DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF BUTTERFLIES IN PULLAMPARA GRAMA PANCHAYATH, , , BADUSHA M., KUNHIKRISHNAN E1, SANTHOSH S., PRAVEENA M AND YUNUS H.

P.G. and Research Department of Zoology, NSS College Pandalam. 1Associate professor and Head (Retired), Department of Zoology, University College, Thiruvananthapuram, . Correspondence to: [email protected] Abstract: A study on diversity and abundance of butterflies in Pullampara panchayath extended for four months from April 2011 to July 2011. Species diversity and abundance during pre-monsoon (April-May) and monsoon (June-July) seasons were observed in the study. A total of 63 species of butterflies belonging to five families were recorded. Twenty nine species recorded during the study were belonging to Nymphalidae. Family Papilionidae include 9 species. Five species belonged to Pieridae. Twelve species belonged to Lycaenidae and 8 species belonged to Hesperiidae. Nymphalidae was dominant among butterflies recorded in the area followed by Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae. Family Pieridae had poor recording. Maximum diversity was observed during monsoon (63 species), while a comparatively low diversity was observed during pre-monsoon season (52 species). There was a marked difference in abundance of individual species between pre- monsoon and monsoon. During pre-monsoon, total of 174 butterflies were identified. In which the family Nymphalidae include106, Papilionidae include 15, Pieridae include 29, Lycaenidae include 15 and Hesperiidae include 9. In monsoon, total of 248 butterflies were recorded (Nymphalidae-100, Hesperiidae-25, Papilionidae-40, Pieridae-50 and Lycaenidae-33). Nymphalidae were found to be the dominant family in both seasons. Among the identified species, Panchliopta pandiyana and Troides minos are endemic to the Western Ghats and another three species (Papilio polymnestor, Hypolimnas misippus and Delias eucharis) which are endemic to Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. Among the 63 species recorded during the study 7 species come under the protection category of the Indian Wild Life protection Act (1972). Key words: Abundance, Butterflies, Diversity, Species.