Introduction

In the Jammu and Kashmir history study of Lepidoptera fauna dates back to the middle of the 19 ^th century when an Austrian entomologist Vincenz Kollar explored it and described many new taxa from this region ( Kollar, 1844, 1848). During the British rule on the Indian subcontinent (1857-1947), Holland (1896) and Tytler (1926) deserve special mention in this regard. However, after Independence not much work has been done on this second largest insect order from Jammu and Kashmir. Over the last decade, only some regional researchers and photographers have explored some parts of the Union territory extensively and not only added to the known distributional records ( Qureshi et al. 2013a, 2013b, 2014; Sharma & Sharma, 2017a, 2017b, 2018a, 2018b, 2020) but also published many new regional records for the Union Territory or new country records for India ( Sharma & Sharma, 2017a, 2017b, 2018a, 2018b; Sheikh & Parey, 2019a, 2019b; Sharma & Sharma, 2020; Gupta & Sheikh, 2021; Sheikh, 2021; Singh & Sheikh, 2021; Parey & Sheikh, 2021; Dar et al. 2022a, 2022b; Sheikh & Mishra, 2022; Khan & Sheikh, 2022; Sheikh & Mishra, 2023). Hestina persimilis is legally protected in India under the Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Recent studies on the Rhopalocera fauna of Jammu and Kashmir and its surrounding states by Kumari & Sheikh (2021), Singh & Sheikh (2021), Sheikh & Gupta (2022), and Sheikh & Mishra (2023) contributed to the rediscovery of a few little-known Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, and Lycaenidae species, including Stibochiona nicea (Gray, 1846), Papilio agestor Gray, 1831, Zesius chrysomallus Hübner, 1819, and Lycaena panava (Westwood, 1852).

Two subspecies of Hestina persimilis are found in India: Hestina persimilis persimilis and Hestina persimilis zella. Hestina persimilis zella is rare found along Himalayas with altitude ranging from 7502100 m, from northeastern parts of Kyber Pakhtunkhwa (Hazara and Manshera) province to Islamabad Capital (Margalla Hills) in Pakistan through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh to Uttarakhand in India. Whereas Hestina persimilis persimilis is rarely found in Northeastern Ghats in northeastern Orissa (Meghasani Hills, 1150 m), and also rarely found along Himalayas with altitude ranges from 500-2000 m to Nepal through Sikkim to West Bengal, Bhutan to Arunachal Pradesh and Hills of northeastern India to Brahmaputra (Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur.

In Varshney & Smetacek (2015) catalogue, Hestina persimilis persimilis is found in Odhisa; Sikkim to Northeast India and Hestina persimilis zella is found from Jammu and Kashmir to Uttarakhand.

In Jammu and Kashmir, its distribution was mentioned as Kashmir by Fruhstorfer (1912), later this was cited by many authors, like Varshney & Smetacek (2015) and Gasse (2018) in India.

Materials and Methods

On 11-IX-2022, the first author during her survey on exploring the butterfly fauna of Salana area of Bani tehsil in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory where she found Hestina persimilis zella ( Figures 1-2) mudpuddling on soil and rock. Later on, she again found three more individuals mudpuddling on soil. Later, she took the field photographs of Hestina persimilis zella by a Canon Eos 1300 D and recorded the coordinates of the area (32°44’48.8” N, 74°48’37.4” E) at an altitude of around 1500 m a.s.l. Kathua district is located between 75.5173° E longitude and 32.3865° N latitude. The average annual rainfall is 1360 mm. The study area experiences a sub-tropical climate. It shares border with Punjab (Pakistan) and Himachal Pradesh (India). The vegetation around the sighting was; Isodon rugosus (Schrad. Ex Benth.) Spach (Lamiaceae), Prinsepia utilis Royle D. Potter, Rubus niveus Thunb., Rubus ellipticus Sm. (Rosaceae), Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae), Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl. (Betulaceae), Berberis lycium Royle (Berberidaceae), Juglans regia L. (Juglandaceae), Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don (Pinaceae), and many more.

Hestina persimilis zella was identified based on Evans (1932), Wynter-Blyth (1957), Kehimkar (2016), and Smetacek (2018). The distribution map was prepared with ArcGIS 10.5 software (Esri, Redlands, CA) by using the original base map of India ( Figure 3-4).

Results

Hestina persimilis (Westwood, [1850])

Hestina persimilis zella Butler, 1869 ( Figures 1-2)

In Hestina persimilis zella, the upper forewing black bar mid cell; under hindwing dorsum not yellow paler, white marking wider, but in Hestina persimilis persimilis, darker, white markings narrower. Apex forewing more produced.

Author found three individuals of Hestina persimilis zella Butler, 1869, (Figures 1a, 1b) mudpuddling on soil and one individual on rock and another was flying. Many other species like Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758, Graphium cloanthus (Westwood, 1841), Graphium sarpedon (Linnaeus, 1759), Papilio protenor Cramer, [1775], Libythea celtis lepita Moore, [1858], Junonia iphita (Cramer, [1779]), etc., were mudpuddling along with this species.

Discussion

The diversity and taxonomic studies on several Rhopalocera species have been studied in Jammu and Kashmir. In recent years, the following authors has reported several new records to the butterfly fauna of Jammu and Kashmir and India ( Sheikh & Parey, 2019a; 2019b; Sharma & Sharma, 2020; Gupta & Sheikh, 2021; Sheikh, 2021; Singh & Sheikh, 2021; Parey& Sheikh, 2021; Dar et al. 2021; Sheikh & Gupta, 2022; Sheikh & Mishra, 2022). Work is done in other Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, a red spot (Zesius chrysomallus Hübner, 1821) is rediscovered after 108 years by Kumari & Sheikh (2021). Today’s results of this finding coincide with the previous work done in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh by various authors and current study in this article is also adding a rediscovery of Hestina persimilis zella after 110 years in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory. The immatures of Hestina persimilis zella feeds on Celtis australis (Cannabaceae) and authors are of the opinion that, the larval host plant was eaten by cattle like cow and sheep’s and that’s why Hestina persimilis zella was not seen in this long period of time. Now somewhere, this plant has started growing in wild and now has also appeared again. Forest authorities are directed to act on the lesser availability of its larval host plant. By protecting its larval host plant, we can restore a good population of Hestina persimilis zella in India.

Conclusion

Distribution of Hestina persimilis zella was initially reported from Kashmir by Fruhstorfer (1912), which later cited by many researchers, like Varshney & Smetacek (2015), Gasse (2018), and ( Sheikh et al. 2021). After 1912, Hestina persimilis zella is recorded after 110 years from Jammu & Kashmir, India. Additional research and a comprehensive long-term survey are still required to get significant diversity of butterfly species in Jammu and Kashmir. In the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, the majority of the areas are still unexplored; regular surveys in the future may result in several new records and rediscoveries.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Mr. Lovish Garlani for the confirmation of Hestina persimilis zella.

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Author notes

*Autor para la correspondencia / Corresponding author