International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2014; 1 (6): 96-100 P-ISSN 2394-0522 E-ISSN 2347-2677 IJFBS 2014; 1 (6): 96-100 Butterflies of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Received: 04-08-2014 Accepted: 26-09-2014 Habiganj, Bangladesh Tahsinur Rahman Shihan Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring and Conservation of Tahsinur Rahman Shihan and Mohammed Arif Hossain Prodhan Wildlife in Kaptai National Park Abstract of Bangladesh Project. Department Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area supported mixed tropical evergreen and semi- of Zoology, Jahangirnagar evergreen forests of great biodiversity value. A study was carried in this park during September 2013 to University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, October 2014 to record the diversity of butterflies. During this study a total of 74 species of butterflies of Bangladesh. 06 families were reported. In our study the most abundant family was Nymphalidae followed by Mohammed Arif Hossain Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae, while Riodinidae was least abundant. Nymphalidae Prodhan family represents 32 species; Hesperiidae represents 13 species, Lycaenidae represents 13 species, Junior Wildlife Researcher, Papilionidae represents 08 species and Pieridae represents 07 species while Riodinidae only 01 species. Monitoring and conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai National Park Keywords: Butterfly, Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae, of Bangladesh Project. Department Hesperiidae. of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, 1. Introduction Bangladesh. Butterflies occupy a vital position in ecosystems and their diversity is considered as good indicators for verifying the ecological and vegetative conditions in forests and has great aesthetic and commercial values as they are beneficial as pollinator [1, 2]. They are used in food chains for other animals like birds, lizards, mammals, spiders, and also for other insects. Insects, including butterflies are an excellent source of protein and fat, therefore eating their caterpillars is widely practiced all over the world [3]. Butterflies also recognized as focal species of conservation in several areas of the world and highly sensitive to environmental change and are delicate creatures that act as good bio-indicators of the health of an ecosystem. These widely studied insects show significant ecological contributions in different ecosystems through herbivory and pollination services [4, 5, 6, 7]. The present paper presents a checklist and diversity of butterfly populations in the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. Topography as well as soil condition, geographical position, diverse vegetation, ecosystem made this sanctuary as a unique and different habitat for butterflies. The sanctuary contains six major categories of land viz. forested area (both natural and planted forests), agricultural land, open grassland, human settlements, open non-forested area, water-bodies [8]. This unique habitat exploit intimately surrounded by number of villages, cultivated field and tea estates which directly affect the butterfly population. The Sanctuary also supports a rich diversity of other faunal groups such as invertebrates and butterflies, but very little information is currently available. However a total of 326 species of butterflies are listed from Bangladesh [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 26, 27]. Only one published checklist of butterfly species of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary is known, hence, an attempt has been made to update and document the richness of butterflies in this Wildlife Sanctuary. The main objective of this works for proper documentation of the diversity and distribution of butterflies and contribute the butterfly checklist of Bangladesh. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study Area Correspondence: Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary covering a total area of 1796 ha. Considering its Tahsinur Rahman Shihan Junior Wildlife Researcher, biodiversity values and conservation needs, the government declared a part of the Reserved Monitoring and Conservation of Forest as the Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary in 1982 and further expanded the sanctuary Wildlife in Kaptai National Park area through another declaration in 1996. It belongs to the Chunarughat Upazila under of Bangladesh Project. Habigonj District, which is located nearly 130 km east-northeast of Dhaka and approximately Department of Zoology, 80 km south-southwest of Sylhet city. Its gps co-ordinate is 24011.106´ N 91037.484´ E (Fig. Jahangirnagar University, [14, 8] Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh. 1) . ~ 96 ~ International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies Fig 1: Map of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary encompasses several hills of