International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2014; 1 (6): 96-100

P-ISSN 2394-0522 E -ISSN 2347-2677 IJFBS 2014; 1 (6): 96-100 of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Received: 04-08-2014 Accepted: 26-09-2014 Habiganj, Bangladesh Tahsinur Rahman Shihan Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring and Conservation of Tahsinur Rahman Shihan and Mohammed Arif Hossain Prodhan Wildlife in Kaptai National Park Abstract of Bangladesh Project. Department Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area supported mixed tropical evergreen and semi- of Zoology, Jahangirnagar evergreen forests of great biodiversity value. A study was carried in this park during September 2013 to University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, October 2014 to record the diversity of butterflies. During this study a total of 74 species of butterflies of Bangladesh. 06 families were reported. In our study the most abundant family was Nymphalidae followed by Mohammed Arif Hossain Hesperiidae, , Papilionidae and Pieridae, while Riodinidae was least abundant. Nymphalidae Prodhan family represents 32 species; Hesperiidae represents 13 species, Lycaenidae represents 13 species, Junior Wildlife Researcher, Papilionidae represents 08 species and Pieridae represents 07 species while Riodinidae only 01 species. Monitoring and conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai National Park Keywords: , Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae, of Bangladesh Project. Department Hesperiidae. of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, 1. Introduction Bangladesh. Butterflies occupy a vital position in ecosystems and their diversity is considered as good indicators for verifying the ecological and vegetative conditions in forests and has great aesthetic and commercial values as they are beneficial as pollinator [1, 2]. They are used in food chains for other like birds, lizards, mammals, spiders, and also for other . Insects, including butterflies are an excellent source of protein and fat, therefore eating their caterpillars is widely practiced all over the world [3]. Butterflies also recognized as focal species of conservation in several areas of the world and highly sensitive to environmental change and are delicate creatures that act as good bio-indicators of the health of an ecosystem. These widely studied insects show significant ecological contributions in different ecosystems through herbivory and pollination services [4, 5, 6, 7]. The present paper presents a checklist and diversity of butterfly populations in the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Topography as well as soil condition, geographical position, diverse vegetation, ecosystem made this sanctuary as a unique and different habitat for butterflies. The sanctuary contains six major categories of land viz. forested area (both natural and planted forests), agricultural land, open grassland, human settlements, open non-forested area, water-bodies [8]. This unique habitat exploit intimately surrounded by number of villages, cultivated field and tea estates which directly affect the butterfly population. The Sanctuary also supports a rich diversity of other faunal groups such as invertebrates and butterflies, but very little information is currently available. However a total of 326 species of butterflies are listed from Bangladesh [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 26, 27]. Only one published checklist of butterfly species of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is known, hence, an attempt has been made to update and document the richness of butterflies in this Wildlife Sanctuary. The main objective of this works for proper documentation of the diversity and distribution of butterflies and contribute the butterfly checklist of Bangladesh.

2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study Area Correspondence: Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary covering a total area of 1796 ha. Considering its Tahsinur Rahman Shihan Junior Wildlife Researcher, biodiversity values and conservation needs, the government declared a part of the Reserved Monitoring and Conservation of Forest as the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary in 1982 and further expanded the sanctuary Wildlife in Kaptai National Park area through another declaration in 1996. It belongs to the Chunarughat Upazila under of Bangladesh Project. Habigonj District, which is located nearly 130 km east-northeast of Dhaka and approximately Department of Zoology, 80 km south-southwest of Sylhet city. Its gps co-ordinate is 24011.106´ N 91037.484´ E (Fig. Jahangirnagar University, [14, 8] Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh. 1) . ~ 96 ~ International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

Fig 1: Map of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary.

