KCG- Portal of Journals

Continuous Issue - 22 | August – September 2019 A Study on Various Species of Butterflies at Nakshatra Garden and Butterfly Park at Silvasa Abstract

Butterflies play a vital role in the ecosystem. Butterflies such a species that fills colors in life and world with its charming and feather touched wings. Butterflies contribute in number of way towards environment. Due to co-evolutionary relationship between plants and butterflies it is concluded that the survival of both i.e plants and butterflies are interlinked. These beautiful creatures enhance the beauty of its surrounding environment by exquisite colors of their wings. Talking about healthier ecosystem is incomplete without butterflies, its origin and role. They are termed as natural pollinators as they under take the process of sucking nectar from the flower of a plant and during this process unknowingly butterfly leads to pollination as it moves from one plant to another and from one place to another, therefore it is righty said that plants and butterflies are intervene. But it is extremely said to know that due to human intervention, habitat destruction, use of chemicals in the form of pesticides and unawareness of people the count of these species is deteriorating at a rapid rate. Hence forth a study was undertake regarding various species of butterflies at reclaimed land of Nakshatra garden in Silvassa (Latitude 20° 27’N; Longitude 72° 98’E) and Butterfly Park at Khanvel (Latitude 20° 12’N; Longitude 73° 06’E) both located in Union territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli near Vapi.

Keywords: Butterflies, ecological indicators, pollinators, Nakshtra garden & Butterfly park Introduction: Butterflies are considered as most visible because of their beauty and mystique. It is truly said that in winter seasons butterflies attracts our attention more the reason behind it is that- it is during the winter season where they are mostly found undergoing the process of sipping the nectar from flowers and flying spirally upward in the air spreading its glory. Butterfly is an , found in vivid colors and sizes. As per the research work undertake by many scholars we can analyze that, currently, there are more than 28,000 varieties of species of butterflies on the earth and around 80 percent of them are found in the tropical regions. Survival of the butterflies depends upon the liquid form of food which they undertake from blooming flowers in form of nectar; in other words nectar is the main source of food for butterflies. It is also observed that butterfly plays an important role in ecosystems because it acts as a pollinator, food source and an indicator of the ecosystem's well being. There are certain plants whose flowers bloom only during day time and at this phase of time butterfly plays a key role in pollinating the seed of these plant from one place to another while sucking nectar from its flower. Butterflies carries out pollination by landing on good platform of smooth petals and while sipping nectar from flower it gathers the pollen grains on its long and thin legs and pollinates it to other place where ever it goes next. Butterflies contribute to restoration of the ecosystem as they supply pollination and a source of food.

Selection of study area: The study area comprises of exotic flowery locations namely Nakshatra Garden situated at Silvassa and Butterfly Park situated at Khanval. Both the location fall under the Unoin Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli this is approxmatiely 28km away from Vapi. Geographically Nakshatra garden of

1 | P a g e

KCG- Portal of Journals

Silvassa is located at Latitude 20° 27’N; Longitude 72° 98’E and Butterfly Park of Khanval is located at Latitude 20° 12’N; Longitude 73° 06’E.

Material and Methods:

The aim of the study is to observe and report the species of butterflies which were in the periphery of study area and observation method for research work was adopted. The time frame when the research work was undertaken was from October 2017 to November 2018 i.e 1year 2months. The observation of the species was conduct in two different ways- one by direct visual method and another with the help of digital camera. For more specification, species recognition and minute result the photographs of the butterflies were sent to BNHS, Mumbai Result and Discussion: Family Papilionidae: Swallowtails The Swallowtails are one of the species of butterflies which are often yellow or black in color with large tails at the rear of the hindwing. The Swallowtails species of butterflies are generally featured as following: 1) having tails at the rear of the hindwing; 2) Size- medium to large 3) unique pattern of veination on the wings 4) Both the sexes have fully developed and functioning forelegs .

