` ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation Volume VI: No. 1 2015 [103 – 108] [ISSN 0975 - 6272] [www.essence-journal.com]

Diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Insecta) from New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary: Zone III in NNTR, ,

Bhandarkar, S.V.1 and Paliwal, G.T. 2

Received: March 11, 2015 ⏐ Accepted: April 25, 2015 ⏐ Online: June 30, 2015

Abstract Introduction Butterflies are beautiful and attractive, A study on diversity of the Butterfly species valuable pollinators, they gather nectar and was carried out at New Nagzira wildlife Sanctuary: Zone III in NNTR (Navegaon- performs important role in food chain. They are also good indicators of environmental Nagzira Tiger Reserve) District ality as they ve to changes in the Maharashtra India in the month of November, qu are sensiti 2014. A total of 25 species belonging to 5 environment (Sharma and Joshi, 2009). From the time immemorial, butterflies have always families of order were reported. In fascinated humankind. Among , they are the present study butterfly species diversity were reported in the family Hesperiidae, certainly the most popular and best known group and that is probably why they are among Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, in which family Nymphalidae the most studied . There was a time when butterflies were collected by hobbyists like were dominant with 14 species under 6 postage stamps. Much information was subfamilies. From the conservation point of generated during that period on their view, the study area is undisturbed and rich in flora and fauna. This documentation on species taxonomy, migration, variation, mimicry, diversity of Butterfly will be helpful for better speciation and evolutionary biology, today several species of butterflies are used by conservation and management planning of biodiversity. conservation biologists as indicator species to identify habitats that are critical and need to be Keywords: Butterfly | species diversity | New protected. Butterflies are also monitored to Nagzira | conservation indicate climate change and environmental For correspondence: degradation. Thus, like other and

1Dept. of Zoology, M. B. Patel College, Deori. Gondia birds. Butterflies are now studied as living 2Dept. of Zoology, S. S. Jaiswal College, Arjuni/Mor. Gondia Email: [email protected] ecological components (Kehimkar, 2011). 103

Bhandarkar & Paliwal /Vol. VI [1] 2015/103 – 108

Some of the important contribution in biodiversity but due to habitat destruction, use butterflies studies are de Niceville(1886), of pesticides, pesticides and occasional fire in Marshall & de Niceville (1882), Swinhoe forest and trading, many species come in (1893,), Bingham (1905), Evans (1932), endangered category. The present study Heppner (1998), Kunte (2000), Mathew and document the diversity of butterflies for better Rahamathulla (1993), Lewis (1973), Sharma et management planning and conservation of area al. (2006), Kehimkar (2008), Sharma and Joshi in New Nagzira wildlife sanctuary in NNTR. (2009), Tiple and Khurad (2009), Tiple (2011), Kasambe (2012) etc. India has a rich butterfly

S. No. Common Name Scientific name Family Hesperiidae Subfamily: Hesperiinae 1 Indian Palm Bob Suastus gremius F. Family Papilionidae Subfamily: Papilioninae 2 Common Mormon Papillio Polytes L. 3 Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus L. 4 Common Rose Atrophaneura aristolochiae F. 5 Malabar Rose Atrophaneura pandiyana M. Family Pieridae Subfamily: Coliadinae 6 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe L. 7 Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona F. 8 Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe L. Family Lycaenidae Subfamily: Riodininae 9 Plum Judy Abisara echerius St. Subfamily: Polyommatinae 10 Indian Cupid Everes lacturnus Go. 11 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon F. Family Nymphalidae Subfamily: Danainae 12 Plain Tiger Dnaus chrysippus L. 13 Common Crow Euploea core Cr. Subfamily: Charaxinae 14 Common Nawab Polyura athamas Dr. Subfamily: Satyrinae 15 Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda L. 16 Dark Evening Brown Melanitis phedima Cr. 104

Bhandarkar & Paliwal /Vol. VI [1] 2015/103 – 108

Subfamily: Heliconiinae 17 Tawny Coster Acraea violae F. Subfamily: Limenitinae 18 Staff sergeant Athyma selenophora K. 19 Common Sailer Neptis hylas L. 20 Common Baron aconthea Cr. 21 Baronet Euthalia nais Fo. Subfamily: Nymphalinae 22 Grey Pansy Junonia atlites L. 23 Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus L. 23 Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita Cr. 25 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias L.

Materials and Method The Book of Indian Butterflies by Kehimkar The observation was based on the field survey. and Butterflies in Maharashtra by Kasambe. Butterfly species were captured with the help Study area of net, identified and released immediately. The Study were carried out near Umarzari Gate Many of the species were photographed. (N- 210 11’ 29.5” E- 790 56’ 6.9”), commonly Identification of the butterflies was primarily known as New Nagzira and it was added into made directly in the field. Identification and Nagzira wildlife sanctuary and Now it is an classification of the butterflies were followed integral part of Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR).

