been recorded in Kerala.
Dragonflies and damselflies are mostly seen near water bodies as they need water to breed and survive. Females lay their eggs on water surface and the nymphs grow under water. when fully mature they crawl s out on to overhanging rocks or vegetation where they shed their outer skin to emerge as an adult. Thattekad bird sanctuary area have lot of water bodies with vegetation which provide ideal habitat for odonates.
Papilio Buddha, commonly known as Malabar Banded Peacok is the Kerala state`s official butterfly.This swallow tail butterfly ,having a wing span of 90 – 100mm is commonly found in western ghats .It is known as Budha Mayoori in Malayalam language.
Papilio Paris or Paris peacock is a swallowtail butterfly species found in the Indian subcontinent and south east Asia.
Troides minos,also known as southern birdwing or sahyadri birdwing,is the second largest butterfly species in India.This large swallowtail butterfly having a wingspan of 140 – 190 mm, is endemic to south India.It is the state butterfly of Karnataka state.
The Blue Mormon or Papilio polymnestor is the fourth largest butterfly species in India. This large swallowtail butterfly with a wing span of 120-150 mm is mostly found in south India and Srilanka.