different elevations nomenclature were confirmed with the help of the books by and the low-lying valleys. The highest peak of the hills is Evans (1932), Wynter-Blyth (1957), Marshall and de Niceville about 67 m from the sea level. There are a series of ridges of (1883), Bingham(1905), Kunte (2000), Kehimkar (2008), the hills running in different directions, and valleys locally and Singh (2010) and Kunte et al (2012) [17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25]. composed of Upper tertiary rocks [15, 30]. The forests of Rema- Butterflies observed were categorized into four groups (Very Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary are very rich biologically, located common >10, Common < 6-10, Uncommon <3-5, Rare <2) as they are in the high rainfall bio-geographic zone with based on their relative number during the study period. We evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. The Wildlife Sanctuary sampled butterflies in seven major habitats categories of land represents several features of the bio-diversity of the north- viz. natural forested area, planted forest area, agricultural land, eastern subcontinent, which is one of the mega biodiversity open grassland, open non-forested area, human settlements and regions with many floral endemic species. Many important near water-bodies. Each species were noted and photographed rivers, including Surma and Kushiara flow through the forest instantly during field work [28, 29]. division, forming fertile floodplains with enhanced economic activity and high population density. The climate of the 3. Results Sanctuary is in generally warm and humid but, the weather is In the present study a total of 74 species of 06 families cool and pleasant during winter. The temperature varies with belonging to 53 genera have been recorded. The most an average from minimum 27 degrees in February to 37 abundant family was Nymphalidae followed by Hesperiidae, degrees in June. The humidity is high in the Wildlife Lycaenidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae, while Riodinidae was Sanctuary throughout the year, with monthly average humidity least abundant (Table-1). Nymphalidae family represents 32 varying from 74% in March to 89% in July. There is heavy species belonging to 22 genera; Hesperiidae represents 13 dew during winter when rainfall is low. The water species belonging to 12 genera, Lycaenidae represents 13 condensation is thus distributed throughout the year in species belonging 11 genera, Papilionidae represents 08 different forms and greatly influences plants and butterflies. species belonging 03 genera and Pieridae represent 07 species The area covered under the WS is one of the wettest in the belonging 04 genera while Riodinidae only 01 species of 01 country and so the rainfall is quite high with an annual average genera. Out of 74 species, 05 species were found rare, 31 of 4,000 mm approximately, with maximum rainfall falling species found uncommon, 28 species found common and 10 during June to September from South-West monsoon [16]. species found very common. The species identified were Arhopala perimuta, Discolampa ethion, Cupitha purreea, 2.2 Methods Pseudoborbo bevani and Sancus fuligo are found to be rare The habitats were documented randomly by visual and Papilio memnon, Papilio polymnestor, Euploea core, observations, walks, opportunistic observations and butterfly Junonia iphita, Lebadea martha, Melanitis leda, Orsotriaena species were also photo-documented by Canon Power Shot medus, Castalius rosimon, Hypolycaena erylus and Zemeros SX50 HS and Canon DSLR 1100D and 55-250 mm lens flegyas are found to very common in the study area. during the study period. Species identity, taxonomy and ~ 97 ~ International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies Fig 2: Butterflies (selected species) of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Habiganj, Bangladesh. Key: A - Discolampa ethion, B - Arhopala perimuta, C - Discophora sondaica, D - Cupitha purreea, E - Sancus fuligo, F - Sarangesa dasahara. Table 1: Checklist of butterflies of Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary, Bangladesh. SL Scientific Name Common Name Present study Feeroz et al. Relative Abundance Family: Papilionidae 1. Pachliopta aristolochiae Fabricius, 1775 Common Rose + + Common 2. Papilio chaon Westwood, 1845 Yellow Helen + + Uncommon 3. Papilio clytia Linné, 1758 Common Mime + + Uncommon 4. Papilio demoleus Linnaeus,1758 Lime Butterfly + _ Common 5. Papilio memnon Linné, 1758 Great Mormon + + Very Common 6 Papilio polymnestor Cramer, 1775 Blue Mormon + + Very Common 7 Papilio polytes Cramer, 1775 Common Mormon + + Uncommon 8 Troides helena Felder & Felder, 1865 Common Birdwing + _ Uncommon Family Pieridae 9 Appias lyncida Boisduval, 1836 Chocolate Albatross + + Common 10 Catopsilia pomona Fabricius, 1775 Common Emigrant + _ Common 11 Catopsilia pyranthe Linné, 1758 Mottled Emigrant + _ Uncommon 12 Delias descombesi Boisduval, 1836 Red-Spot