Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2019; 7(1): 1431-1434 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 A preliminary study on the abundance of JEZS 2019; 7(1): 1431-1434 © 2019 JEZS butterflies around the Chandandhara waterfall, Received: 15-11-2018 Accepted: 20-12-2018 Nabarangpur, Odisha Abhilash Acharya P.G. Department of Zoology, North Orissa University, Abhilash Acharya and Pramod Pal Takatpur, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India Abstract A study on the abundance of butterflies was conducted around the Chandandhara waterfall which is Pramod Pal P.G. Department of Zoology, situated near the Nabarangpur district of Odisha. This is a tourist spot due to its natural beauty and the North Orissa University, presence of a Shiva temple. Our study duration was about nine months and it revealed a total of 53 Takatpur, Baripada, species of butterflies belonging to 37 genera and 6 families. The highest number of species were recorded Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India under the family Nymphalidae (46.15%), followed by Papilionidae (19.23%), Pieridae (15.38%), Hesperiidae (9.61%), Lycanidae (7.69%) and Riodinidae (1.92%). This is a first attempt to prepare a checklist for the butterfly population present in this area which could be referred for further studies in the future. Keywords: Lepidopteran, Chandandhara waterfall, bio-indicator, bio-monitoring, entomology 1. Introduction Butterflies are unique insects which belong to the class Insecta and order Lepidoptera. There are six families of butterflies namely Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Riodinidae and Hesperiidae. The trace of their evolution dates back to the Eocene epoch, about 40-50 million years ago. Butterflies are generally regarded as one of the best taxonomically studied group of insects. There are more than 28,000 species of butterflies, with about 80 [1] percent found in tropical regions. India hosts about 1,501 species of butterflies out of which peninsular India hosts 350 species. Butterflies are highly sensitive to environmental alterations therefore they are considered as excellent bio-indicators of nature [2] and can be used as a source to assess the conservation threat to the biodiversity [3]. Apart from being bio-indicators butterflies are one of the best pollinating agents and their abundance signifies a healthy [4] environment . Though many research on the diversity of butterflies has been carried out in different parts of India [5-10] there have been few studies in Odisha and still fewer studies in South Odisha. The previous studies have been conducted in certain protected areas of Odisha like Similipal Tiger Reserve [11, 12] and Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary [13]. The present study has been conducted in and around the Chandandhara waterfall situated near the Nabarangpur district of Odisha. Although many species of butterflies are seen here but there is no record of the different species present in this area. The present investigation is thus a first attempt to record the different species of butterfly found around this waterfall. 2. Study Site º ′ The area where the present study has been conducted is the Chandandhara (Latitude 19 61 89.58″N and Longitude 82º 47′ 28.77″E) which is a natural waterfall situated at Jharigram block of Chacha Panchayat amidst deep forests which is about 90 Kms from Nabarangpur district of Odisha (Fig 1). This is a place of tourist attraction due to the presence of a temple of lord Shiva and a beautiful waterfall. The climate is sub-tropical to temperate. It is charcterised by hot and dry summer, cool and humid monsoon and cold and dry winter. December is the coldest month with a mean daily average temperature of 23 ºC which reaches to a maximum of Correspondence up to 39 ºC in May. The rainfall this area receives is mainly from the Southwest monsoons Abhilash Acharya which lasts from June to October. The average annual rainfall varies from 1030.21 mm to P.G. Department of Zoology, North Orissa University, 1569.50 mm. Two types of soils are mainly found in the area i.e., Red and Laterite soil. The Takatpur, Baripada, soil pH is neutral to alkaline and its salinity is mainly normal. The flora of the study area is Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India predominated by plants like Tamarind (Tamarindus indica), Kusum (Schleichera oleosa), Sal ~ 1431 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies (Shorea robusta), Teak (Tectona grandis), Kendu (Diospyros been conducted in this area. It establishes the importance of melanoxylon), Kadamba (Neolamarckia cadamba), Amla such small unexplored eco-pockets and also the need for (Phyllanthus emblica), Jamun (Syzygium cumini) and Bamboo further investigation around these parts. The study is for a (Bambusa vulgaris) etc. short period of time and a limited area around the waterfall was taken in to account therefore it is highly possible that 3. Methodology more species could be recorded and their diversity and species The study was conducted around the Chandandhara waterfall richness could be measured if subsequent