Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(3): 654-661 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 A preliminary list of lepidopteran insects from JEZS 2017; 5(3): 654-661 © 2017 JEZS Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand Received: 01-03-2017 Accepted: 02-04-2017 Navneet Singh Navneet Singh and Jalil Ahmad Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Abstract Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar, The present research paper deals with the preliminary data on the diversity of Lepidopteran insects of India Palkot WLS. The information is based on a survey tour conducted during October 11-13, 2015. Around 0 the Palkot three sites were selected for the collection. Two sites were selected on Gobarsilli (22 53.058N, 0 0 0 Jalil Ahmad 084 39.229E), and one site was selected on Kura Pahar (22 51.621 N, 084 38.123 E).The collection Zoological Survey of India, survey and identification yielded a total of 89 species of Lepidoptera including 30 species of Butterflies Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, under 26 genera and 59 species of Moths under 42 genera. As far as Butterflies are concerned, Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing Nymphalidae with 64% of total reported Butterflies dominated the group whereas, in moths, Erebidae Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar, dominated with 73% of the collected moth species. India Keywords: Inventory, Lepidoptera, Jharkhand, Gumla, Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary 1. Introduction The Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary falls within the districts of Gumla and Simdega of state of 0 0 0 0 [1] Jharkhand and lies between 22 45’N and 23 N longitude and 84 30’E to 84 45E latitude . The National Highway no. 23 crosses and divides the sanctuary between two parts. The sanctuary received its status in the year 1990 vide Govt. Notification no. 1168 dated 22.03.1990. The total geographical area of the sanctuary is 182.83 sq. Km[1].The geography of Palkot WLS is unique by having several caves, cavities, crevice, dens, holes, and snags which forms a suitable habitat for wild animals. The sanctuary area is full of small hills and undulating land with intermittent plains in which habitation and agricultural land exist. Some of the hills are flat, others are with smooth curves and some having steep slopes. Plateau formation, locally known as ‘Pat’ is the most striking topographical feature of the track and is found on almost all hills in smaller or larger extent. The plains are rice producing fields. Patches of the land are also covered with Sal forest. There is usually three climatic seasons: the cold weather, the hot and rains. The cold weather sets in early November and lasts until about end of February. The hot weather corresponds to the period between ends of March to June [2]. The rain breaks at about the end of June and continues till the end of September. The average rainfall in Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary is about 1000 mm per year. The range of temperature varies according to the season during summer and it varies from 35– 40 degree whereas in winters it goes below 10 degree [2]. The forests of the sanctuary are classified according to the Champion and Seth [3]. The sanctuary comprises Northern tropical dry deciduous forest (Dry peninsular Sal - Type 5B/C), Northern dry mixed deciduous forest type 5B/C, Dry Sal scrub type Ds. The key floral components of the sanctuary are Sal and its associates like Asan, [2] Gamhar, Salai, Piar, Amla, Mahua, Kusum, Mango etc . The sanctuary area and its surroundings are not so healthy in vertebrate population. As per the forest department census of 1993, number of major vertebrate species is as follows: Leopards(05), Langur (80), Rhesus Macaque(500), Elephant(6), Sloth Bear(150), Wild Boar(240), Hyena(90), Wolf(50) and Jackal(200) besides number of Birds, Reptiles, [2] Amphibians, and Fishes .But, no data is available on the invertebrate diversity of Palkot WLS. The Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Patna with the first Correspondence author as a leader of the party surveyed the sanctuary for the first time in October, 2015 for the Navneet Singh study of Lepidopterous fauna of the sanctuary. The Lepidopteran insects are among the best- Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, known insects, and are mainly recognized due to the body and wings covered with scales Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing (modified and flattened hairs which give the butterflies and the moths their extraordinary Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar, variety of colour patterns). Lepidopteran insects are broadly divided into Butterflies and India moths. ~ 654 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies The latter includes most of the Lepidopteran species (about long term monitoring programmes will help in the enrichment 88%) and are nocturnal and often drably coloured. Moths can of the information. be separated from Butterflies due to its various types of The list of the identified species of Butterflies and Moths is antennae but not clubbed, fat furry bodies and the sitting given in Table 1 and 2 respectively. For the common names posture, where adults sit by