Vol. 3, Issue 1, Pp: (26-35), March, 2019 FAUNISTICS OF BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA: REPHALOCERA) WITH SOME NEW RECORDS FROM QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN Fariha Mengal1, Imtiaz Ali Khan2, Muhammad Ather Rafi2, Saima Durrani1, Muhammad Qasim3, Gul Makai1, Muhammad Kamal Sheik4, Ghulam Rasul4, Naveed Iftikhar Jajja3 1Department of Zoology, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta. 2 University of Swabi, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. 3Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Poonch, Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and KashmiR. 4Planning and Development Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad. ARTICLE INFORMATION ABSTRACT Article History: th This study was conducted to explore the butterfly fauna of Quetta, Balochistan. Received: 10 Jan 2019 A totaling 286 specimens of butterflies have been collected from different Accepted: : 30th June 2019 Published online: 18th Oct 2019 localities of Quetta. Out of 286 collected specimens 27 species from 22 genera Author’s contribution under 4 families Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae Papilionidae and Pieridae have been All authors have contributed equally in identified. Out of 27 identified species, 11 species represented family this study. Lycaenidae, eight (08) species represented family Nymphalidae, seven (07) Key words: species identified under family Pieridae and one (01) species identified under Balochistan, Butterfly Fauna, family Papilionidae. One species, Pseudochazara mamurra recorded first time Lepidoptera, Pakistan, Quetta. from Pakistan. Three (03) species, namely Zizeeria maha, Zizula hylax and Zizina otis are reported first time from Balochistan while five (05) species i.e. Lampides boeticus, Polyommatus bogra, Polyommatus florenciae, Eumenis thelephassa and Eurema hecabe are first time from Quetta. 1. INTRODUCTION The butterfly fauna of Pakistan have been well studies by many authors. However, among those few Healthy biological community depends on a healthy examples are [4][5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [12][13] environment. Insects as herbivores, seed dispersers, [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26 bio-control agent, pollinators and ecological indicator ] [27] [28][29] [30] [31] [32]. Balochistan is the cover more than half the earth’s diversity of species southwestern and largest province of Pakistan [1] [2]. Among insects, butterflies are one of the most making about 40% of the area of Pakistan. District diverse and broadly recognized group of insects Quetta is situated at the northwest of Balochistan worldwide after coleopteran insects [3]. Butterfly is a Province, is located at 30.18o 30°28 North latitudes, well-studied insect taxon across the world since it is a and 66.41o 67.09o East longitudes, covering an area sensitive insect group to habitat distraction that plays of 2,653 Square kilometers. The climate of the a very important role in the ecosystem. district is dry. However, butterfly fauna of Balochistan is still poorly known. In this paper, some new records of butterflies will be added from Quetta Corresponding Author: [email protected] and its vicinities. Copyright 2017 University of Sindh Journal of Animal Sciences 26 Fariha et al., 2019 2. MATERIALS AND METHODS F. Mengal. BARDC, 9.iv.2015, 1♂; Leg, F. Mengal. AIOU Campus, 13.iv.2015, 6♀; Leg, F. Mengal. Sampling was done from Shahbaz Park, Hazar Remarks: Previously reported from Balochistan [16]. Ghanji Chiltan National Park, Balochistan However, this is the first record of Lampides boeticus Agricultural Research Development Centre from Quetta (Balochistan). During the study, this (BARDC) and Allama Iqbal Open University species was collected from Shahbaz Park, Hazar Campus (AIOU Campus), Quetta. All the specimens were identified with the help of available literatures Ghanji Chiltan National Park, Balochistan and labeling from housed butterflies at National