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Journal of Threatened Taxa Bufldfng evfdence for conservafon globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Onlfne) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Prfnt) Short Communfcatfon Butterfly dfversfty (Lepfdoptera: Rhophalocera) assocfated wfth nectar feedfng on Zfzfphus maurftfana Lamarck (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) flowers fn Chuadanga, Bangladesh Tahsfnur Rahman Shfhan 26 Aprfl 2017 | Vol. 9| No. 4 | Pp. 10109–10114 10.11609/jot. 2515 .9. 4.10109-10114 For Focus, Scope, Afms, Polfcfes and Gufdelfnes vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/About_JoTT For Arfcle Submfssfon Gufdelfnes vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/Submfssfon_Gufdelfnes For Polfcfes agafnst Scfenffc Mfsconduct vfsft htp://threatenedtaxa.org/JoTT_Polfcy_agafnst_Scfenffc_Mfsconduct For reprfnts contact <[email protected]> Publfsher/Host Partner Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2017 | 9(4): 10109–10114 Butterfly diversity (Lepidoptera: Rhophalocera) associated with nectar feeding on Ziziphus mauritiana Lamarck (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) flowers in Chuadanga, Bangladesh ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication Short Tahsinur Rahman Shihan OPEN ACCESS Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Present Address: Belgachi Railgate Para, Chuadanga, Bangladesh [email protected] Abstract: A study was conducted during the flowering season of 2005). They choose plants as nectar sources depending Ziziphus mauritiana from September 2015 to October 2015 in Belgachi on various factors including colors and odors of flowers Railgate Para, Chuadanga, Bangladesh. The study recorded 265 individuals of 39 butterfly species belonging to five families and 32 (Jolivet 1986; Weiss 1997; DeVries et al. 1999; Dosa genera nectar feeding on Z. mauritiana flowers. Amongst the families, 1999; Sourakov et al. 2012). Odor sometimes acts as Lycaenidae was dominant with 33.33% (n=13). Amongst the species Parnara bada (Moore, 1878) (Hesperiidae) was the most dominant a synergist with color as the important cue for foraging species followed by Ypthima baldus (Fabricius, 1775) (Nymphalidae). (Ômura & Honda 2005). The usefulness of butterfly Virachola isocrates (Fabricius, 1793) (Lycaenidae) spent the maximum foraging depends on corolla depth and proboscis length, time (60–120 sec) nectar feeding on Z. mauritiana amongst the 39 species sampled. which limits the range of flowers from which nectar can be extracted (Porter et al. 1992; Corbet 2000). Keywords: Chuadanga, Lycaenidae, Parnara bada, Virachola isocrates, The floral syndrome of Ziziphus mauritiana Lamarck Ziziphus mauritiana. (Family Rhamnaceae) reflects its adaptation to insects as well as butterflies. Flower emergence and development lasts for one month from late September to late October Nectar is an important factor influencing the level in Bangladesh. Morphology: Inflorescence axillary and persistence of butterfly populations, but particular cymes, 01–02 cm long, with 07–20 flowers; peduncles sources of nectar may not be optimal for all species. In 02–03 mm long; flowers are small 02–03 mm across a homestead vegetation context, it is not always clear and inconspicuous, greenish-yellow, faintly fragrant; whether nectar sources used by butterflies are good pedicels 03–08 mm long; calyx with five deltoid lobes, quality species. They may be used opportunistically hairy outside, glabrous within; five petals, subspathulate, in the absence of true preferences, therefore possibly concave, reflexed (Orwa et al. 2009). Z. mauritiana is limiting maximal reproduction (Gillespie & Wratten a fruit tree well known for its nutritional and medicinal 2013). The nectar of flowers is the main source of adult benefits. It is a spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree nutrition and butterflies exhibit distinct differences for up to 15m high, with trunk 40cm or more in diameter; flower preference (Jennersten 1984; Ômura & Honda spreading crown; stipular spines and many drooping DOI: http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2515.9.4.10109-10114 | ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:745ACBED-D7F2-4EE0-8646-202221158385 Editor: Sanjay Sondhi, Titli Trust, Dehradun, India. Date of publication: 26 April 2017 (online & print) Manuscript details: Ms # 2515 | Received 22 May 2016 | Final received 07 April 2017 | Finally accepted 10 April 2017 Citation: Shihan, T.R. (2017). Butterfly diversity (Lepidoptera: Rhophalocera) associated with nectar feeding onZiziphus mauritiana Lamarck (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) flowers in Chuadanga, Bangladesh Journal of Threatened Taxa 9(4): 10109–10114; http://doi.org/10.11609/jott.2515.9.4.10109-10114 Copyright: © Shihan 2017. