Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3 (2): 365-373

E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2015; 3 (2): 365-373 Checklist of of Kushtia District, © 2015 JEZS Received: 04-03-2015 Accepted: 02-04-2015

Samsur Rahman Samsur Rahman, Mohammad Abdul Baki, Anik Chandra Mondal, Amit Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka- Kumer Neogi, Farzana Islam, Rajib Chandra Sutradhar 1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected] Abstract Till date, the Northern parts of Bangladesh are more or less neglected for any biodiversity surveys. Mohammad Abdul Baki Keeping this in view, the present study was undertaken at the Kushtia district, which is located in the Assistant Professor, Department northern region (23○54’N and 89○03’E) of Bangladesh with an area of 1621.15 square kilometers. A field of Zoology, Jagannath study was conducted to determine the existing fauna of Kushtia district, Bangladesh from University Dhaka-1100, March, 2012 to February, 2014. A total of 77 species were recorded belonging to 9 families and 64 Bangladesh. genera. Family was the most dominating family with 23 species followed by Hesperiidae (14 Email: [email protected] species), Nymphalidae (12 species), Pieridae (10 species), Papilionidae (7 species), Satyridae (7 species),

Anik Chandra Mondal Danaidae (4 species), Acraeidae (1 species) and Amathusiidae (1 species). This survey was an initial step Department of Zoology, to know the existing butterfly number and diversity which will be helpful to take further steps in Jagannath University, Dhaka- upgrading the checklist of butterflies of our country. 1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected] Keywords: Kushtia, Butterfly, Northern part, Bangladesh

Amit Kumer Neogi 1. Introduction Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka- Bangladesh has realm number of biological diversity for its geographical location and 1100, Bangladesh. favorable climatic condition for life. Kushtia district is situated in the north region of Email: [email protected] Bangladesh, is an area of 1621.15 square kilometer. The average maximum temperature of the locality is 37.8 0C and minimum 9.2 0C. Annual rainfall is about 1,467 mm. Farzana Islam (butterfly) is widely accepted as a good indicator of ecosystem health [13]. In Bangladesh, the Department of Zoology, [10] Jagannath University, Dhaka- butterfly fauna is not well documented compared to the other wildlife . IUCN took the first 1100, Bangladesh. attempt to create a complete checklist on butterfly fauna of Bangladesh by the famous Email: [email protected] lepidopterist Torben B Larsen. Considering the floral diversity and habitat variation it could be predicted that 500-550 butterfly species should be present in Bangladesh [11]. Regional Rajib Chandra Sutradhar documentation of butterflies has great importance as they provide basic information to Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka- taxonomists, zoogeographers, and ecologists; showing when and where to look for certain [4] 1100, Bangladesh. taxa. Unfortunately, this sort of work is often ignored . The regional checklist of any region Email: [email protected] or part of a country has a great importance to update existing butterflies, status and diversity that may be a crucial help for their conservation. The present study in Kushtia was undertaken as an inventory step to know the existing number of butterfly species and their richness which

may be helpful to create a management plan for butterfly conservation.

2. Methods and Materials Kushtia is situated at the northern part of Bangladesh (23º54’N and 89º08’E). Study has been carried out from March, 2012 to February, 2014. Study areas have been chosen based on

contrasting vegetation type, diversity, abundance and rate of disturbance in Kushtia districts.

Butterflies species have been documented randomly by direct visual observations. Butterflies

were primarily identified directly by watching and taking photographs using Canon-P510 camera. Sometimes species were caught gently for identification and then released without any harm. In few cases, species were collected with sweep nets, placed in a plastic bag and carried in laboratory for further identification. Butterflies were identified using field guides Evans Correspondence: (1932), Hossain (2013) and Kehimkar (2013) [3, 5, 8]. The scientific name and common name of Mohammad Abdul Baki [11] Assistant Professor Department butterflies are corrected by using Larsen 2004 . of Zoology Jagannath University Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. 3. Results and Discussion Email: [email protected] A total of 77 species of butterflies under 9 families including 64 genera were recorded during ~ 365 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

