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ORIGINAL ARTICLE Six New Records of (: Insecta) from Jammu and Rajouri Districts of Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya

Taslima Sheikh 1* and Sajad H Parey 1

Department of Zoology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, 185234, Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Abstract The present communication is based on the sightings of six new

butterflies viz., recorded for the first time in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Himalayas represents one of the unique ecosystems in terms of diversity and species richness. While studying taxa of butterflies in *Corresponding Author: Jammu and Rajouri district located in Kashmir Himalaya, four new records are added for the first time from Jammu and Kashmir State viz Newar Taslima Sheikh three-ring ( Ypthima newara ), Banded treebrown ( confusa ), Golden angle (Caprona ransonnettii ), Common shot silverline (Spindasis ictis ), Email: [email protected] striped pierrot (Tarucus nara ), Balkan pierrot ( balkanicus ). The present Investigation was carried out from March to May, 2019 in morning Received: 08/06/2019 hours from 7 am to 11 am. This communication also deals with peculiar Accepted: 05/08/2019 taxonomical identity, common name, global distribution, IUCN status and photographs of newly recorded Lepidopteran species.

Keywords: Butterflies, New records, Newar three-ring, Banded treebrown, Golden angle, Common shot silverline, Striped pierrot, Balkan pierrot, Kashmir Himalaya.

2 1. Introduction cover of 8,128 km (Singh and Bedi, 2017) and Butterflies (Class: Insecta Linnaeus 1758, worldwide known for rich biological diversity. These Order: Lepidoptera Linnaeus 1758) are holometabolous regions encompasses a variety of habitats conducive to group of living organism as they complete species of butterflies, and several published literatures metamorphosis cycles in four stages, viz. egg or available on butterflies fauna for J and K state and embryo, larva or caterpillar, pupa or chrysalis and elsewhere in the country (Home, 1938; Moore, 1874; imago or adult (Gullan and Cranston, 2004; Capinera, Lang, 1868; Bingham, 1907; Meinertzhagan, 1927; 2008). These seasonal polymorphism groups were Talbot, 1947; Wynter-Blyth, 1957; Mani and Singh, useful in natural ecosystem as pollinators and as food 1962; Das et al., 1964; Das and Verma, 1965; in the ecological food chain. Taxonomists often Tshikolovets, 2005; Uniyal, 2007; Khan et al., 2011; disagree about whether any particular taxon of a Sidhu et al., 2012; Qureshi, 2014; Sondhi et al., 2017; were a full species or just a subspecies or Sharma and Sharma, 2017). Considering the form, therefore, published estimates of the total number importance of butterflies as pollinators in natural of described butterfly taxa in the world ranges from ecosystem and role in development of new science, the 17,000-20,000 (Shields, 1989; Robbins, 1982). Hoskins present study were undertaken to explore and document (2017) has recently reported total 17,698 species of the butterfly fauna of Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya. butterflies distributed in five zoogeographical regions, viz., Holarctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental and 2. Materials and Methods Australian regions, and not reported from Antarctica regions. Total number of species so far reported from 2.1 Species Identification India are 1,439 (Evans, 1932; Kunte, 2018) from oasis, The species identification was done by high mountains, highlands, tropical to alpine forests, consulting the pictorial field guides, catalogues and swamplands, plains, grasslands, and areas surrounding keys (Evans, 1927; Varshney, 1983, 1993; Kunte, rivers. Jammu and Kashmir known as ‘ Terrestrial 2006; Pajni et al., 2006; Singh, 2010; Varshney and Paradise on Earth ’ categorized to as a part of Shivalik Smetacek, 2015; Kehimkar, 2016). range of the Indian Himalayan State with a total forest

Journal of Wildlife Research | July-September, 2019 | Volume 07 | Issue 03 | Pages 42-46 © 2019 Jakraya Sheikh and Parrey...Six New Records of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Insecta) from Jammu and Rajouri Districts of Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya

2.2 The Study Area ecosystem, butterfly population also now have started Jammu and Rajouri district of J and K (Fig 1) declining. This can be overcome by planting more and fall in Shivalik range and PirPanjal range of Western more host plants so that the endemic species of Himalaya respectively. Jammu district lies at the butterflies can be conserved. latitudes of 32.732998 and the longitudes of 74.864273 and has an average elevation of 300m amsl. The 4. Notes on Butterfly Sightings average yearly precipitation is about 710mm. Rajouri district lies at the latitudes of 33.371288 and the 4.1 longitudes of 74.315506 and has an average elevation of 915m amsl. The climate of Rajouri is somewhat 4.1.1 Newar Three-Ring Ypthima Newara Moore, cooler than the other surrounding plains. Summers are 1874 (Fig 2a) short and pleasant and summer temperature does not exceed 41 degrees. The average rainfall is 804mm. 4.1.1.1 Description Upperside greyish brown. Underside dull brownish. Forewing with the preapical ocellus as on the upperside. Hindwing with one large apical and typically two posterior ocelli speckled with white in the centre and are placed together.

4.1.1.2 Distribution India (Uttarakhand, Sikkim to Northeast India), Nepal.

4.1.1.3 Remarks The species (Fig 2a) was first recorded from Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri district at an elevation of around 1121m in May 2019. Same species was later on found outside the campus also. The butterfly mostly dominated the plantations like Eleucine sp., sp., Eriophorum sp. Etc.