The sanctuary encompasses several hills of different elevations nomenclature were confirmed with the help of the books by and the low-lying valleys. The highest peak of the hills is Evans (1932), Wynter-Blyth (1957), Marshall and de Niceville about 67 m from the sea level. There are a series of ridges of (1883), Bingham(1905), Kunte (2000), Kehimkar (2008), the hills running in different directions, and valleys locally and Singh (2010) and Kunte et al (2012) [17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]. composed of Upper tertiary rocks [15, 30]. The forests of Rema- Butterflies observed were categorized into four groups (Very Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary are very rich biologically, located common >10, Common < 6-10, Uncommon <3-5, Rare <2) as they are in the high rainfall bio-geographic zone with based on their relative number during the study period. We evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. The Wildlife Sanctuary sampled butterflies in seven major habitats categories of land represents several features of the bio-diversity of the north- viz. natural forested area, planted forest area, agricultural land, eastern subcontinent, which is one of the mega biodiversity open grassland, open non-forested area, human settlements and regions with many floral endemic species. Many important near water-bodies. Each species were noted and photographed rivers, including Surma and Kushiara flow through the forest instantly during field work [28, 29]. division, forming fertile floodplains with enhanced economic activity and high population density. The climate of the 3. Results Sanctuary is in generally warm and humid but, the weather is In the present study a total of 74 species of 06 families cool and pleasant during winter. The temperature varies with belonging to 53 genera have been recorded. The most an average from minimum 27 degrees in February to 37 abundant family was Nymphalidae followed by Hesperiidae, degrees in June. The humidity is high in the Wildlife Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae, while Riodinidae was Sanctuary throughout the year, with monthly average humidity least abundant (Table-1). Nymphalidae family represents 32 varying from 74% in March to 89% in July. There is heavy species belonging to 22 genera; Hesperiidae represents 13 dew during winter when rainfall is low. The water species belonging to 12 genera, Lycaenidae represents 13 condensation is thus distributed throughout the year in species belonging 11 genera, Papilionidae represents 08 different forms and greatly influences plants and butterflies. species belonging 03 genera and Pieridae represent 07 species The area covered under the WS is one of the wettest in the belonging 04 genera while Riodinidae only 01 species of 01 country and so the rainfall is quite high with an annual average genera. Out of 74 species, 05 species were found rare, 31 of 4,000 mm approximately, with maximum rainfall falling species found uncommon, 28 species found common and 10 during June to September from South-West monsoon [16]. species found very common. The species identified were Arhopala perimuta, , Cupitha purreea, 2.2 Methods Pseudoborbo bevani and Sancus fuligo are found to be rare The habitats were documented randomly by visual and Papilio memnon, Papilio polymnestor, Euploea core, observations, walks, opportunistic observations and butterfly Junonia iphita, Lebadea martha, Melanitis leda, Orsotriaena species were also photo-documented by Canon Power Shot medus, rosimon, Hypolycaena erylus and Zemeros SX50 HS and Canon DSLR 1100D and 55-250 mm lens flegyas are found to very common in the study area. during the study period. Species identity, and

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Fig 2: Butterflies (selected species) of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Habiganj, Bangladesh.

Key: A - Discolampa ethion, B - Arhopala perimuta, C - Discophora sondaica, D - Cupitha purreea, E - Sancus fuligo, F - Sarangesa dasahara.

Table 1: Checklist of butterflies of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh.

SL Scientific Name Common Name Present study Feeroz et al. Relative Abundance Family: Papilionidae 1. Pachliopta aristolochiae Fabricius, 1775 Common Rose + + Common 2. Papilio chaon Westwood, 1845 Yellow Helen + + Uncommon 3. Papilio clytia Linné, 1758 Common Mime + + Uncommon 4. Papilio demoleus Linnaeus,1758 Lime Butterfly + _ Common 5. Papilio memnon Linné, 1758 Great Mormon + + Very Common 6 Papilio polymnestor Cramer, 1775 Blue Mormon + + Very Common 7 Papilio polytes Cramer, 1775 Common Mormon + + Uncommon 8 Troides helena Felder & Felder, 1865 Common Birdwing + _ Uncommon Family Pieridae 9 Appias lyncida Boisduval, 1836 Chocolate Albatross + + Common 10 Catopsilia pomona Fabricius, 1775 Common Emigrant + _ Common 11 Catopsilia pyranthe Linné, 1758 Mottled Emigrant + _ Uncommon 12 Delias descombesi Boisduval, 1836 Red-Spot Jezebel + + Common 13 Delias eucharis Drury, 1773 Common Jezebel + _ Common 14 Eurema andersoni Corbet & Pendlebury, 1932 One-Spot Grass Yellow + _ Common 15 Eurema hecabe Linné, 1758 Common Grass Yellow + + Common Family Nymphalidae 16 Acraea violae Fabricius, 1775 Tawny Coster + + Uncommon 17 Ariadne ariadne Fruhstorfer, 1899 Angled Castor + + Common 18 Ariadne merione Moore, 1884 Common Castor + _ Uncommon ~ 98 ~ International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

