Thriving in Lantau Island: two butterfly species new to HK
But green group says upcoming developments and unprotected land will put the insects under threat
Two relatively new species of butterfly to Hong Kong may be establishing their roots on the fringes of a country park in north Lantau Island, according to a green group’s findings.
Conducted between May and this month, Green Power’s latest butterfly survey for Lantau Island recorded a cluster of butterfly species, namely, the common archdukes and common banded demons in Sha Lo Wan, San Shek Wan and Sham Wat.
The butterfly hotspots studied are just three of 14 in Lantau, which collectively boast a total of 199 species, covering 84 per cent of the 236 species listed on the city’s official butterfly checklist.
Rarely spotted, both the archduke and banded demon are relatively new to Hong Kong – archdukes were discovered only in 2008 – and do not have a classification on the checklist.
Green Power senior environmental affairs manager Matthew Sin Kar-wah said the biggest cluster found consisted of 20 common archdukes, including males and females of different generations indicating that they now live and breed in these areas.
“It suggests that these species of butterflies are starting to develop roots there, establishing a stable community,” he said.