Guwahati: A new species of butterfly recorded from a forest in Arunachal Pradesh’s Leparada district has been named after Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg, whose death on September 19, 2025, had sparked widespread public response.
The species, scientifically named Euthalia zubeengargi, was documented during field surveys conducted in 2025 by researchers Roshan Upadhaya of RIMT University, Punjab, and Kalesh Sadasivan of the Travancore Natural History Society. The researchers have proposed the common name “Basar Duke”.
Their findings, based on observations in semi-evergreen forests at elevations between 600 and 750 metres, have been published in the latest issue of Entomon, a quarterly journal of the Association for Advancement of Entomology.
Despite several months of fieldwork, the researchers recorded only two male individuals — one specimen collected and another photographed in the wild, suggesting that the species may be rare or restricted to a limited habitat.
The butterfly belongs to the genus Euthalia, a group widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia and typically associated with forest ecosystems. Members of the genus are characterised by earthy brown wings marked with pale spots.
According to the researchers, the newly identified species is distinguished by unique wing patterns and structural features that set it apart from closely related species.
Field observations indicate that Euthalia zubeengargi prefers cool, shaded interiors of dense forests. It was seen resting on low vegetation, feeding on tree sap and occasionally gathering minerals from damp patches near streams.
The butterfly appears to be most active from late morning to early afternoon, making short, slow flights between nearby plants. The study also highlights the importance of dense, moist undergrowth for its survival.
However, key aspects of its life history, including breeding behaviour and host plants, remain unknown.
The discovery adds to the rich diversity of the Euthalia genus in India’s Northeast, where more than 80 species have been recorded.