19 Athyma inara Westwood, 1850 Colour Sergeant + + Uncommon 20 Athyma perius Linné, 1758 Common Sergeant + + Common 21 Cethosia cyane Drury, 1773 Leopard Lacewing + + Uncommon 22 Charaxes bernardus Felder & Felder, 1867 Tawny Rajah + + Common 23 Danaus chrysippus Linné, 1758 Plain Tiger + + Uncommon 24 Danaus genutia Cramer, 1779 Striped Tiger + + Uncommon 25 Discophora sondaica Westwood, 1851 Common Duffer + _ Uncommon 26 Elymnias hypermnestra Drury, 1773 Common Palmfly + + Common 27 Euploea core Cramer, 1780 Common Crow + _ Very Common 28 Euploea klugii Felder & Felder, 1865 Blue King-Crow + _ Common 29 Hypolimnas bolina Linné, 1758 Great Eggfly + + Common 30 Junonia almana Linné, 1758 Peacock Pansy + + Common 31 Junonia atlites Liné, 1758 Grey Pansy + + Common 32 Junonia hierta Fabricius, 1793 Yellow Pansy + + Common 33 Junonia iphita Cramer, 1779 Chocolate Pansy + + Very Common 34 Junonia lemonias Linné, 1758 Lemon Pansy + + Uncommon 35 Lebadea martha Fabricius, 1778 Knight + + Very Common 36 Melanitis leda Linné, 1758 Common Evening Brown + _ Very Common 37 Moduza procris Cramer, 1777 Commander + + Uncommon 38 Mycalesis anaxias Fruhstorfer, 1911 White-Bar Bushbrown + + Uncommon 39 Mycalesis mineus Linné, 1767 Dark-Brand Bushbrown + + Common 40 Mycalesis perseus Fabricius, 1798 Common Bushbrown + _ Common 41 Neptis hylas Moore, 1872 Common Sailer + + Common 42 Orsotriaena medus Fabricius, 1775 Nigger + _ Very Common 43 Pantoporia hordonia Stoll, 1790 Common Lascar + + Common 44 Parthenos sylvia Fabricius, 1787 Clipper + _ Common 45 Tanaecia lepidea Butler, 1868 Grey Count + + Uncommon 46 Tirumala limniace Gmélin, 1790 Blue Tiger + + Uncommon 47 Ypthima baldus Fabricius, 1775 Common Five-Ring + + Common Family Lycaenidae 48 Anthene emolus Godart, 1824 Common Ciliate Blue + _ Common 49 Arhopala amantes Swinhoe, 1886 Large Oakblue + _ Uncommon 50 Arhopala perimuta Moore, 1858 Yellowdisc Tailless Oakblue + _ Rare 51 Caleta decidia Hewitson, 1876 Angled Pierrot + _ Uncommon 52 Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775 Common Pierrot + + Very Common 53 Discolampa ethion Westwood, 1851 Banded Blue Pierrot + _ Rare 54 Hypolycaena erylus Fruhstorfer, 1912 Common Tit + + Very Common 55 Jamides celeno Cramer, 1775 Common Cerulean + _ Uncommon 56 Prosotas dubiosa Evans, 1925 Tailless Lineblue + _ Common 57 Prosotas nora Moore, 1875 Common Lineblue + _ Uncommon 58 Pseudozizeeria maha Kollar, 1848 Pale Grass Blue + + Common 59 Zizeeria karsandra Moore, 1865 Dark Gras Blue + + Uncommon 60 Zizula hylax Fabricius, 1775 Tiny Grass Blue + + Uncommon Family Hesperiidae 61 Badamia exclamationis Fabricius, 1775 Brown Awl + _ Uncommon 62 Cupitha purreea Moore, 1877 Wax Dart + _ Rare 63 Hasora badra Moore, 1858 Common Awl + _ Uncommon 64 Iambrix salsala Moore, 1865 Chestnut Bob + _ Uncommon 65 Notocrypta paralysos Fruhstorfer, 1911 Common Banded Demon + _ Uncommon 66 Parnara guttatus Moore, 1865 Straight Swift + _ Uncommon 67 Pelopidas sp Swift sp + _ Uncommon 68 Pseudoborbo bevani Moore, 1878 Bevan’s Swift _ + Rare 69 Sancus fuligo Moore, 1878 Dusky Partwing + _ Rare 70 Sarangesa dasahara Moore, 1865 Common Small Flat + _ Uncommon 71 Tagiades gana Plötz, 1884 Suffused Snow Flat + _ Uncommon 72 Tagiades japetus Moore, 1865 Common Snow Flat + _ Common 73 Udaspes folus Cramer, 1775 Grass Demon + _ Common Family Riodinidae 74 Zemeros flegyas Cramer, 1780 Punchinello + + Very Common

4. Discussion 5. Conclusion Forty species of butterflies were previously recorded [8] from The study reflects the baseline information on these beautiful this study area and 34 species were newly recorded in the groups of insects and enriches the butterfly checklist of present study period. In addition of these 34 newly recorded Bangladesh. The area was found to be rich in butterfly species, the existing checklist of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife diversity. More studies are needed to understand the Sanctuary is updated and the species richness in the Wildlife population dynamics and seasonal patterns of butterflies in this Sanctuary increased to 74 species. The checklist provides the particular geographical area. status for 74 species as only 01 (Pseudoborbo bevani) species reported in earlier were not recorded during the present study. 6. References Khandokar et al. were recorded a total of 160 species of 1. Gadgil M. Documenting diversity: An Experiment; butterflies from the nearest protected area named Lawachara Current Science 1996; 70:36-44. National Park, Bangladesh [31]. 2. Perveen F, Khan A, Sikander. Characteristics of butterfly () fauna from Kabal, Swat. Pakistan Journal of ~ 99 ~ International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies

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