A previously unknown butterfly species has been identified in Arunachal Pradesh’s Leparada district and named Euthalia zubeengargi in honor of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg, who passed away on September 19, 2025.

The discovery was made by Roshan Upadhaya, an Arunachal police constable and researcher at Punjab’s RIMT University, and Kalesh Sadasivan from the Travancore Natural History Society. The researchers have suggested “Basar Duke” as the species’ common name. The butterfly was spotted during 2025 field surveys in semi-evergreen forests at elevations between 600 and 750 meters.

The findings are published in the latest issue of Entomon, the journal of the Association for Advancement of Entomology. Only two male specimens were recorded—one collected and one photographed—indicating the species may be rare or highly localized.

According to Upadhaya, the butterfly belongs to the Euthalia genus, widespread in South and Southeast Asia, with earthy brown wings and pale spots. Its distinct wing patterns and structures confirm it as a new species.

Field observations show that Euthalia zubeengargi inhabits cool, shaded forest interiors, resting on low vegetation, feeding on tree sap, and extracting minerals from streams. It is active from late morning to early afternoon, making short, slow flights. Researchers note that dense, moist undergrowth is essential for its survival, though details about its life cycle, breeding, and host plants are still unknown.

This discovery brings the total number of Euthalia species recorded in Northeast India to over 80, underscoring the region’s biodiversity.