World Journal of Zoology 7 (1): 83-89, 2012 ISSN 1817-3098 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.wjz.2012.7.1.61323 A Preliminary Observation on Butterflies of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve, Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh, India M. Bubesh Guptha, P.V. Chalapathi Rao, D. Srinivas Reddy, S.R.S.C. Sekhar Maddala and P. Madhu Babu Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati Andhra Pradesh - 517 507, India Abstract: Seshachalam hills, one of the first Biosphere Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, located in southern Eastern Ghats of Chittoor and Kadapa districts. It is spread over 4755.99 Km2 . The vegetation is a unique mix of the dry deciduous and moist deciduous types. A detailed survey of butterflies was conducted from August 2011 to January 2012. The objective of the observation is to determine the presence of butterflies. The reserve area has different habitats like scrub jungle, open forest and trial path. Each zone was explored on the basis of possibility and availability of butterflies. A total of 50 species of butterflies were recorded under five families. The family Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae were found dominant with 20 species and 12 species, respectively, followed by Pieridae (11 species), Papilionidae (5 species) and two species from the family Hesperiidae. More number of species was observed in Talakona followed by Mamandur, Balapalli, Tirumala, Jungle Book and Divyaram. Observed species were grouped in five categories on basis of number of sighting in the field. The butterflies were categorized as Very Common (VC) 40% (20 species), Common (C) 36% 18 species, Uncommon (UC) 10% (5 species), Occasional (O) 8 % (4 species) and Rare (R) 6 % (3 species). Out of 50 species, six species namely Pachliopta hector, Hypolimnas bolina, Amblypodia anita, Euchrysops cnefus Lampides boeticus and Euploea core are Scheduled species. Kew words: Lepidoptera Seshachalam Habitat Status Abundance Andhra Pradesh INTRODUCTION they are the sensitive indicators of climatic change [2]. They have been studied systematically since the early Insects comprise more than half of earth’s diversity 18th century and about 19,238 species are documented of species [1]. Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) the worldwide by [3]. There are about 1,504 species of lovely and graceful insects provide economic and butterflies in Indian Subcontinent [4-7]. 334 butterflies ecological benefits to the human society. Having were reported from the Western Ghats, [8] and 150 from multihued colors on their wings, they enhance the earth’s the Eastern Ghats [9] . The objective of this study was to beauty incontestably and add immense aesthetic value to conduct preliminary observation to identify areas with the ambient environment. They accomplish pollination, a large population of butterflies. key stone ecological process in natural sustainability throughout the world. Being development on vegetation MATERIALS AND METHODS on both as adults and larvae, they involve themselves in complex feeding relationships with green plants. As Six locations were selected which were visited every adults they require a succession of adequate nectar week from August 2011 to January 2012. Observations resources. Nectar provides energy for flight, which is vital were made through transects each of 500 m length with 5- to find makes and to disperse the species. As larvae, 10 m on either side. Some species which are difficult to butterflies are typically host specific and often show a identify, were caught by hand net and released after “Botanical instinct” in that closely related butterfly identification. Every week eight transects were covered species choose closely related plants. As such butterflies from 0700-1130hr and 1400-1700hr. Abundance of provide the best rapid indicators of habit quality and also butterflies and in different habitats were recorded. Corresponding Author: M. Bubesh Guptha, Wildlife Biologist, Wildlife Management Circle, Tirupati - 517 507, Andhra Pradesh. India. 83 World J. Zool., 7 (1): 83-89, 2012 Fig. 1: Map showing the locations of the study area in Andhra Pradesh, India Mostly photographic documents was done. Species RESULTS identification was made using various field guides and other available literature [10-14]. A total of 50 species of butterflies belonging to five families were recorded (Table 1). The family Study Area: Seshachalam hills, one of the first Biosphere Nymphalidae and Lycaenidae were found dominant with Reserve in Andhra Pradesh, is located in southern Eastern 20 species and 12 species respectively, followed by Ghats of Chittoor and Kadapa districts. It is spread over Pieridae (11 species), Papilionidae (5 species) and two 2 4755.99 Km (Fig 1). The reserve locates in southern species from the family Hesperiidae (Fig 2). More number Eastern Ghats and spread over the Seshachalam hills of of species was observed in Talakona followed by Kadapa district and Tirumala hills of Chittoor district. Mamandur, Balapalli, Tirumala, Jungle Book and Divyaram Tirumala hills which are popularly known as the seven (Fig. 3). Observed species were grouped in five categories hills of Lord Sri Venkateswara. The elevation ranges from on basis of number of sightings in the field. The 150 to 1,130 m, the terrain is undulating, with deep forest- butterflies were categorized as Very Common (VC) 40% covered valleys. Most of the rainfall is received from the (20 species), Common (C) 36% (18 species), Uncommon northeast monsoon and a little from the southwest (UC) 10% (5 species), Occasional (O) 8 % (4 species) and monsoon. The vegetation is a unique mix of the dry Rare (R) 6 % (3 species) (Fig 4). Generally a large numbers deciduous and moist deciduous types. The biosphere of butterflies were seen in the month of October. reserve is home to six endemic plant species: Cycas beddomei, Pterocarpus santalinus, Terminalia pallida, Papilio crino species was sighted rarely in the month of Syzygium alternifolium, Shorea tambaggia and October, especially in Talakona area. Among the 50 Boswellia ovalifoliolata. It is the richest floristic hot spot butterflies recorded, 6 species come under the protection harboring many endemic and rare plants. The entire category of the Indian Wildlife (protection) Act 1972 [15]. sanctuary is an uninhabited large chunk of dry deciduous Among them Pachliopta hector, Hypolimnas bolina, Red Sanders bearing forest, forming catchments to Amblypodia anita, came under schedule I of the act. Swarnamukhi and Penna rivers, both in Chittoor and The species recorded which come under schedule II Kadapa districts. of the Wildlife protection Act, 1972 Euchrysops cnefus, 84 World J. Zool., 7 (1): 83-89, 2012 Fig. 2: Family wise Observed in the Study Areas Fig.4: Status were Recorded in the Study Areas Lampides boeticus. The specie recorded which came under schedule IV of the Wildlife protection act were Euploea core [16] DISCUSSION In our observation on the butterfly species diversity and availability of larval host plant from August 2011 to January 2012, six places of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve were selected. A total of 50 species of butterflies were recorded under five families. Among which, 2 Fig. 3: A comparison of Butterfly species richness across species are newly recorded from this area. Out of 50 various sites butterfly species recorded, 6 butterfly species came under Table 1: Checklist of the butterflies of Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Status Habitat preferences Family: Papilionidae 1. Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Fabricius O OF, SJ, DF 2. Crimson Rose Pachliopta hector Linnaeus* C OF, SJ, DF 3. Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Linnaeus VC AH 4. Common Mormon Papilio polytes Linnaeus C OF, SJ, DF 5. Common banded peacock Papilio crino# R DF, MP Family: Pieridae 6. Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona Fabricius VC OF, SJ, DF 7. Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe Linnaeus VC OF, SJ, DF 8. Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe Linnaeus C SJ, OF 9. Small Grass Yellow Eurema brigitta Cramer C SJ, OF 10. Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Drury VC OF, SJ, DF 11. Psyche Leptosia nina Fabricius UC SJ, OF 12. Common Gull Cepora nerissa Fabricius VC OF, SJ, GL 13. White Orange Tip Ixias marianne Cramer UC OF, SJ, DF, GL 14. Yellow Orange Tip Ixias pyrene Linnaeus UC OF, SJ, DF, GL 15. Crimson Tip Colotis danae VC OF, SJ, GL 16. Small Orange Tip Colotis etrida R OF, SJ, GL 85 World J. Zool., 7 (1): 83-89, 2012 Table 1: Continue Sl. No. Common Name Scientific Name Status Habitat preferences Family: Nymphalidae 17. Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda Linnaeus C OF, SJ, DF 18. Dark Evening Brown Melanitis phedima C OF, SJ, DF 19. Tawny Coster Acraea violae Fabricius VC OF, SJ, DF 20. Common Castor Ariadne merione C OF, SJ 21. Angled Castor Ariadne ariadne C OF, SJ 22. Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha Drury C OF, SJ 23. Common Sailer Neptis hylas Moore C OF, SJ 24. Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias (Linnaeus) C OF, SJ 25. Peacock Pansy Junonia almana Linnaeus C OF, SJ 26. Blue Pansy Junonia orithya Linnaeus VC OF, SJ 27. Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta Fabricius C OF, SJ 28. Chocolate Pansy Precis iphita Cramer VC OF, SJ 29. Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus Linnaeus VC OF, SJ, DF 30. Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina Linnaeus* O OF, SJ 31. Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Cramer VC OF, SJ, DF 32. Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus) O OF, SJ, DF 33. Striped Tiger Danaus genutia (Cramer) VC OF, SJ, DF 34. Common Indian Crow Euploea core (Cramer)*** VC OF, SJ, DF 35. Baronet Symphaedra nais C OF, SJ, DF 36. Common Nawab Polyura athamas Drury O OF, SJ, DF Family: Lycaenidae 37. Bright Sunbeam Curetis bulis Doubleday R OF, SJ 38. Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Fabricius C OF, SJ, DF 39. Zebra Blue Leptotes plinius Fabricius VC OF, SJ, DF 40. Lesser Grass Blue Zizina otis Fabricius VC OF, SJ 41. Common Line Blue Prosotas nora C OF, SJ, DF 42. Leaf Blue Amblypodia anita Hewitson*# UC OF, SJ, DF 43.