A flock of Crimson Rose butterflies (Pachliopta hector) has been spotted in Mannar, drawing attention from wildlife enthusiasts and researchers alike.
According to Lahiru Walpita, a wildlife enthusiast based in Mannar, the butterflies were observed between September 29 and October 1, marking a period of mass migration across the region.
“From September 29 to October 1, I observed a steady movement of Crimson Rose butterflies along Mannar,” Walpita shared in a Facebook post, inviting others to witness the phenomenon. He noted that between four and twelve butterflies per minute were flying across the island, mainly between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
While previous migrations have been documented in Mannar, Walpita’s observations add valuable details to the understanding of seasonal butterfly movements in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, butterfly watchers in southern India have reported a sharp rise in Crimson Rose sightings in Rameswaram, the closest coastal town to Sri Lanka.
“According to our studies, this is indeed a migration of crimson-colored butterflies from India towards Sri Lanka,” explained Professor Kapila Dissanayake of Sabaragamuwa University, who has been studying the phenomenon for several years.
Working with Indian researchers Paulmati Vinod and Sadasivan Vinod in 2022, Professor Dissanayake documented butterfly populations along the Tamil Nadu coast, publishing their findings in the scientific journal Taprobanica.
He noted that during January to March 2022, fishermen and whale watchers also observed Crimson Rose butterflies flying across the Gulf of Mannar, from India toward Sri Lanka.
“We have not yet recorded any return migration from Sri Lanka to India,” Professor Dissanayake added. “It is possible that the butterflies travel eastwards via Sri Lanka and may continue toward Southeast Asia, but further studies are required to confirm this.”
The Crimson Rose, one of South Asia’s most striking butterflies, is easily identifiable by its black wings with white patches and a bright red body—a warning signal to predators about its toxicity.
Butterfly expert Dr. Michael van der Poorten notes that such migrations have long fascinated naturalists. “As far back as 1872, the migration of the Crimson Rose from India to Sri Lanka was documented. Later, researchers such as Ormiston and Woodhouse also recorded similar events,” he said.
Unlike migratory birds, butterfly migrations are mostly one-way, as their lifespan ranges only from two to three weeks.
Following the monsoon season, Sri Lanka often witnesses spectacular mass butterfly flights, popularly known as the “Sri Pada butterflies”, drifting gracefully through the countryside—a reminder of nature’s remarkable rhythms.