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article in any medium, reproduction and distribution by providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication. Funding: None. Competing interests: The author declares no competing interests. Acknowledgements: Author is grateful to the reviewers and editors. LOGOs 10109 Buterlfes assocfated wfth Zfzfphus maurffana Shfhan branches. The plant fs nafve to Afghanfstan, Algerfa, Methods Australfa, Bangladesh, Chfna, Egypt, Indfa, Indonesfa, The author monftored three Z. maurffana lowerfng Iran, Kenya, Lfbyan Arab Jamahfrfya, Malaysfa, Nepal, trees dafly, fn the mornfng from 08:00–11:00 hr and fn Pakfstan, Thafland, Tunfsfa, Uganda, Vfetnam fn southern the aternoon 15:30–17:00 hr from September 2015 to Asfa and eastern Afrfca (Mfshra et al. 2004; Sellers 2014; October 2015. Dfgftal photographs of adult buterlfes Ashraf et al. 2015). that were nectar feedfng on lowers were taken wfth a Earlfer Mfshra et al. (2004) studfed the dfversfty of zoom lens. Specfes were fdenffed wfth help of lfterature lower-vfsffng fnsects fn relafon to plant densfty of Z. (Kunte 2000; Kehfmkar 2008) and classffcafons follow maurffana fn Awadhesh Pratap Sfngh Unfversfty campus by lfterature Varshney & Smetacek (2015). (24 033’59.88”N & 81 019’49.21”E), Rewa, Madhya Pradesh fn Indfa and reported 18 specfes of buterlfes as Result and Dfscussfon vfsftors to thfs lower. On the other hand, fn Bangladesh, Two-hundred-and-sfxty-fve fndfvfduals of 39 studfes have been carrfed out on the morphology and buterly specfes belongfng to fve famflfes and 32 genera taxonomy of dfferent buterly specfes but data on the were recorded. Among the famflfes, Lycaenfdae was nectar feedfng behavfor of adult buterlfes are scanty domfnant wfth 33.33% (n=13) representafon followed (Begum et al. 2014). Therefore, the objecfve of the by the Nymphalfdae 28.20% (n=11), Hesperffdae 23.07% present fnvesfgafon was to study the buterly dfversfty (n=09) and both Pferfdae and Papflfonfdae at 7.69% assocfafon wfth Z. maurffana lowers and nectar (n=03) (Ffg. 2). The detafls of the number of fndfvfduals feedfng behavfor of buterly specfes. vfsffng lowers and range of feedfng fme of each specfes Study Area: Belgachf Raflgate Para (23 037’53.90”N & are gfven fn Table 1. 88 051’0.53”E) was the study sfte whfch fs 1.79km away Lycaenfdae: Anthene emolus was the most abundant from the mafn town named Chuadanga. It fs sftuated fn (n=17) vfsftor followed by Rathfnda amor (n=13), the southwestern part of Bangladesh (Ffg. 1). Thfs area respecfvely. Vfrachola fsocrates (60-120 sec) and fs covered wfth culfvated land, wetland and homestead Tajurfa cfppus (45 –60) spent the maxfmum fme on vegetafon fnclude trees, herbs, shrubs, grasses and nectar feedfng. clfmbers whfch support buterlfes specfes for thefr Nymphalfdae: Ypthfma baldus (n=22) and Junonfa larval food, nectar feedfng and resfng (Shfhan 2016). almana (n=19) were the domfnant specfes. Agafn Y. baldus (40–45 sec) spent the hfghest fme on nectar feedfng. Pferfdae: Catopsflfa pomona (n=05) was the domfnant specfes and spent the hfghest fme (30–35 sec) on nectar feedfng. Papflfonfdae: Graphfum agamemnon (n=06) was the domfnant vfsftors of thfs famfly and spent the hfghest INDIA fme (10–20 sec) on nectar feedfng. Ffgure 2. Buterly famflfes compared among subfamfly, specfes and Ffgure 1. Locafon of the study sfte fn Chuadanga Dfstrfct, Bangladesh genera. 10110 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 Aprfl 2017 | 9(4): 10109–10114 Butterflies associated with Ziziphus mauritiana Shihan Table 1. List of butterflies recorded nectar feeding on Ziziphus mauritiana flowers in Chuadanga, Bangladesh (September–October 2015). Time Time No. of spent on No. of spent on Common name Scientific name individuals nectar Common name Scientific name individuals nectar recorded feeding recorded feeding (seconds) (seconds) Family: Lycaenidae, Subfamily: Polyommatinae Family: Nymphalidae, Subfamily: Nymphalinae Anthene emolus Hypolimnas bolina 1 Ciliate Blue 17 05–12 21 Great Eggfly 04 07–12 (Godart, 1824) (Linnaeus, 1758) Anthene lycaenina Junonia almana 2 Pointed Ciliate Blue 01 05 22 Peacock Pansy 19 30–34 (Felder, 1868) (Linnaeus, 1758) Castalius rosimon Junonia atlites 3 Common Pierrot 05 20–25 23 Grey Pansy 07 28–32 (Fabricius, 1775) (Linnaeus, 1763) Chilades lajus 4 Lime Blue 02 05–07 Family: