Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 February 2026 | 18(2): 28430–28432
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9826.18.2.28430-28432
#9826 | Received 09 April 2025 | Final received 17 January 2026 | Finally
accepted 23 January 2026
Record of Euploea
mulciber (Cramer, [1777]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Delhi, India: evidence of range extension
in a restored urban ecosystem
Aisha Sultana 1 , Mohammad Shah Hussain 2 & Balwinder Kaur 3
1–3 Biodiversity Parks Programme, CEMDE, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India.
1 aishasultana28@yahoo.com
(corresponding author), 2 mshahhussain@rediffmail.com, 3 smilewidballi@rediffmail.com
Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publication: 26 February 2026 (online & print)
Citation:
Sultana, A., M.S. Hussain & B. Kaur (2026). Record of Euploea mulciber
(Cramer, [1777]) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Delhi,
India: evidence of range extension in a restored urban ecosystem. Journal of Threatened Taxa 18(2): 28430–28432. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9826.18.2.28430-28432
Copyright: © Sultana et al. 2026. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and
distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the
author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Delhi Development Authority, Delhi, India.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: Thanks to the anonymous reviewer for useful suggestions. We are grateful to the Delhi Development Authority for the financial help. Thanks are also due to the Aravalli Biodiversity Park staff for their cooperation.
Butterflies (Lepidoptera) are
important indicators of ecosystem health, as their distribution reflects
environmental conditions and habitat quality (Pollard & Yates 1994). Range
extensions in butterfly species often signal ecological changes, such as
habitat restoration or climate shifts, providing insights into biodiversity
dynamics. The Striped Blue Crow Euploea mulciber, a nymphalid butterfly (subfamily Danainae), has an established range that includes Jammu
& Kashmir to northeastern India and the Andaman Islands (Varshney & Smetacek 2015), as well as Punjab and northwestern India.
Delhi’s urban landscape supports
a diverse butterfly fauna, with past surveys recording 115 species and more
recent studies documenting 91 species in areas such as Jawaharlal Nehru
University campus (Prakash et al. 2022). Despite extensive documentation (e.g.,
Jandu 1941, 1942, 1943; Donahue 1966, 1967; Ashton
1973; Anonymous 1991; Ghosh & Varshney 1997; Gupta 1997; Mondal et al.
1997; Kunte 2000; Larsen 2002; Zaidi 2010), E. mulciber had not been reported in Delhi. The closest
previous records were from Bijnor and the foothills
of the western Himalaya, approximately 200–300 km away (iNaturalist
2026). This study presents new evidence of E. mulciber
in Delhi, suggesting a possible range extension facilitated by urban green
spaces (Paul & Sultana 2020).
The DDA’s Aravalli Biodiversity
Park (ABP) in Vasant Vihar, southern Delhi (28.557o
N, 77.147o E), spans 692 ac along the Aravalli Hill range.
Formerly a quartzite mining site, it has undergone ecological restoration since
2004. The Park now supports a diverse array of flora and fauna, including a
butterfly conservatory established in 2005. This area provides key resources
for Lepidoptera, with over 300 larval host plants (Ficus
racemosa, Nerium oleander), nectar sources
(Ageratum, Vitex, Tagetes, etc.)
and microhabitats such as space for mud puddling, litter, rotten fruits, with
water and shade (Paul & Sultana 2021a).
The observation of E. mulciber was an opportunistic sighting within the ABP’s
Butterfly Conservatory. It is an open conservatory, and no butterfly species
has ever been deliberately introduced here. The identification of the butterfly
relied on direct visual observation, confirmed by photographs capturing
diagnostic features, adhering to the ethical standards of ABP, and was
authenticated against standard references, including Smetacek
(2000). Euploea mulciber
is distinguished from similar species like the Common Crow Euploea
core, present in the area, by its deep iridescent blue upperside
(absent in E. core’s duller brown), specific white spot/streak patterns,
and more elongated forewings; E. core generally has a rounder wing shape
and lacks the vibrant blue and prominent hindwing streaks of E. mulciber. This species also derives chemical defences from larval feeding on toxic plants such as Ficus sp. and Apocynaceae
(Kehimkar 2008). Three male E. mulciber
were sighted in November 2013, 2018, and 2022 under mild winter conditions
(temperature 23–28°C, 55–60% relative humidity), which are conducive to
butterfly activity at the same location and habitat. Adults were observed
basking and nectaring on Chromolaena
odorata. Photographs (Images 1 & 2) verified
key features, including a 60–70 mm wingspan, dark brown wings with iridescent
blue stripes, and the slow, gliding flight typical of Danainae
(Kehimkar 2008).
The occurrence of E. mulciber in ABP as documented on iNaturalist
(2026), confirm the species’ persistence in that area. The presence of host
plants like Ficus sp. and Nerium oleander
within the conservatory likely supports the occurrence of this species.
These records represent a notable
range extension into Delhi from its known forested habitats. The repeated
November sightings suggest seasonal movement, possibly linked to post-monsoon
conditions (after rainfall, vegetation conditions). Since 2004, restoration
efforts at ABP have created a favourable habitat with
host plants and nectar sources, potentially enabling this expansion. This
aligns with research showing that urban green spaces promote butterfly
diversity (Blair & Launer 1997; Paul &
Sultana 2020). Climate change (Parmesan et al. 1999) and habitat connectivity
(Paul & Sultana 2021b) may also play a role, though the species’ limited
flight capability suggests a gradual spread. The repeated sightings suggest a
potential establishment, but the small sample size and lack of systematic
surveys prevent definitive conclusions. Further monitoring in other areas of
Delhi and host plant mapping are recommended to better understand this range
expansion.
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