The American College’s annual butterfly survey records 27 species, including two first-time urban sightings

The American College’s Department of Zoology completed its annual Big Butterfly Month survey here on Tuesday.

The event brought together faculty, research scholars and students for structured butterfly counts and photography sessions, celebrating biodiversity and reinforcing the college’s long-standing commitment to butterfly conservation.

This year’s count recorded 27 butterfly species, marked by two remarkable first-time campus sightings — the Pointed Ciliate Blue (Anthene lycaenina) and the Large Oakblue (Arhopala amantes). Both species typically inhabit forests making their surprise appearance on a city campus an exciting and notable find, said organisers.

Among them, the Pointed Ciliate Blue stands out as it is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Meanwhile, the Double-branded Crow and Dark Blue Tiger were spotted in large numbers, following an gathering of nearly 20,000 similar butterflies—including the Common Crow and Plain Tiger—on the same campus back in June 2026.