JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH Journal homepage: www.jakraya.com/journal/jwr ORIGINAL ARTICLE Butterfly Diversity in Two Selected Fringe Area of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India, With Notes on Some Important Sightings A Payra 1*, G N Das 1, B Boruah 1, S K Dash 1, U P Das 2 and J Sethy 2 1Department of Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation, 2Department of Zoology, North Orissa University, Takatpur, Baripada-757003, Odisha, India Abstract Among the insects, butterflies are the most taxonomically studied *Corresponding Author: group and play key role in ecosystem as pollinators and bio-indicator Arajush Payra species. A total of 136 species of butterflies belonging to 87 genera representing 5 families were recorded from two selected study sites in the Email: [email protected] fringe area of Similipal Biosphere Reserve during January 2014 to November 2015. Family Nymphalidae was dominant with 44 species, followed by Lycaenidae (42 species), Hesperiidae (22 species), Received: 11/02/2016 Papilionidae (14 species) and Pieridae (14 species). Out of these 136 species, 15 species are protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act Revised: 27/03/2016 (1972). The paper also shows some rare and important sightings of butterflies during the study period. Accepted: 02/04/2016 Keywords : Butterfly, Diversity, Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Species. 1. Introduction 106 species of butterflies reported by Nair (2007). The Similipal Biosphere Reserve (Latitude Sethy and Jana (2009) reported 50 species of butterflies 20 ⁰17 ′to 22 ⁰34 ′ N and Longitude 85 ⁰40 ′ to 87 ⁰10 ′ E) from Gudgudia range, Nair (2011) mentioned that 188 with an area of 5569 km 2 located in the central part of species of butterflies found in Similipal Tiger Reserve. Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. This Biosphere Reserve Hence an attempt has been made to update and is surrounded by the states West Bengal and Jharkhand document the butterfly fauna in the fringe area of at the North-East and North-West respectively, and at Similipal Biosphere Reserve. its East and South-West border placed Balasor and Keonjhar district. It falls under the biotic province of 2. Methodology Chhotanagpur plateau. The altitude of the Biosphere To accomplish the present study following two Reserve varies from 40 m to 1200 m. Humidity also study sites were selected in the fringe area of SBR, varies from 70% to 100%. It experience tropical these are Site 1- Sitakund (Lat 21 ⁰55 ′ N and Long climate with temperatures ranging from 2 ⁰-15 ⁰C in 86 ⁰34 ′ E) and Site 2- Lulung (Lat 21 ⁰57 ′ N and winter and 30 ⁰-45 ⁰C in summer. The annual rainfall is 86 ⁰34 ′E). Sitakund and Lulung both are located in the about 2200mm. Similipal with its unique and diverse Pithabata Range of SBR. Vegetation of these area forest type such as dry deciduous, moist deciduous and mainly dominated by Shorea robusta , Michelia semi evergreen forest harbours rich and endemic faunal champaka , Pterocarpus marsupium , Terminalia diversity. The faunal composition including 55 species tomentosa , Bauhinia vahlii etc. The Palpala River at of mammals, 304 species of birds, 60 species of Lulng and the streams of Sitakund Waterfall provides reptiles, 21 species of amphibians and 38 species fishes suitable habitats for butterflies. These two sites are also (Dutta et al., 2009). The floral and faunal diversity of well known tourist place of the State Odisha. The Similipal represent some similarities with the elements magnificent Waterfall and the scenic beauty of Palpala from the Himalayan, Western Ghats and Northeast River, enchanting hills attract many tourists and India (Saxena and Brahmam, 1989; Nair, 2011). naturalist from all over the country. In Similipal Biosphere Reserve, only a few Samplings of butterflies were conducted from studies have been carried out on butterfly fauna by January 2014 to November 2015. Butterflies were different workers. The ZSI (1995) first reported only 5 observed during day times from 09.00 am to 03.00 pm species of butterflies belonging to two families. Sahu et by using variation of the pollard method (Pollard, 1997; al . (2006) reported 21 species from Chahala Range, Pollard and Yates, 1993). Entomological net also used - Journal of Wildlife Research | April-June, 2016 | Vol 4 | Issue 2 | Pages 17-25 © 2016 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd Payra et al…Butterfly Diversity in Two Selected Fringe Area of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India, With Notes on Some Important Sightings Fig 1: Location map of the selected study areas 50 45 40 35 30 25 Papilionidae 20 15 Pieridae No. Of species Of No. 10 Lycaenidae 5 0 Nymphalidae Hesperiidae Family Fig 2: Number of observed butterfly species in different families without harming any specimen and specimen collection 3. Results was not adopted in this present study. Photographs In the present study a total of 136 species of were taken in the wild by using Nikon D3200 and butterfly belonging to 87 genera representing five Nikon D5200 camera. Butterflies were identified using families were