Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(5): 32-37 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Survey of butterfly species diversity and abundance JEZS 2015; 3(5): 32-37 © 2015 JEZS in Phaltan region, district Satara, Maharashtra Received: 17-07-2015 Accepted: 18-08-2015 AR Gaikwad, SS Shende, KS Kamble AR Gaikwad Department of Zoology, Abstract Mudhoji College, Phaltan. The butterflies have great economic importance as pollinator and bio-indicate of environment. A field survey was conducted to observe the butterfly fauna and their abundance from Phaltan region by random SS Shende observation during July 2013 to November 2013. The study area is located in rain shadow area of Satara Department of Zoology, district of Maharashtra and part of Western Ghats. The area having different crop pattern and various Mudhoji College, Phaltan. kinds of plants along with diversity of weed plants. As many as 37 species of butterflies belonging to 26 genera and 6 families were recorded from study area. There may be many more butterflies in herbs and KS Kamble Department of Zoology, grassland areas of this region. Among these families, Lycaenidae was the most dominant family Mudhoji College, Phaltan. represented by 13 species followed by Nymphalidae with 7 species and Hesperiidae with 6 species. Some beautiful butterflies includes, rose Mormon (Papilio polymnestor), crimson rose (Colitis eucharis), common Mormon (Pachliopta hector), common Jezebel (Delias eucharis), plain orange tip (Papilio polytes), small grass yellow (Eurema brigitta), double –branched crow (Euploea sylvester) are most abundant. The present study consist of recording of butterflies of Phaltan region, which may provide basic data for study of insect biodiversity of this area. Keywords: Butterfly species, abundances, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Phaltan region Maharashtra. 1. Introduction Butterflies are generally regarded as one of the best taxonomically studied group of insect. Butterflies are day flyer and a colorful insect belonging to the Order Lepidoptera. These insects plays an important role in ecosystem as plant pollinator in food chain as herbivores [1].They are also good indicators of habitat changes and climate variations [2]. Some of their larval forms are agricultural pests. The Indian subcontinent hosts about 1504 species of [3] [4] butterflies of which Western Ghats hosts about 334 species .In the present past, several researchers have studied butterflies from some districts and conservation areas of Maharashtra. The study area experiences semi-arid climate. April, May and June are the hottest months with maximum temperature of 40° centigrade. Temperature gradually reduces in December and January with minimum temperature 12° centigrade. Phaltan receives much less rainfall & has been declared drought– prone place. Nira Right Bank Canal (NRBC) flows through Phaltan making it a partially green town. The area having different crop pattern and various kinds of plants along with diversity of weed plants. Unfortunately developmental activities and resulting habitat fragmentation create threats to the survival of butterflies’ worldwide [5, 6, 7, 8] and Phaltan region is not an exception to this. The present study was started to survey and abundance of different butterflies from Phaltan region. Since there was no known published data of butterflies in this region. 2. Materials &Methods 1. Study area: Phaltan Tehsil covering the part of the Nira river basin is one of the economically prosperous Tehsil of Satara district in southern Maharashtra. It lies between 17058’ North to 1805’North latitude and 74020’ East to 74040’East longitude. This area is bounded by the Nira River in the north side. The region attains 750 metres height (M.S.L.) with northward slopping land drained mainly by the Banganga River, a right bank tributary of the Nira River. Correspondence: 2. Data Collection: The selected sites were surveyed from July 2013 to November 2013 to AR Gaikwad observe the butterflies. The period of study is short hence random observation were carried Department of Zoology, out. The timing of observations were morning and evening twice a week. For observation Mudhoji College, Phaltan. ~ 32 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies Pollard Walk method [9, 10] was followed for observing references which are available such as [2] aided identification, butterflies that is walking along the fixed paths while classification and nomenclature of butterflies. Butterflies were recording these species. For more specification the categorized into four groups based on their occurrence during photographs of butterflies were taken with digital camera. the period of study. Accordingly those species observed 80- Camera used was Sony with 16.2mega pixels and 30x optical 100% of the survey days were categorized as Very common zoom. Flash was mostly kept off to capture natural color of (V), 60-80% as Common( C), 40-60% as Occasional(O) and butterflies. The butterflies were identified by using field guides 20- 40% as Rare (R). by11 and Butterflies of Western Ghats. Standard guides and Fig 1: Geographical location of study area 3. Results and Discussion Table No. 1. A total of 37 species of butterflies belonging to 26 genera and The butterflies were categorized into four groups (Table no. 2) 6 families were observed from four field station of Phaltan such as: very common -4 species (10.8%), common-25 species region. Of these, Lycaenidae was the largest family (67.6%), occasional-3 species (8.1%) and rear-5 species represented by 11genera and 13 species (35.13%) followed by (13.5%). Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 given Nymphalidae with 2 genera and 7 species(18.92%), protection to 452 species of butterfly in three Schedules. Hesperiidae with 6 genera and 6 species (16.20%), Pieridae Among the 37 species of butterflies recorded, Hypolimnas with 4 genera and 6 species (16.20%), Papilionidae with 1 misippus, Eurema andersoni and Hypolimnas bolina species genera and 3 species (8.10%) and least was Danaidae family were included in schedule II-part II, while Delias eucharis was with 2 genera and 2 species (5.4%).The list of butterflies included in Schedule I-Part IV of the act [12]. collected or observed during the study period was represented Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae families of butterflies are very with the family, common name and scientific names in the common in these areas. Some beautiful butterflies includes, ~ 33 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies rose Mormon (Papilio polymnestor), crimson rose (Colitis Southern Andhra Pradesh (84 species) [19]. eucharis), common Mormon (Pachliopta hector), common Butterflies are indicators of environment and ecosystem health Jezebel (Delias eucharis), plain orange tip (Papilio polytes), as any slight changes in the ecosystem affect their populations small grass yellow (Eurema briaitta), double –branched crow drastically. Hence, this new record will definitely attract (Euploea sulvester) are most abundant. Butterfly diversity in butterfly and nature lovers to carry out further study in this India varies in different parts Like Visakhapatnam (68species) area. It will become possible to explore more data and more [13], Nagarjunasagar Tiger Reserve (89 species) [14], Amravati conservation and development strategies will be used to (52 species) [15], Pune (103 species) [16], Metropolitan Delhi (86 maintain and enhance the fauna and flora diversity of Phaltan. species) [17], Nilgiri (Blue) Mountains (300 species) [18] and Table 1: showing different families and species of butterflies observed from Phaltan region. Sr. No. Common Name Scientific Name Relative Abundance I Family – Hesperiidae 1. Fulvous Pied Flat Pseudocoladenia dan C 2 Indian Palm Bob or Palm Bob Suastus gremius C 3 Palm Redeye or the Banana Skipper Erionota thorax R 4 The Common Bush Hopper Ampittia dioscorides C 5 Conjoined Swift Pelopidas conjuncta C 6 Common Small Flat Sarangesa dasahara C II Family – Lycaenidae 1 The Dark Broken-band Oak blue Arhopala atrax C 2 Common Lime blue Prosotas nora R 3 Transparent Six-line Blue Nacaduba kurava O 4 Common Cerulean Jamides celeno C 5 Plains Cupid Chilades pandava C 6 Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus C 7 Grass Jewel Chilades trochylus C 8 Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax O 9 The Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis C 10 The Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria knysna R 11 Malayan Owl Megisba malaya V 12 The Common Hedge Blue Acytolepis pusp C 13 Bright Babul Blue Azanus ubaldus C III Family – Nymphalidae 1 Danaid Egg fly Hypolimnas misippus R 2 The Great Egg fly Hypolimnas bolina C 3 Blue Pansy Junonia orithya C 4 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias V 5 Chocolate Pansy or Chocolate Soldier Junonia iphita C 6 Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta C 7 Peacock Pansy Junonia almana C IV Family – Danaidae 1 Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace V 2 Glassy Tiger Parantica aglea C V Family – Papilionidae 1 Rose Mormon Papilio polymnestor C 2 Common Mormon Papilio polytes C 3 Lime butterfly Papilio demoleus R VI Family – Pieridae 1 Common Jezebel Delias eucharis C 2 Psyche Leptosia nina C 3 Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigata V 4 One spot grass yellow Eurema andersoni O 5 Three Spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda C 6 Yellow Orange Tip Ixias pyrene C Abbreviations: V- Very common, C- Common, O –Occasional and R –Rear Table 2: Status of Butterflies observed from Phaltan region. Sr. No. Status No. of species % of species 1 Very common 04 10.8 2 Common 25 67.6 3 Occasional 03 8.1 4 Rare 05 13.5 Total 37 100.0 Table 3: Distribution of genera and species of Butterflies in respective families from Phaltan