4.2 Nymphalidae

4.2.1 Banded Treebrown Lethe Confusa Aurivillius, 1898 (Fig 2b) 3. Results and Discussions Six species of butterflies representing three 4.2.1.1 Description families and five genera have been recorded during the Hindwing dentate at apex of vein 4. Underside study. The photographs of the observed butterflies are brown uniform, forewings and hindwings having white given in Fig 2. Two species of Nymphalidae, two lines, forewing with the oblique discal white bar as on species of and one species of Hesperiidae. the upperside followed by the subapical patch bearing Among these 6 recorded species, none is mentioned in three small ocelli in vertical order. Hindwing with an any Schedule of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, irregular, angulated discal lilacine-white line and a 1972. As reported by Kunte, an objective revision of strongly arched series of black ocelli speckled with the scheduled list is necessary in providing appropriate white in the centre. and adequate legal protection to Indian butterflies. The richness of butterflies in a particular habitat is directly 4.2.1.2 Distribution proportional to the presence of larval host plants as India (Himachal Pradesh to Northeast India), well as adult nectar plants. The plant diversity in these Pakistan, China. districts is mixed type with herbs, shrubs and trees dominating the vegetation in the sub-tropical climate. 4.2.1.3 Remarks Presence of butterflies determines good ecosystem. The species (Fig 2b) was first recorded from Butterflies plays pollinator role of both wild and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University Rajouri district cultivated plants. With the increasing threat to at an elevation of around 1121m in April 2019. Same species was later on found outside the campus also.

Journal of Wildlife Research | July-September, 2019 | Volume 07 | Issue 03 | Pages 42-46 © 2019 Jakraya 43 Sheikh and Parrey...Six New Records of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Insecta) from Jammu and Rajouri Districts of Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya

The butterfly mostly dominated the plantations like 4.5.1.1 Description Eleucine sp., Bambusa sp. Etc. Under hindwing submarginal line not broken into spots. Upper forewing blue with prominent spot 4.3 Hesperiidae end cell.

4.3.1 Golden Angle Caprona Ransonnettii R. Felder, 4.5.1.2 Distribution 1868 (Fig 2c) India (Throughout India excluding Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Northeast India), Pakistan, 4.3.1.1 Description Afghanistan, Iran, Sri lanka, Nepal, Myanmar. Upperside golden brown colour having silverspots on forewing and angulated on hindwings. 4.5.1.3 Remarks Underside having whitish colour with two black spots The species (Fig 2e) was first recorded from on fourwing. Raika Environment Park Jammu district at an elevation of around 327m in May 2019. The butterfly mostly 4.3.1.2 Distribution dominated the plantations like Ziziphus sp., Murraya India (Uttarakhand, Gujarat east to Jharkhand sp., Bauhinia sp. Ageratum sp., Tecoma sp. etc. and South to Kerala), Pakistan, China, Indonesia. 4.6 Lycaenidae 4.3.1.3 Remarks The species (Fig 2c) was first recorded from 4.6.1 Balkan Pierrot Tarucus Balkanicus Freyer, Raika Environment Park Jammu district at an elevation 1844 (Fig 2f) of around 327m in May 2019. The butterfly mostly dominated the plantations like Murraya sp., Bauhinia 4.6.1.1 Description sp. Etc. Upperside male always with discal spots and spot at cell-end on forewing. Mostly dark blue with 4.4 Lycaenidae narrow border. Female brownish grey with dark markings. 4.4.1 Common Shot-Silverline Spindasis Ictis Hewitson, 1865 (Fig 2d) 4.6.1.2 Distribution India (Himachal Pradesh, North of Maharashtra 4.4.1.1 Description to ), Pakistan, North Africa, Central Uunderside pale, dull ochreous-grey, bands Europe, tropical parts of west and central . pale, ochreous brown, all with some silvery scales down their centres, some of the bands of the forewings 4.6.1.3 Remarks with darker linear edgings. Hindwing with an obscure The species (Fig 2f) was first recorded from basal band which runs close down the abdominal Raika Environment Park Jammu district at an elevation margin. of around 327m in May 2019. The butterfly mostly dominated the plantations like Ziziphus sp., Murraya 4.4.1.2 Distribution sp., Bauhinia sp. Ageratum sp., Tecoma sp. Etc.

India (Rajasthan northwards to Himachal Pradesh, eastwards to West Bengal and southwards to Kerala). Pakistan, Nepal.

4.4.1.3 Remarks The species (Fig 2d) was first recorded from Raika Environment Park Jammu district at an elevation of around 327m in May 2019. The butterfly mostly dominated the plantations like Murraya sp., Bauhinia sp., Ageratum sp., Tecoma sp. Etc.

4.5 Lycaenidae

4.5.1 Striped Pierrot Tarucus Nara Kollar, 1848 (Fig 2e)

Journal of Wildlife Research | July-September, 2019 | Volume 07 | Issue 03 | Pages 42-46 © 2019 Jakraya 44 Sheikh and Parrey...Six New Records of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Insecta) from Jammu and Rajouri Districts of Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya

5. Conclusion currently found in Himalayan range of Pakistan and The first record of these species clearly depicts Afghanistan. the rich diversity of butterflies in Jammu and Kashmir Himalaya which is still lying unexplored and poorly Acknowledgements studied. The authors are thankful to Department of Jammu and Rajouri being the border districts, Zoology, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University for there are many chances of finding butterfly species providing the laboratory facilities and assistance during the field work.

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