Unwanted guests turn sweet hosts for Assam butterflies
Bodoland University study in Raimona National Park finds that invasive plant species can also sustain butterfly populations by providing nectar and larval host plants across seasons.
- The protected area in Assam is the site where Bodoland University researchers studied butterfly diversity and plant resources.
- The study found that some invasive plants can function as nectar plants and larval host plants for butterflies.
- Butterfly conservation depends on seasonal availability of adult nectar sources and larval host plants.
A study by Bodoland University in Raimona National Park, Assam, has shown that some invasive plant species can also support butterfly conservation. The finding matters because it adds a practical management question to the usual invasive-species debate: complete removal of all invasive plants may not always be the best short-term option inside protected landscapes.
What the study found
Researchers documented a rich butterfly and plant interaction network in Raimona National Park. The study recorded 220 butterfly species, 56 larval host plants, and 41 nectar plants.
UPSC may frame the issue as a conservation trade-off: invasive plants are usually treated as threats to native biodiversity, yet some invasive species can support pollinators and other insects when native floral resources are scarce. A balanced answer should discuss species control, habitat management, and the need to protect native plant diversity while avoiding abrupt removal that can disrupt seasonal food chains.
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