spreading wings. of Butterflies, Kehimkar [13] has been followed. The present study was undertaken with a broader objective to study the diversity of Lepidopteran insects from a 4. Acknowledgement geographical important area of Jharkhand, the Palkot Wildlife Authors are thankful to Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, Sanctuary. Zoological Survey of India for their encouragement and all supports for this research work; to PCCF, Jharkhand; DFO, 2. Materials and Methods Palkot WLS; RFO, Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary and all the other The information is based on a survey tour conducted during forest staff of Palkot Wildlife sanctuary who helped a lot October 11-13, 2015. The collection of moths was made with during night collections. We are also thankful to Mr. Kuldip the help of vertical sheet light traps during night time. Das (Field Collector ZSI, Patna), and Mr. Prabhat Singh Butterflies were collected with the help of hand nets during (Motor Driver) for their assistance during survey tour. day time. The collected specimens were killed with the help of ethyl acetate vapours and processed as per standard Table 1: List of Butterflies techniques in Lepidopterology. Dry preservation is done in S. Genus & Species Common Name fumigated ento-boxes and stored in the insect cabinets in No. Zoological Survey of India, GPRC, Patna. The identification Family- Nymphalidae is done with the help of relevant literature [4-6]. The classification followed here is given by Nieukerken et al. [7] 1 Acraea violae (Fabricius) Tawny Coster and Zahiri et al. [8]. 2 Ariadne merione (Cramer) Common Castor 3 Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus) Plain Tiger 2.1 Study area 4 Danaus geneutia (Cramer) Striped Tiger Around the Palkot three sites were selected for the collection. 5 Euploea core (Cramer) Common Crow 0 Two sites were selected on Gobarsilli (22 53.058N, 6 Euthalia nais (Forster) Baronet 0 084 39.229E), with light traps facing to opposite directions 7 Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus) Great Eggfly 0 and one site was selected on Kura Pahar (22 51.621 N, 8 Junonia iphita (Cramer) Chocolate Pansy 084038.123 E). Common Evening 9 Melanitis leda (Linnaeus) Brown 3. Results and Discussion Dark Brand Bush The present research paper deals with the preliminary data on 10 Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus) Brown the diversity of Lepidopteran insects of Palkot WLS. The collection survey and identification yielded a total of 89 11 Neptis hylas (Linnaeus) Common Sailer species of Lepidoptera (30 species of butterflies under 26 12 Tirumala limniace (Cramer) Blue Tiger genera and 59 species of moths under 42 genera). As far as 13 Phalanta phalantha (Drury) Common Leopard butterflies are concerned, Nymphalidae with 64% of collected 14 Euthalia lubentina (Cramer) Gaudy Baron butterfly species dominated the group followed by 15 Polyura athamas (Drury) Common Nawab Papilionidae (16%), Pieridae (10%), Lycaenidae (6%) and Charaxes psaphon imna Indian Plain Tawny 16 Riodinidae (4%). In moths, Erebidae dominated with 73% of (Butler) Rajah collected moth species, followed by Sphingidae (10%), 17 Limenitis procris (Cramer) Commander Nolidae (5%). Rest of the 12% species of the studied moths 18 Ypthima huebneri (Kirby) Common four ring belongs to: Noctuidae, Crambidae, Limacodidae, 19 Athyma nefte inara (Westwood) Colour Sergeant Notodontidae, and Lasiocampidae. Lepidopterans are now Family –Papilionidae regarded as indicators of Ecological health. For example, Graphium agamemnon Beccaloni and Gaston [9] found a significant positive 20 Green-Spotted Triangle (Linnaeus) correlation between the species richness of Amazonian Graphium doson (Felder& Ithnomiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Studies of Blair [10], 21 Common Jay Swengel and Swengel [11] indicated that diversity of butterflies Felder) Common Lime within a certain habitats can be used to predict the diversity of 22 Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus) Birds. Similarly in Moths, Keith et al. [12] studied that Butterfly Arctiinae (Erebidae) and Notodontidae are the potential 23 Papilio polytes (Linnaeus) Common Mormon indicator taxa in deciduous forests. Arctiinae act as indicator 24 Papilio polymnestor (Cramer) Blue Mormon of moth species richness and Notodontidae as disturbance Family – Lycaenidae indicator. Therefore, results of the study can be used for 25 Amblypodia anita (Hewitson) Purple Leaf Blue making the conservation strategies for important biological 26 Tajuria cippus (Fabricius) Peacock Royal resources. No doubt, results based on one survey is definitely Family- Pieridae not considered as a good information but when we don’t have 27 Catopsilia florella (Fabricius) Common Gagrant the documentation of even single species from a particular 28 Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus) Common Grass yellow area than such type of publications will act as a baseline data for the further studies from that region. As mentioned in 29 Huphina nerrissa (Fabricius) Common Gull introduction, Palkot WLS is unique in geography, so vast Family-Riodinidae opportunities are there for exploration of many more species 30 Dodona egeon(Westwood) Orange Punch of Lepidoptera from the sanctuary.