105

Bhandarkar & Paliwal /Vol. VI [1] 2015/103 – 108

Discussion biodiversity (Sharma and Joshi, 2009). From In the present report a total of 25 species the conservation point of view, the study area belonging to 5 families of order Lepidoptera is undisturbed and rich in flora and fauna. This were reported. In the present study butterfly documentation on species diversity of Butterfly species diversity were reported in the family will be helpful for better conservation and Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, management planning of biodiversity. 53 Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae in which family species of butterflies were recorded from Nymphalidae were dominant with 14 species Pohara Malkhed Reserve Forest, Amravati under 6 subfamilies. The association in District by Kasambe & Wadatkar (2004); 68 butterflies and plants is highly specific; unlike species of butterflies of 50 genera were bees, butterflies feed entirely on nectar, which recorded from Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve they obtain through their long proboscis from (Sharma & Radhakrishnan 2006); 43 species flower. Thus pollination, a crucial link in the from the Tiger Reserve in Tadoba National survival of ecosystem, is one such factor that Park, Maharashtra (Rai et al. 2006); 45 needs to be well understood to develop butterflies from Pench Tiger Reserve appropriate strategies for conservation of the (Maharashtra) by Singh (2004); 65 species

106

Bhandarkar & Paliwal /Vol. VI [1] 2015/103 – 108

Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra (Sharma & Bombay Natural History Society, Radhakrishnan 2004); 45 species from Melghat Mumbai, India. 454pp. Tiger Reserve (Sharma & Radhakrishnan Heppner, J.B. (1998): Classification of 2005); 53 species belonging to 36 genera Lepidoptera Part 1. Introduction. representing seven families from Lonar Holarctic Lepid. (Gainsville), 5: 1-148. Wildlife Sanctuary, Buldhana District (Sharma Kasambe, R. & J. S. Wadatkar (2004): 2008); 51 butterfly species were recorded Butterflies of Pohara Malkhed Reserve belonging to seven families from Melghat Forest, Amravati District Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra (Chandrakar et al. (Maharashtra). Bugs ‘R’ All 7(2): 5-6. 2007) and many more report from the forest of Kunte, K. (2000): Butterflies of Peninsular Maharashtra reveals wide biodiversity of India. Indian Academy of Sciences, butterflies. The sheer numbers of insects means Universities Press (India) Limited. that their impact upon the environment hence 254pp. our lives are highly significant. Insects are the Lewis, H.L. (1973): Butterflies of the World. major component of macroscopic biodiversity Follett Publishing Company, Chicago. and for this reason alone we should try to 312pp. understand them better. Mathew, G. and Rahamathulla, V.K. (1993): Acknowledgement Studies on the butterflies of the Silent The authors are thankful to the members of Valley National Park, Kerala, India, Aranyayatri Wildlife Foundation (AWF) for Entomon. 18(3&4): 185-192. valuable support during study. Sharma, R.M. & C. Radhakrishnan (2005): References Insecta: Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera and Bingham, C.L. (1905): The fauna of British Grypocera). Fauna of Pench National Inndia including Ceylon and Burma, Park. Zoological Survey of India. Butterfly-Vol-I. Taylor and Francis Conservation Area Series 20: 251-274. Ltd., London. 511pp. Sharma, R.M. & C. Radhakrishnan (2006): Chandrakar, M., S. Palekar & S. Chandrakar Insecta: Lepidoptera (Rhopalocera and (2007): Butterfly fauna of Melghat Grypocera). Fauna of Tadoba Andhari Region, Maharashtra. Zoos’ Print Tiger Reserve. Zoological Survey of Journal 22(7): 2762-2764. India. Conservation Area Series 25: de Niceville, L. (1886): The butterflies of 255-277. Inndia, Burma and Ceylon. Vol-II. Sharma, R.M. (2008): Insecta: Lepidoptera Nymphalidae, Lemoniidae, (Rhopalocera and Grypocera). Fauna of Libythaeinae, Nemeobinae. The Lonar Wildlife Sanctuary, Zoological Calcutta Central press Co. Ltd. 332pp. Survey of India. Conservation Area Evans, W.H. (1932): The identification of Series 37: 181-190. Inndian Butterflies. (2nd Edition). The

107

Bhandarkar & Paliwal /Vol. VI [1] 2015/103 – 108

Singh, J. (2004): Status of tiger conservation in Seasonal Distribution in and around the Pench National Park and Tiger City, Central India. World Reserve, Maharashtra. Proceedings of Journal of Zoology. 4(3): 153-162. the Symposium on Three Decades of Tiple, A.D. (2011): Butterflies of Project Tiger in Melghat 119 -133. region, Maharashtra State, central Swinhoe, C. (1893): A list of the Lepidoptera India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(1): of the Khasia hills. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1469-1477. London. 3: 267-330. Tiple, A.D. & A.M. Khurad (2009a): Butterfly Species Diversity, Habitats and

108