CATALOGUE ZOOS' PRINT JOURNAL 19(1): 1321-1327 FAUNA OF PROTECTED AREAS - 5 INSECT FAUNA OF SHENDURNY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, KERALA George Mathew, Rashmi Chandran, C.M. Brijesh and R.S.M. Shamsudeen Division of Entomology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala 680653, India. Abstract species ‘Chenkurungi’ (Gluta travancorica), found abundantly Altogether 322 species of insects were collected from in this area. The Sanctuary has an area of 100km2, including the the Sanctuary during the two-month survey, of which Kallada Reservoir, which has an extent of 13.72km2. About 450ha 301 species could be identified. These included 202 of area within the notified boundary of the Sanctuary is under species of butterflies and moths, 49 species of beetles, private possession. It has a core area of 45km2 (Vignarajan, 25 species of bugs and 12 species of bees and wasps. 1990). The Sanctuary is made up of hills interspersed with The butterflies included 73 species of which five were ravines. The height of slopes ranges from 120-1550m. Most of of protected status and three endemic to Western Ghats. the hills are accessible except for a few which are rugged and The moth fauna was also very rich comprising mostly of steep. The highest peak Alvarakurichi is 1550m tall forming arboreal feeding forms indicating a fairly undisturbed part of the Sahyadri Hills located along the eastern boundary forest patch in the area. Among beetles, scavenger of the Sanctuary. To meet the irrigation requirements of Kollam beetles showed richness. The passalid beetles found and Pathanamthitta Districts, a dam was constructed across in rotting wood and scarabaeid beetles feeding in dung the Kallada River (Parappar Dam). The resultant lake covering were the most important groups of scavenger beetles. an area of 13.7km2 together with the surrounding forests The herbivorous beetles associated with various plants comprise the wildlife habitat. The Sanctuary receives an annual mostly belonged to the family Chrysomalidae. The bugs rainfall of 3200mm. The temperature varies from 16-35°C. collected, include several species of agricultural importance. Among Hymenoptera, six wasp and three On to the east is the Courtallam Tourist Resort. This area used bee species could be recorded. In addition to these, six to have thick evergreen forest before the advent of Europeans. species of dragonflies, 21 unidentified species of flies, British planters had ruthlessly cleared the forest for tea and three species of grasshoppers and four species of other coffee cultivation. Vegetation of the Sanctuary has been insects were recorded. An inventory of insects classified into west coast tropical evergreen, southern hill top identified from the Sanctuary has been presented. tropical evergreen, west coast semi evergreen and southern moist mixed deciduous forest following Chandrasekaran (1962) Keywords and Champion and Seth (1968). Checklist, Insect fauna, Kerala, Shendurny Wildlife Fauna Sanctuary A diverse population of wildlife is present in the Sanctuary. Elephant, Gaur, Barking Deer, Tiger, Indian Porcupine, Three- Introduction striped Squirrel, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Flying Squirrel and Indian Wild Boar are the most commonly seen mammals. The Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary (77°4'-77°7'E & 8°48'-8°58'N) Reptiles such as Cobra, Viper, Python, Rat Snake and Flying is located in the Thenmala Forest Division of Kollam revenue Snake are also present. With regard to insects no detailed District of Kerala State (Figure 1). It lies on either side of the survey has been made. As per the report under Peoples Shendurny River and is a lush green valley, acclaimed for its Campaign for the Ninth Plan entitled "Forest and Biodiversity", biodiversity. The area was proclaimed a Wildlife Sanctuary in only nine species of insects have been reported specifically 1984 and is the only one in Kollam District. The locality name from this district. In addition to this, some information on certain Shendurny has reference to the presence of the endemic tree specific forest pests is also available. These include the bark Received 14 May 2003 Finally accepted 18 November 2003 January 2004 Zoos' Print Journal 19(1): 1321-1327 1321 Insect fauna of Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (India) G. Mathew et al. Palaruvi Ar Enclosures Puliyara RF Sanctuary Boundary Pallam Kallada Reservoir Vetty Idimuzhagampara Pathu Acre Neduvannur Kadavu Rosemala 8°55 Kattalarpara Dharbhakulam Kuttalam RF Chavakkattutheri Chudal Eetakanam Marappalam Uruli PallivasalAr Postland Vilakkumaram Muppathu Yerur RF Thalakkal Kallar Estate Perumpara Stephen Arady Aruvi Ar Rockwood Estate Moolakayam Pathinanchu Chendurney Ar Thenginthoppu Uruli Ar TAMIL NADU Chintarmani KM 0 1 2 3 4 N INDIA Kulathupuzha RF 8°50 