First record of interspecific mating between butterflies Athyma ranga and Tanaecia lepidea from Kerala, India

An instance of interspecific mating between a male Tanaecia lepidea (Grey Count) and a female Athyma ranga (Blackvein Sergeant) was observed on 15 October 2023 at Valiyavelicham, Kannur District, Kerala, India. The butterflies were found in copula on the ground during a routine field survey and were photographed and videographed without disturbance. After several minutes, the individuals separated and flew away independently. Both species occur sympatrically in the Western Ghats but belong to different tribes within the subfamily Limenitidinae. They also exhibit marked differences in genital morphology and mitochondrial divergence, making hybridisation unlikely. A review of available literature revealed no previous records of interspecific mating between these taxa. The observation is therefore interpreted as a rare behavioural mismatch rather than evidence of reproductive compatibility. Such observations are rarely documented and add to existing knowledge of butterfly behaviour in the region.