About Zographetus mathewi:
- It is newly described skipper butterfly belongs to the family Hesperiidae and adds a new entry to the genus Zographetus Watson.
- It is the 15th species in this oriental group and the fifth to be recorded from India.
- Its proposed common name is Sahyadri Spotted Flitter in reference to the Western Ghats, locally known as Sahyadri.
- Habitat: The species is endemic to the low-elevation forests of Kerala.
- Features of Zographetus mathewi
- It is part of the Zographetus satwa species-group, characterised by unique features such as wing venation patterns and secondary sexual traits, including swollen forewing veins in males.
- It can be further distinguished by a basal hair tuft on the underside of the forewing, yellow-ochre scaling on the hindwing underside, and distinct genitalia structures in both males and females.
- Butterflies maintain the ecosystem by acting as pollinators, prey, biological pest control, induce genetic variation in plants, and enhance environmental beauty.
- These are valuable indicators of the environment, whose health can influence their presence, abundance, and diversity.