the study period (table 1). Most dominant family was abundance during pre-winter period. The chemical range, food Lycaenidae, consisting of 23 (29.87%) species, followed by plants and the variety of plant microhabitats, such as leaves, Danaidae (5.19%), Papilionidae (9.09%), Pieridae (12.99%), stems, roots, seeds, and fruit that can be exploited for the other Nymphalidae (15.58%), Hespiriidae (15.58%), Satyridae purposes such as defense against predation and parasitism are (9.09%), Acraeidae (1.30%) and Amathusiidae (1.30%) (fig a driving force in abundance. Through the entire study period 2). Though urbanization made a variation in the floral diversity some species of butterflies were found to occur frequently of the total area of Kushtia. Vegetation was moderately rich in such as Danaus Chrysippus Chrysippus, Euploea core core, herbs, shrubs and canopies. The maximum number of Papilio polytes romulus, Papilio demoleus demoleus, butterflies was observed on the Mikania micrantha, Lantana Graphium doson axion, Catopsilia pomona Pomona, camera, Cosmos sp., Lippia alba, Tridax procumbens, Tagetes Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe, Leptosia nina nina, Eurema patula, Ixora finlaysoniyana, Gomphrena globosa, Acmella hecabe hecabe, Appias albinadarada, Spindasis syama sp., Acacia sp., Leucas aspara, Ageratum conyzoides, Ixora peguanus, Pseudozizeeria maha maha, Euchrysops cnejus, sp., Cuphea hyssopifolia, Saraca indica etc. Moreover Junonia Parnara guttatus mangala, Udaspes folus, Junonia atlites sp. was mostly found as very abundant in Kushtia. Most of the atlites, Melanitis leda ismene. The study area also occupied by butterfly species were found at the time of nectar collection more larval host plants of some most abundant species of from the flowering plants. Some were observed during resting butterflies such as Calotropis gigantean, Citrus sp., Polyathia time on the different plants. The availability and dominance of longifolia, Senna tora, Senna alata, Cassia fistula, Cassia flowering wild plants are found to influence on the butterfly tora, Acacia species, Cleome viscose, Ricinus communis etc. number richness. Composition of herbaceous plant species in This list of butterflies can be used as an indication of an ecosystem may bring an importance on butterfly species butterflies to be expected in these areas. The basic objective of richness; and vegetation types can contribute this study was the construction of a database on resources for disproportionately high numbers of butterfly species compared butterflies to further their conservation. Our result indicated to dominant vegetation type of the single species of plant [7, 16]. that most butterfly species was observed in a specific season. Woody plant species richness may not good predictor for The numbers of butterflies’ fauna vary greatly depending on butterfly species richness [16]. The species/individual richness floral vegetation (e.g. Number of host plants, nectar plants and of butterflies was observed in the month of December during visited plants) and ecological condition in around the study pre-winter period. In terms of species/individual richness, areas. there are reasons why butterflies have been successful in

Table 1: List of butterflies in Kushtia district

SL. No. Family Common Name Scientific Name 1 Plain Tiger Danaus Chrysippus Chrysippus Linnaeus, 1758 2 Striped Tiger Danaus genutia genutia Cramer 1779 3 Common Crow Euploea core core Cramer, 1780

4 Danaidae Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace exoticus Cramer, 1775 5 Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae aristolochiae Fabricius, 1775 6 Common Mormon Papilio polytes romulus Cramer, 1775 7 Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus demoleus Linné, 1758 8 Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor polymnestor Cramer, 1775 9 Common Jay Graphium doson axion Felder & Felder, 1864

10 Papilionidae Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon Linné, 1758 11 Common Mime Chilasa clytia clytia Linné, 1758 12 Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe Linné, 1758 13 Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona pomona Fabricius, 1775 14 Common Gull Cepora nerissa nerissa Fabricius, 1775 15 Three-Spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda silhetana Wallace, 1867 16 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe hecabe Linné, 1758 17 Psyche Leptosia nina nina Fabricius, 1793 18 Pieridae Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Drury, 1773 19 Striped Albatross Appias albina darada Swinhoe, 1890 20 Common Wanderer Pareronia hippia hippia Fabricius, 1787 21 Pioneer Belenois aurota Fabricius, 1793 22 Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus Linné, 1758 23 Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina bolina Linné, 1758 24 Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha phalantha Drury, 1770 25 Common Castor Ariadne merione tapestrina Moore, 1884 26 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui cardui Linné, 1758 27 Common Baron Euthelia aconthea garuda Moore, 1857 28 Leopard Lacewing Cethosia cyane Drury, 1773 29 Common Sergeant Athyma perius perius Linnaeus, 1758 30 Nymphalidae Grey Pansy Junonia atlites atlites Linné, 1763 31 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias lemonias Linné, 1758 32 Peacock Pansy Junonia almana almana Linnaeus, 1758 33 Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita iphita Cramer, 1779 34 Striped Pierrot nara kollar, 1848 35 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775 dae