studies in this area from January 2017 to September 2017. The butterflies were are conducted. observed during the day from 08.00 am to 04.00 pm by using variation of the pollard method [14, 15]. An entomological net Table 1: Checklist of butterflies recorded in and around the Chandan was used to capture and identify the species without harming Dhara waterfall any specimen. The butterflies were released after proper Sl. Family Common name Scientific name identification and specimen collection was not adopted in our No. study. Butterflies were identified using available literature [16, 1 Evening Brown Melanitis leda 17] and photographic field guides of Haribal and Kehimkar [18, 2 Nigger Orsotriaena medus 19]. The photographs of the observed species were taken by 3 Tawny Coster Acracea violae using Camera (Nikon D3200). The different species of 4 Tawny Rajah Charaxes polyxena butterflies recorded after the study were then systematically 5 Black Rajah Charaxes solon 6 Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha arranged into a checklist for future reference 7 Common Tiger Danaus genutia 8 Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus 9 Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta 10 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias 11 Peacock Pansy Junonia almana 12 Grey Pansy Junonia atlites Nymphalidae Hypolimnas 13 Danied Eggfly misippus 14 Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina 15 Common sergeant Athyma perius 16 Colour Sergeant Athyma nefte 17 Commander Moduza procris 18 Common Crow Euploea core 19 Blue Spotted Crow Euploea midamus 20 Common Nawab Polyura athamus 21 Anamolous Nawab Charaxes agrarius 22 Great Nawab Polyura eudamippus 23 Angled Castor Ariadne ariadne 24 Bamboo Tree Brown Lethe europa 25 Common Jay Graphium doson Graphium 26 Tailed Jay agamemnon 27 Crimson Rose Pachliopta hector Fig 1: A satellite overview map showing the location of the study 28 Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus area. 29 Common Mormon Papilio polytes 30 Papilionidae Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor 4. Results and Discussion 31 Great mormon Papilio memnon During the study period of nine months a total of 53 species 32 Red Helen Papilio helenus of butterflies belonging to 37 genera and 6 families were 33 Yellow Helen Papilio nephelus Common Banded recorded (Table 1). The maximum number of species were 34 Papilio crino Peacock represented under the family Nymphalidae (46.15%) followed 35 Common Mime Chilasa clytia by Papilionidae (19.23%), pieridae (15.38%), Hesperiidae 36 Psyche Leptosia nina (9.61%), Lycanidae (7.69%) and Riodinidae (1.92%) (Fig 2). 37 Indian Cabbage White Pieris canidia Most of the butterflies recorded were common and were 38 Common Gull Cepora nerissa observed on a regular basis in the study area where as some of 39 Lesser Gull Cepora nadina the butterflies like Blue Mormon, Blue spotted Crow, 40 Pieridae Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Commander, Colour Sergeant, Black Rajah, Yellow Helen 41 Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona Common Grass and Plum Judy were rarely observed during the study period. 42 Eurema hecabe Yellow Butterfly diversity varied with season. They were abundant 43 Puffin Appias indra for only a few months and rare or absent during other months 44 Common Awl Hasora badra [20] of the year . The abundance of diverse species were 45 Water Snow Flat Tagiades litigiosa positively affected by approaching summer, high relative 46 Indian Skipper Spialia galba Hesperiidae Potanthus humidity and more rainfall. During the present study, the 47 Indian Dart numbers of the butterflies were peaked during post-monsoon pseudomaesa season (August and September). 48 Chestnut Bob Lambrix salsala 49 Common Silverline Spindasis vulcanus This study is a first and a preliminary attempt to record the 50 Large Oakblue Arhopala amantes Lycanidae various butterfly species present around the Chandandhara 51 Yam Fly Loxura atymnus waterfall and although such studies have previously been 52 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon carried out in other parts of Odisha no such study has ever 53 Riodinidae Plum Judy Abisara echerius ~ 1432 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Fig 2: Graph showing percentage occurrence of butterflies in various families. Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Image 6 Image 7 Image 8 Image 9 Image 10 Image 11 Image 12 Image 13 Image 14 Image 15 Image 16 Image 17 Image 18 Image 19 Image 20 Image 21 Image 22 Image 23 Image 24 Image 25 Image 26 Image 27 Image 28 Image 29 Image 30 Image 31 Image 32 Image 33 Image 34 Image 35 Image 36 Image 37 Image 38 Image 39 Image 40 ~ 1433 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Image 41 Image 42 Image 43 Image 44 Image 45 Image 46 Image 47 Image 48 Image 49 Image 50 Image 51 Image 52 Image 53 Plate 1: Photographs of the butterflies observed at Chandandhara waterfall. (See Table 1 for the corresponding names). 5. Conclusion 5. Mason W & Niceville D. List of butterflies. Journal of The Chandandhara waterfall is an ecologically rich area.