Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(3): 968-971

E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Exploring Butterfly fauna at Takht-e-Nasrati, JEZS 2017; 5(3): 968-971 © 2017 JEZS Karak , Received: 18-03-2017 Accepted: 19-04-2017 Khalid Usman, Hameed Ur Rehman, Khalid Pervaiz, Hakeem Khan, Khalid Usman Department of Zoology, Nisar Ahmad and Baharullah Hazara University Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Abstract This study was conducted to provide baseline fauna for the butterflies of Takht-e-Nusrati Karak region. Hameed Ur Rehman The butterflies were collected during April-December 2016 from 5 different localities of Takht-e-Nusrati Department of Chemistry, Karak areas. The collected specimens yielded 17 species from families Namphalidae, Papilionidae and University of Science and Pieridae cover 35%, 12%, and 53% of the butterflies. Family Namphalidae included species Argynnis Technology-26000, KPK, hyperbius, Cynthia cardui, Ariadne merione, Junonia orithya, Phalanta phalantha and Hipparchia Pakistan parisati. Family Papilionidae: Catopsilia Pomona, Colias croceus, Colotis etrida, C. protractus, Eumera Khalid Pervaiz hecab, Pieris ajaka, P. brassicae, P. rapae and P. napae respectively. While Pieridae included Papilio Fisheries Research & Training demoleus and P. polytes only. Institute, Government of the Punjab, Lahore Pakistan Keywords: Karak, Butterfly, fauna, Family, identification

Hakeem Khan Introduction Department of Genetics, Butterflies are regarded as the symbol of beauty and grace since the dawn of the time and are Hazara University Mansehra, best known insect due to their diurnal habitats and are readily recognized by their bright Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan [1, 2] colors, shapes and graceful flights, which give pleasure to everyone . Butterflies are found Nisar Ahmad almost in every part of the world where ever the flowering plants are found; inhabiting even Department of Botany, very high altitudes except Arctic and Antarctic and mountains which are covered with Kohat University of Science and perpetual snow and glaciers [3]. Systematically the butterflies have been studied since the 18th Technology-26000, KPK, century and 19,238 species had been documented worldwide [4]. This figure is not constant Pakistan [5-9]. because of the continuous discovery of new butterflies Biological diversity or biodiversity Baharullah Khattak is important scientifically, socially, economically, educationally, culturally, aesthetically and Department of Microbiology, recreationally and it is the one of the major features of the animal communities [10-13]. Kohat University of Science and Lepidoptera have significant economic importance. Butterflies are the most efficient Technology-26000, KPK, pollinators of flowers in addition to moths and bees. They help in the production of food crops, Pakistan [14]. seeds and fruits, therefore, they are essential for the survival of man and animals Mouth parts of a butterfly are adapted for sucking. Proboscis is usually long and coiled. Compound eyes are comparatively large with a large number of facets. Larva is called caterpillar, usually eruciformes with a well-developed head. Cater-pillar has well developed silk glands [15]. The antennae of butterflies are either slender or knobbed at the tip and in the family Hesperiidae (Skippers) are hooked at the tip. In some butterflies genera such as Taractrothera and common [16]. snout butterfly Libythea carinenta (Cramer) the knob is hollowed underneath The aim of the current study was to explore the butterfly fauna of Takht-e-nasrati for the first time of district Karak, KP, Pakistan

Materials and Methods Study Area o o o o The Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati (32.47 - 33.28 North, 70.30 - 71.30 East) of about 613.66 sq kilometers is bound by Tehsil Banda Dawood Shah on the North West, Tehsil Karak on the North East, District Mianwali and District on the South East, and Tribal area Adjoining District on the South West (Figure 1). The majority of the area consists of rigged dry hills and rough fields of about 323.97 Sq. kilometers and agricultural land of about Correspondence Hameed Ur Rehman 289.7 Sq. kilometer. Rain agriculture is a major income source of the people. The area is Department of Chemistry, situated at 340 m above sea level. Environmental data showed that mean air temperature (39.5 Kohat University of Science and °C) and wind speed (5.5 Km/h) was high in June, relative humidity was high (77.21%) in the Technology Khyber month of September, rainfall (121.6 mm) and soil temperature (26.77 °C) was high in month Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan of July, which indicated dry condition in area. ~ 968 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Fig 1: Map of Takht-e-Nusrati Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Collection and Preservation properly, which were belongs to same order Lepidoptera; The study was conducted to determine butterflies fauna of Three families Namphalidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae; 12 Takhti Nusrati District Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. genera Argynnis Cynthia, Ariadne, Junonia, Phalanta, Each quadrant was visited daily thrice (morning, afternoon Hipparchia, Papilio, Catopsilia, Colias, Colotis, Eumera and and evening) in a day during April-December 2016 for Pieris; 17 species respectively as shown in Table 1. collection of butterflies by sweep-net. Then they were killed, Furthermore, it can be concluded that maximum collection of stretched, pinned and identified by already preserved butterflies was carried out during the warm season especially specimen, internet, literature available [17-18], keys [18-19] and June and July. It is because butterflies can fly less in low entomologists. Then they were arranged in the wooden box temperatures, rain and cloudy conditions; we expected to see with the phenolphthalein balls. a significant effect of weather on count results. The result of the present study revealed that all of the species of butterflies Results in District Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were belongs 3 During the Survey of Karak District Khyber Pakhtunkhwa families. about 17 species of butterflies were collected and identified

Table 1: Diversity of Butterfly fauna in District Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Class Order Family Genus Species Argynnis hyperbius Cynthia cardui Ariadne merione Nymphalidae Junonia orithya Phalanta phalantha Hipparchia parisatis Papilio demoleus Papilionidae polytes Insecta Lepidoptera Catopsilia pomona Colias croceus etrida Colotis protractus Pieridae Eumera hecab ajaka Pieris brassicae rapae napae Class 01 Order 01 Families 03 Genus 12 Species 17

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species belonging to the only family Pieridae from 7 different localities were recorded [21]. Another study was carried out and analyzed the diversity of the butterfly fauna of Buner. A total of 450 specimens were collected and identified, 36 species were recorded falling in 25 genera and belonging to 8 families [22]. The variation may be due to change in the climatic factors. In another survey the butterfly fauna of Kohat, Pakistan were recorded. Twenty one species were identified belonging to 3 families; Pieridae covered 57%, Nymphalidae 33% and Papilionidae 10%, of total numbers of collecting butterflies of Kohat [23]. Another report was presented to explore the butterfly population in some countries of Asia. Different genera of butterflies taking place in Pakistan, Sari lanka, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal. They reported 15 genera of Papilionidae, 25 Pieridae, 6 Danaidae respectively [24]. From the current study it can be revealed that the results of the present study are a little bit change when compared with the above mentioned previous data conducted in various areas in various times. This variation in the result main reason may be the differences

of some factors like temperature, light, land, humidity, air and Fig 2: Family wise percentage of butterflies in District Karak KP agriculture activities. All the butterfly species can survive in a Pakistan. unique and specific habitat where they live.

Conclusion In the present study total 17 different numbers of species were recorded. From the current research it can be concluded that area of Takht-e-nasrati is best for the butterfly due to agricultural activates (Pestisides sprays) the population of butterflies is badly affected but may be favour if avoid these activities. 8. Acknowledgement We are grateful to all who helped in the present research, especially Hameed Ur Rehman University of KUST.

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