Kerala Charupara Alvarkurichi Pongumalai Peak Papanasam RF 77°05 77°10 Karimala Kadakkal 77°15 Figure 1. Map of Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary caterpillar, Indarbela quadrinotata (Paraserianthes Results and Discussion falcataria), Albizia defoliator (Eurema blanda) and the Albizia Altogether 322 species of insects were collected from the bagworm (Pteroma plagiophleps). Sanctuary during the two-week survey of which 301 species could be identified as given in Table 1. These included 202 Materials and Methods species of butterflies and moths, 49 species of beetles, 25 species Sampling of insects was done using a battery operated light of bugs, 12 species of bees and wasps, six species of dragonflies, trap specially fitted with a switching device to facilitate self- 21 unidentified species of flies, three species of grass hoppers operation at specified hours (Mathew & Rahmathulla, 1995). and four species of other insects. The butterflies included 73 The trap was fitted with solar panels so as to facilitate charging species comprising of five protected species and three Western of battery during the day. In addition to trap catches, collections Ghats endemics. The protected species included Papilio were also made during day times (0800-1300) using hand nets. budha, Euthalia lubentina, Hypolimnas misippus, Mycalesis Collections were made for a period of two weeks in 2000 and the anaxias and Castalius rosimon. Some of the butterflies recorded insects collected were sorted out to species and identified by in this area like Papilio paris tamilana, Cyrestis thyodamas, comparison to material available in the KFRI collections. Kaniska canace, Cupha erymanthis maja, Junonia iphita pulvialis, Cepora nadina and Pantoporia ranga are currently rather rare in distribution. Moths included Achaea janata (vegetable pest), Heliothis obsolete, Mocis frugalis, Parallelia joviana, Prodenia litura, Spodoptera sp., Dasychira mendosa, 1322 January 2004 Zoos' Print Journal 19(1): 1321-1327 Insect fauna of Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary, Kerala (India) G. Mathew et al. Table 1. List of insects recorded from Shendurny Wildlife Sanctuary Scientific name Remarks Scientific name Remarks Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera E. hecabe Lin. Common Papilionidae Ixias marianne (Cramer) Common Chilasa clytia Lin. Rare I. pyrene Lin. Common Graphium sarpedon Felder Common Leptosia nina Fb. Common G. agamemnon agamemnon Lin. Common G. doson doson Felder Common Satyridae Papilio helenus Lin. Common Elymnias caudata Butler Common P. polymnestor parinda Moore Common Melanitis leda Lin. Very common P. buddha Westwood Rare, endemic to the Western Mycalesis anaxias Hewitson Not rare, Schedule II Ghats. Schedule II M. patnia Moore Common P. dravidarum Wood-Mason Rare, endemic to the Western Ghats Lethe rohria Frushstorfer Common P.polytes thesus Cramer Common Ypthima ceylonica Hewitson Fairly common P. demoleus demoleus Lin. Common Ypthima sp. Fairly common P. paris tamilana Moore Rare Pachliopta aristolochiae Lin. Common Hesperidae P. hector Lin. Common Badamia exclamationis Fb. Fairly common Troides minos Cram. Endemic to Western Ghats Celaenorrhinus leucocera (Kollar) Common Potanthus pava pava Fruhstorfer - Nymphalidae Pelopidas mathias Fb. Fairly common Argynnis hyperbius (Johannsen) Common Tagiades litigiosa Moschler Fairly common Cupha erymanthis maja Fruhstorfer Rare Taractrocera ceramas (Hewitson) Rare Cyrestis thyodamas Kollar Not rare Telicota acigias Lin. Fairly common Ariadne merione Cramer Common Euthalia lubentina (Cramer) Rare. Schedule IV Lycaenidae Hypolimnas bolina Lin. Common Arhopala centaurus Moore Common H. misippus Lin. Common. Schedules I & II Castalius rosimon (Fb.) Rare Schedule II Neptis hylas varmona Moore Very common Cheritra freja (Fb.) Rare, N. perius perinus Fruhstorfer Rare Euchrysops cnejus (Fb.) Common Pantoporia ranga (Moore) Rare Jamides alecto (Felder) Rare Phalanta phalantha Drury Common Loxura atymnus Cramer Fairly common Junonia atlites Lin. Common Talicada nyseus (Guerin.) Fairly common J. hierta Fb. Very common J. iphita pluvialis Fruhstorfer Rare Riodinidae J. lemonias vaisya Fruhstorfer Common Abisara echerius Stoll Common Kaniska canace Moore Not rare Acraeidae Danaidae Acraea violae (Fb.) - Danaus genutia genutia Cramer Common D. chrysippus (Lin.) Common Heterocera Euploea core core Cramer Very common Noctuidae Parantica aglea Stoll Fairly common Achaea janata Fb. Pest of vegetables Tirumala limniace leopardus Butler Common Anomis figlina Butler - T.septentrionis dravidarum Fruhstorfer Rare A. flava (Fb.) - Carea endophaea Hamp. Pest of Syzygium Pieridae C. subtilis Walker Pest of Syzygium Delias eucharis Drury Common Chasmina rejecta Fb. - Appias indra Moore Rare Condica illecta Walker - A. lyncida (Cramer) Not rare Ericeia inangulata Guen. -