A new record of the lesser-known butterfly Small Woodbrown Lethe nicetella de Nicéville, 1887 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from Kangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim, India

A rare butterfly, the Small Woodbrown Lethe nicetella, has been sighted in Khangchendzonga National Park, India, after a 120-year absence. Originally described by de Nicéville in 1887 based on historical collections, this species had no confirmed sightings since 1888 until its recent rediscovery. The study provides the first photographic evidence of a live individual and reviews historical records to confirm its presence in Sikkim. This finding suggests that similar cryptic taxa may exist, warranting further morphological and molecular exploration. The research bridges a significant gap in biodiversity documentation, highlighting the importance of field observations in understanding species distribution.

Dewan, S., Acharya, B. K., & Ghatani, S. (2018). A new record of the lesser-known butterfly Small Woodbrown Lethe nicetella de Nicéville, 1887 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) from Kangchendzonga National Park, Sikkim, India Journal of Threatened Taxa, 10(6), 11775. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3987.10.6.11775-11779