36 Lycaeni Shot Silverline Spindasis ictis Hewitson, 1865

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37 Common Silverline Spindasis syama peguanus Fabricius, 1775 38 Long -banded Silverline Spindasis lahita himalayanus Moore, 1884 39 Common Cerulean Jamides celeno celeno Cramer, 1775 40 Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra Moore, 1865 41 Pale Grass Blue Pseudozizeeria maha maha Kollar, 1848 42 Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax Fabricius, 1775 43 Forget-me-not Catochrysops strabo strabo Fabricius, 1793 44 Pea Blue Lampides boeticus Linné, 1767 45 Quaker Neopithecops zalmora zalmora Butler, 1870 46 Slate Flash Rapala manea schistacea Moore, 1879 47 Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius, 1798 48 Lime Blue Chilades lajus lajus Stoll, 1870 49 White-disc Hedge Blue Celatoxia albidisca Moore, 1883 50 Tailless Lineblue Zizeeria otis otis Fabricius, 1787 51 Common Lineblue Prosotas nora ardates Moore, 1875 52 Apefly Spalgis epius epius Westwood, 1851 53 Monkey Puzzle Rathinda amor Fabricius, 1775 54 Peacock Royal cippus Fabricius, 1798 55 Common Ciliate Blue Anthene emolus emolus Godart, 1823 56 Pointed Ciliate Blue Anthene lycaenina lycambers Hewitson, 1878 57 Straight Swift Parnara guttatus mangala Moore, 1865 58 Conjoined Swift Pelopidas conjuncta conjuncta Herrich-Schäffer, 1869 59 Grass Demon Udaspes folus Cramer, 1775 60 Chestnut Bob Iambrix salsala salsala Moore, 1865 61 Indian Palm Bob Saustrus gremius gremius Fabricius, 1798 62 Dark Palm Dart Telicota bambusae bambusae Moore, 1878 63 Pale Palm Dart Telicota colon Fabricius, 1775 64 Common Red Eye aria Moore, 1865 Hesperiidae Hesperiidae 65 Grizzled Spialia galba Fabricius, 1793 66 Bengal Swift Pelopidas agna agna Moore, 1865 67 Brown Awl Badamia exclamationis Fabricius, 1775 68 Smaller Dartlet goloides Moore, 1881 69 Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra Drury, 1773 70 Common Fivering Ypthima baldus baldus Fabricius, 1775 71 Common Fourring Ypthima huebneri Kirby, 1871 72 Bamboo Treebrown Lethe europa Fruhstorfer, 1911 73 Common Bushbrown Mycalesis perseus blasius Fabricius, 1798 Satyridae 74 Dark Branded Bushbrown Mycalesis mineus Linné, 1767 75 Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda ismene Linné, 1758 76 Acraeidae Tawny Costar Acraia violea Fabricius, 1775 77 Amathusiidae Common Duffer Discopfhora sondaica zal Boisduval, 1836

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Fig 1: Photograph of butterflies

4. Conclusion A total of 77 species of butterflies were recorded during the study period. The existing checklist of butterfly is not complete so further studies are needed to update the checklist. This inventory work will be helpful for upgrading the checklist of butterflies, its host plants and making conservation plan on butterflies of Kushtia more accurately.

5. Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Butterfly Bangladesh and their research Fig 2: Percentage (%) of observed butterflies of different families at team for great support during our research period. Also very Kushtia thankful to Md. Kawsar Khan for his useful comments and ~ 372 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

suggestions to prepare this manuscript. The authors are grateful to Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka for providing laboratory facilities throughout the research period.

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