Lime butterfly Papilio demoleus Common Mormon Papilio polytes Family: Pieridae: Whites and Yellows

This species of butterflies are generally white or yellow in color, with black, red or orange marking on them as their name suggests. These butterflies are attributed with below features: 1) Size- Medium 2) Forked tip of the leg called as claws 3) Both the sexes have full sized and functional 4) Both the sexes of same species look different i.e. they exhibit sexual dimorphism. 5) Species show seasonal variations, like dry season forms (DSF) and wet season forms (WSF) 6) they love basking in the sunlight with wings open.

Common Jezebel Delias eucharis

2 | P a g e

KCG- Portal of Journals

Common Emigrant Catopsilia Pomona Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe

Family: Lycaenidae: Blues These are those species of butterflies which are identified by their blue upper side. The butterflies are generally characterized as follow: 1) Size- Small, 2) Female has fullsized forelegs i.e. normal six legs whereas male has reduced size forelegs i.e. four legs 3) Wing veins has slightly distinct pattern.

Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus Family: : Brush-footed Butterflies

These species of butterfly are recognized as the brush-footed this is because it has forelegs which are small and hairy that resembles tiny brushes. These legs are not used by them for walking. The species of this butterflies vary in their appearance in all stages of the life cycle (adult, eggs, larval, pupal), depending upon this they can be characterized as follow 1) Reduced foreleg (except female of Beaks) they use only four legs to walk or perch 2) Size- Medium to large and uniquely marked 3) Distinct feature of wing veins 4) antennae is rigid with club shaped tips.

3 | P a g e

KCG- Portal of Journals

Common Castor Ariadne merione Peacock Pansy Junonia almanac

Common Tiger genutia Common Crow core

Blue Tiger limniace

Attracting’alkaloid-loving’ males:

Reproduction in Males of some species of butterflies requires alkaloids. Plants like Rattlepod , Tutnsole Heliotropium and the Eutpatotium provide alkaloids to such species of butterflies. Species of Male butterflies flock these plants in huge to suck these alkaloids framing up apleasent view to watch. The basic requirement of these chemical is synthesize sex pheromones so as to attract females. Nutrutring such plot of plants attracs flocks of butterflies especially the tiger butterflies namely, Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace, Glassy Tiger Parantiva aglea, Dark Blue Tiger Tirumala septentrionis,, Plain Tiger chrysippus, Striped or Common Tiger , Nilgiri Tiger Parantica nilgirie, and the crow butterflies also known as Common Indian Crow , Brown King Crow Euploea klugii. These all are basically brush-footed species of butterflies.

Enduring nature and getting the feeling of forest in the city is the place where our work was conducted i.e. Nakshatra Garden and Butterfly Park providing pleasing atmosphere. The interior of these park is build up keeping in mind the botanically importance of plant along with taking into consideration which plant will lead to attraction of various plant sucking species and thus helps them

4 | P a g e

KCG- Portal of Journals

in making it a natural habitat for them. Thus both the park set an idol example of flora and fauna if well conserve.

Acknowledgement

Special thanks to Neha Mujumdar, Junoir Research Fellow, conservation Department, BNHS, Mumbai

Bibliography

I. http://carbon-based-ghg.blogspot.com/2012/09/butterfliesact- as-wildlife-indicators.html

II. Larson BMH, Kevan PG, Inouye DW. Flies and flowers: taxonomic diversity of anthophiles and pollinators.Canadian Entomologist 2001; 133:439-465.

III. Stokl Johannes, Brodmann Dafni Ayasse, Hansson. Smells like aphids: orchid flowers mimic aphid alarm pheromones to attract hoverflies for pollination. Proc. R. Soc. B; 2011; 278:1216- 1222.

IV. Dr. Raju Kasambe, Butterflies of Western Ghats An e-Book, 2016; 88,93,108,127,190,227- 228,291,299,307-308

********************************************************************************

Krishna R. Rajput Professor Sciences College Vapi

Alkesh I Shah B.P.Baria Sci. Inst. Navsari

Copyright © 2012 – 2019 KCG. All Rights Reserved. | Powered By: Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat

5 | P a g e