Butterfly Identification App (BIA): A mobile application for identification and monitoring of butterflies in the state of Karnataka

Butterflies attract the attention of everyone, but it is difficult to identify and know their names instantly. Even for the students and researchers, identifying them in the field itself necessitates capturing and referring field guides. A novel mobile application known as Butterfly Identification App (BIA) has been developed by Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute EMPRI, Bengaluru, India to identify butterflies in the field. It is a colour-based identification application, which can be used by anyone having an android mobile phone. It is not necessary to capture the butterflies but photos taken can be compared with the photos in the colour based groups in the BIA database. The identification of all butterflies reported from Karnataka is possible through the BIA. The usage of this by proficient taxonomists, students and environmentalists can contribute to the monitoring and conservation of butterfly species in their localities. Pilot studies conducted in six green spaces in Bengaluru (12.9716° N, 77.5946° E) with GPS locations (Lalbhag: 12.9487,77.5887; Cubbon Park: 12.9798,77.5968; Doresanipalya: 12.8971,77.5905; IISc: 13.0173,77.5712; GKVK: 13.0808,77.5677; Bannerghatta: 12.785,77.5745) using the BIA is presented in the paper