recorded during the study period from available literature of Moore (1850 -1905), Evans the two selected study sites (Table 1). The most (1932), Antram (1924) and photographic guide book of abundant family was Nymphalidae (with 44 species) Kehimkar (2008) and Haribal (1992). followed by Lycaenidae (with 42 species), Hesperiidae Journal of Wildlife Research | April -June, 2016 | Vol 4 | Issue 2 | Pages 17-25 © 2016 Jakraya Publications (P) Ltd 18 Payra et al…Butterfly Diversity in Two Selected Fringe Area of Similipal Biosphere Reserve, Odisha, India, With Notes on Some Important Sightings (with 22 species), Papilionidae (with 14 species) and Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. It is known as a Pieridae (with 14 species) (Table 1-2). Out of the two common species (Kehimkar, 2008). study sites, site-1 supported maximum number of butterflies (126 species belonging to 82 genera) and Gandaca harina , Tree Yellow (Fig 3 C): This species site-2 contain 119 species belonging to 82 genera of was encountered many times during the study period. five families. In this present study we also find out that, But according to Evans (1932) this species is rare and of the total recorded butterfly species 110 species were to Kehimkar (2008) it is not rare. In India this species found in both sites. There are 17 species of butterflies distributed from Sikkim to Arunachal, Odisha, and (Graphium eurypylus , Curetis acuta , Atrophaneura Northeast India. hector, Prosotas noreia , Zizeeria karsandra , Spindasis lohita , Rapala iarbus , Hypolimnas misippus , Cyrestis Poritia hewitsoni , Common Gem (Fig 3 D): Only a cocles , Neptis clinia , Phaedyma columella , Euripus single male was sighted on 25 th November, 2015, near consimilis , Polyura eudamippus , Badamia the Palpala River of Lulung (site-2). It treated as not exclamationis , Bibasis sena , Tagiades gana , Cupitha rare by Evans (1932). This species distributed from purreea ) only confined to site-1 and on the other hand Odisha, Uttaranchal to Arunachal Pradesh, Nepal and 10 species ( Belenois aurota , Spalgis epeus , Poritia Burma. hewitsoni , Anthene lycaenina , Rapala varuna , Euploea klugii , Orsotriaena medus , Lasippaviraja , Euthalia Curetis acuta , Toothed Sunbeam (Fig 3 E): This is monina , Euthalia lubentina ) were found in site-2 also a very rare species in our study area, as we had during the study period. Such butterflies may be encountered a single male from Sitakund Waterfall on regarded as the site specific species due to their 11 th May, 2015. This species is ranges from South- microclimate preference (Erhardt, 1985). Diversity and West India to South Gujarat, Odisha, Jharkhand, NE distribution of butterflies is greatly influenced by the India, Bangladesh and Burma. As per Evans (1932) it is availability of larval food plants, nectering plants, common. vegetation cover of herbs and shrubs (Thomas 1995; Kunte, 2000). Nacaduba berenice , Rounded Sixlineblue (Fig 3 F): In the study area, none of the butterfly species It was recorded many times from the study area. It are found to be globally threatened. However, 15 of the seems to be common in the month of November in recorded 135 butterfly species are legally protected study sites. As per Kehimkar (2008) it is not rare. The under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 distribution of this species is SW India to South (Anonymus, 1997). Of these two (Atrophaneura hector , Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Island, NE India, Sri Prosotas noreia ) are schedule I, ten species ( Lampides Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. boeticus , Poritia hewitsoni , Anthene lycaenina , Spindasis lohita , Rapala varuna , Hypolimnas misippus , Prosotas noreia , White-tipped Lineblue (Fig 3 G): A Cyrestis cocles , Euripus consimilis , Tanaecia lepidea , single individual was recorded Sitakund Waterfall on Bibasis sena ) are schedule II, three ( Appias libythea , 4th April, 2015. It was mud puddling along with the Euthalia lubentina , Baoris farri ) are schedule IV Prosotas nora butterflies. According to Evans (1932) species (Table 1). and Kehimkar (2008) it is a rare species. This butterfly distributed from South-West India to North 3.1 Notes on Some Important Sightings Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Kumaon, Arunachal Pradesh, NE India and Graphium eurypylus , Great Jay (Fig 3 A): Two Burma to N Shan states and North Tavoy individuals were recorded on 18 th august, 2014, while they were mud puddling with Graphium doson , Hypolimnas misippus , Danaid Eggfly: One male Graphium sarpedon , Graphium antiphates . This individual was encountered on 8th November, 2014, species distributed from Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, from site-1. According to Kehimkar (2008) it is a Northeast India, Burma, and Andaman (Kehimkar, common species and it is distributed in all India, Sri 2008; Evans, 1932). According to Evans (1932) and Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Kehimkar (2008) this species is not rare. Cyrestis cocles , Marbled Map (Fig 3 H): This is a Belenois aurota , Pioneer (Fig 3 B):During July 2015, very rare species in the study area.