Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(5): 73-81 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(5): 73-81 Studies on butterfly diversity in Adichanalloor © 2017 JEZS Village, Kollam District, Kerala Received: 11-07-2017 Accepted: 12-08-2017 Lekshmi Priya Lekshmi Priya, Varunprasath Krishnaraj, Janaranjini, Sutharsan and Department of Zoology, PSG Lakeshmanaswamy College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India Abstract Varunprasath Krishnaraj The present investigation was carried out to study butterfly diversity in Adichanalloor Village, Kollam Department of Zoology, PSG district in Kerala, for the period of November 2016 to March 2017. Results showed that 79 species of College of Arts and Science, butterflies representing 5 major families were recorded. Family Nymphalidae showed the maximum Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India number of species followed by Lycanidae 13 species, Papilionidae 10 species, Pieridae 9 species and Hesperiidae 7 species. Among these families abundance of butterfly species in maximum in garden area Janaranjini (GI) with 21 species, followed by agrifield (GIII) (17 species), pond region (GV) (16 species), grassland Department of Zoology, PSG College of Arts and Science, (GII) (13 species) and shrubs and herbs (GIV) (12 species).Based on IUCN list, 49 species were Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India common(C), 27 species, uncommon (UC) and 3 species under rare category. According to monthly wise distribution of butterflies, maximum numbers of butterflies were recorded in November (32 species) Sutharsan followed by a December (21 species), January (12 species) and least in the month of March (8 species). Department of Zoology, PSG College of Arts and Science, Keywords: distribution, butterflies, Adichanalloor village, Kollam district, abundance. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India 1. Introduction Lakeshmanaswamy [1] Associate Professor, PG and Insect comprises more than half of earth diversity of species .The butterfly fauna of the Research Department of southern part of the Indian peninsula is very rich and diverse compared to other parts of the Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and peninsula due to the availability of diverse habitats, a wide range of altitudinal gradients and Science College, Coimbatore, associated microclimatic regimes [2]. India, with its diversified ecosystems ranging from the Tamil Nadu, India. snow-clad temperate forests in the Himalayas to the tropical wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, has a rich butterfly fauna. So far, about1500 species of butterflies have been recorded from India, of which about 314 species are found in Kerala, which include a high proportion of rare and endemic species. All of these butterflies are found in the Western Ghats region as well [3]. Many of butterfly species are strictly seasonal and prefer only a particular set of habitats [4] and they are good indicators in terms of anthropogenic disturbance and habitat quality [5]. The earliest scientific records of the butterflies of Western Ghats date back to the th 18 century records by Linnaeus, Fabricus and Cramer. Since then, there have been many studies on butterflies from different parts of the southern India [6-8]. In Peninsular India, 334 butterfly species were reported from the Western Ghats [9] and 150 species from the Eastern Ghats region [10]. In the 18th century, Indian butterfly species were collected and documented [11-19] from several parts of India, Burma, Ceylon and Bhutan. The recent studies on diversity of Indian butterflies were from Kambalakonda Eco-Tourism Park, Visakhapatnam, and Andhra Pradesh [20]. Seshachalam biosphere reserve, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh [21] Khajjiar lake catchment, Himachal Pradesh [22], Gauhati University Campus, Jalukbari,Assam and Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, West Bengal [23].George reported that there are [24] approximately 20,000 species of butterflies distributed throughout the world . The main causes for the decline of butterfly populations are deforestation, habitat destruction for urbanization, industrialization and agriculture causes changes in temperature, humidity and rainfall. Prevalence of unfavorable weather conditions often affect habitat suitability leading to local extinction of butterflies. Unfortunately developmental activities and resulting habitat fragmentation create threats to the survival of butterflies worldwide. The present study mainly Correspondence concentrates on butterfly abundance, habitat preference like agricultural lands, gardens, Varunprasath Krishnaraj grasslands, pond region and shrubs and herbs in Adichanalloor village, Kollam district of Department of Zoology, PSG Kerala State. College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India ~ 73 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2. Materials and Methods weaver diversity index, H’ [28] was used to compare diversity 2.1 Study Area between locations, Kollam district (formerly Quilon) is one of 14 districts of the ’ state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of H = - 2pi) Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, Where, Pi = Proportion of total sample belonging ith sp. a major Arabian Sea seaport and an inland lake (Ashtamudi Log2= 3.322 log10, Lake) and many sources of water bodies. Plains, mountains, S = Number of species. lakes, lagoons and backwaters, forests, farmland and rivers make up the topography of the district and temperature is 2.3 Data analysis almost steady throughout the year. Adichanalloor Village the Butterfly species, individual diversity and abundance were average temperature ranges from 24 to 32 0C. Summer usually calculated by using descriptive statistics. The statistical runs from March until May; the monsoon begins in June and analyses were performed by using the SPSS version 17 (SPSS ends in September. Adichanalloor Village receives an annual Inc., Chicago, Il, USA). average rainfall of around 2,700 millimeters (110 in) and receives both southwest and northeast monsoons. Winter 3. Results season is normally from November to February. The The family-wise composition of butterfly species at Kollam temperature is moderately cool, ranging from 180C to 250C district was recorded. A total of 79 butterflies species during that time. According to Government of Kerala belonging to 5 different families and 5 different habitats were estimates 81,438 hectares (314.43 sq mi) of land in Kollam observed during the study period. Family Nymphalidae district are under forest cover, mainly in the eastern portion of showed the maximum species, comprising of n=40 species the district (including the Thenmala, Punalur and a portion of consist of (50%) including Parantica algae, Junonia atlites, the Achencoil forest divisions). The Thenmala Range, Danaus chrysippus, Papilio helenus, Mycalesis perseus, Aryankavu Range and Shendurney Sanctuary comprise the Thirumala liminiace, Limenitis procris, Melanitis leda, Thenmala division and the Achencoil, Kallar and Kanayar Euploea core, Acraea violae, Junonia iphita, Junonia Ranges make up the Achencoil division. The Pathanapuram lemonias, Ariadne merione, Hypolimnas bolina, Hypolimnas and Anchal Ranges constitute the Punalur division. The bolina, Junonia almanac, Neptis jumbah Moore, Danaus Shenduruny wildlife sanctuary, 66 kilometers (41 miles) from genutia, Orsotrioena medus, Cyrestis thyodamas, Cupha Kollam, is situated on the southern part of the Western Ghats erymanthis, Cynitia lepidea, Thirumala septentrionis, Idea in the Pathanapuram taluk of the district. As per the report malabarica, Parthenos Sylvia, Athyma nefte, Pantoporia under the Peoples Campaign for the Ninth plan entitled forest hordonia, Phalanta phalantha, Neptis hylas, Coladenia and biodiversity, only nine species of insects have been indrani, Mycalesis anaxias, Mycalesis subdita, Vanessa reported specifically from this district. With regard to atalanta, Rapala manea, Parantica nilgiriensis, Mycalesis diversity of butterflies, no detailed survey has been made. The patina, Mimathyma ambica, Ypthima chenu, Lethe busanda, study site has a garden as well as wild plants. The major Vindula erota followed by Lycanidae n=13 species (16.3%) garden plants are Hibiscus, Ixora, Vinca rosa, Taberenae Jamides celeno, Talicada nyseus, Chilades pandava, Zizeeria Montana, Duranta plumeris, Pentas, Mussanda, Catharanthus karsanadra, Castalius rosimon, Catochrysops Strabo, roses and Moraya koiengii (curry leaf plants), plants of citrus Cheritra freja, Spindasis vulcanus, Spindasis lohita, Jomides family etc. Trees include palms both coconut and areca nut alecto, Tajuria cippus, Zizula hylax, Spalgis epius, and Mango trees. Papilionidae n=10 species (12.5%) Papilio polytes, Graphium agamemnon, Papilio clytia, Papilo polymnestor, Papilio 2.2 Methodology memnon, Papilio demoleus, Graphium antiphates, Papilo The present study carried out from November 2016 to March paris,Papilio elephenor, Graphium doson eleius, Pieridae n=9 2017 (morning 6.00 am till 7.00 p.m) Adichanalloor Village, species (11.3%) Delias eucharis, Appias libythea, Eurema Kollam district. The survey of butterflies was undertaken blanda, Leptosia nina, Ixias pyrene, Catopsilia Pomona, along five different transects. The butterflies were recorded Eurema hecabe, Appias albino, Aporia agathone, and using standard transect counting method [25], counted while Hesperidae n=7 species (8.8%) Ampitta dioscorides, walking along the selected transect route of 1 km, in each Potanthus confucius, Tagiades gana, Udaspes folus, habitat. The nomenclature used in the check list