MADURAI: A survey study on biodiversity of butterflies in Madurai which was done by the zoology team of the prestigious American College in Madurai has shown that the Nagamalai Hill near Madurai Kamaraj University in Madurai is a home to butterflies despite its harsh and dry landscape.
Research scholar B.Archana of American College in Madurai had undertaken a butterfly survey under the supervision of Dr.E.Joy Sharmila, Associate Professor and Head, PG and Research Department of Zoology who is a specialist in butterfly research.
The study which was done in Madurai’s dry forest area along the Madurai-Theni road in Kodimangalam reserve forest area, known locally as Nagamalai on the outer ranges of Western Ghats near Madurai Kamaraj University surroundings, had found that 61 nectar-producing plant species that support butterflies were recorded in the study area taken up by the researcher.
“This area known as Nagamalai near Madurai is a dry thorn forest landscape with scattered vegetation, ground creepers and seasonal water bodies. When viewed from above, this hill appears elongated like a snake and hence the name is ‘Nagamalai’…There are temples such as ‘Nagar Theertham Temple’ for devotees to get relief from Naga Dosha and Rahu-Kethu Dosha etc….At Puluthu, there are shrines for Lord Murugan and Rakayi Amman to give blessings. But Nagamalai in Madurai is being overlooked because it is dry, but we found in our study that Nagamalai Hill in Madurai is a hope for several species of butterflies,” the butterfly survey report by B.Archana of zoology department of The American College in Madurai has revealed according to a press release on April 27th 2026.
PLANTS WITH MEDICINAL VALUE:
Pointing out that Nagamalai Hill in Madurai is a home to surprising number of butterflies, the research scholar had pointed out that 48 nectar producing plant species here have important medicinal value for uses in antibacterial, antiviral, snakebites treatment etc.
“The important finding from our study is that dry forest areas like Nagamalai in Madurai are often overlooked in forest conservation efforts even though they have a lot of ecological value. These habitats must be protected in the outer regions of western ghats in Madurai because there are seasonal ponds that are supporting the wildlife in this area. Our survey in Nagamalai Hill area near MKU in Madurai had found that nectar plants and ponds in Nagamalai Hill area in Madurai are now sustaining butterfly diversity,” the American College zoology research scholar has said in her report released from Madurai on April 27th 2026.
The zoology department of American College has been actively involved in butterfly research since the year 2009 and the present long-term study was initiated in 2021 as a part of ongoing efforts to document butterfly diversity in Madurai region , according to the press release.
This research study survey was supported by Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology (TNSCSCT) under the research funding for research scholars scheme with a grant of Rs.3 lakh for a period of two years.
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