Agricultural Research Development Center and Insect Museum, National Agricultural Research Allama Iqbal Open University Quetta. However, this Center, Islamabad. species was reported from Sindh: where it is very common; Punjab: Murree and Rawalpindi [16]; 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Gilgit-Baltistan: Gilgit: Kargah Valley [21]. Distribution: Occurs throughout Europe to Japan, Result yielded 27 species from 22 genera under four Africa, Madagascar, the Middle East, India, Pakistan, families Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae Papilionidae and South East Asia, Australia, ranging towards Oceania, Pieridae as per following detail. and Hawaii [16] [33] [35]. Genus: Lycaena Fabricius, 1807 Family: Lycaenidae Leach, (1815) The Blues 3. Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761) Subfamily: Lycaeinae The Common Copper Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta, Genus: Aricia Reichenbach, 1817 Shahbaz Park, 01.iv.2015, 5♀; Leg, F. Mengal. Hazar 1. Aricia agestis (Denis and Schiffermuller, 1775) Ghanji Chiltan National Park, 5.iv.2015, 3♀; Leg, F. The Orange Bordered Argus Mengal. BARDC, 9.iv.2015, 2♀; Leg, F. Mengal. Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta, Remarks: Previously reported from Quetta [16] [32]. Shahbaz Park, 17.iv.2015, 2♀; Leg, F. Mengal. Hazar During the study, this species was collected from Ghanji Chiltan National Park, 5.iv.2015, 1♂; Leg, F. Shahbaz Park, Hazar Ghanji Chiltan National Park, Mengal. AIOU Campus, 13.iv.2015, 4♀; Leg, F. Balochistan Agricultural Research Development Mengal. Center Quetta. This species is also reported from Remarks: Previously reported from Quetta [32]. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Chitral, Hazara, During the study, this species was collected from Swat, Kohistan, Buner, Malakand Agency and Shahbaz Park, Hazar Ghanji Chiltan National Park Swat[16] [17] [18]; Punjab: Murree and Attack [16]; and Allama Iqbal Open University Quetta. Already, Gilgit Baltistan: Hunza [21]; Sindh: Recently this species was reported from different localities of reported from various localities of Sindh [28]. Pakistan: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Hazara, Chitral, Distribution: China, Europe, Indian subcontinent, Swat, Kohistan; Punjab: Murree [16]; Gilgit- Japan, North America, North Africa through Baltistan: Ultar peak [21]. temperate Asia including Pakistan [16] [21] [33]. Distribution: Central and Southern Europe, including, Genus: Plebejus Kluk, 1780 Corsica, Sicily and Crete, in west and central Russia 4. Plebejus pylaon (Fischer von Waldheim, 1832) including a southeast corner of Siberia and Amur The Balochi Jewel Blue land, Asia Minor, the Middle East, central Asia, up to Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta, the mountain ranges of Altai and Tien Shan, Iran, Shahbaz Park, 8.vii.2015, 1♂; Leg, F. Mengal. Hazar West Himalayas including Pakistan [16] [21] [33] Ghanji Chiltan National Park, 12.viii.2015, 2♀; Leg, [34]. F. Mengal. BARDC, 16.viii.2015, 1♂; Leg, F. Genus: Lampides Hubner, 1819 Mengal. 2. Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) Remarks: Previously this species was reported from The Pea Blue Balochistan: Khojak Pass, Gwal forest, Murgha- Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta, Metharzai Pass and Quetta: Hanna valley [16]. Shahbaz Park, 01.iv.2015, 3♀; Leg, F. Mengal. Hazar During the study, this species was collected from Ghanji Chiltan National Park, 21.iv.2015, 5♀; Leg, 27 Butterflies fauna of Balochistan along with some new records Shahbaz Park, Hazar Ghanji Chiltan National Park, Remarks: Recently reported from Quetta [32]. Balochistan Agricultural Research Development However, already reported from Balochistan [16]. Center Quetta. Also reported from Sindh: Karachi During the study, this species was collected from [16]. Shahbaz Park, Hazar Ghanji Chiltan National Park, Distribution: Europe: (Atlantic islands to Ural Balochistan Agricultural Research Development Mountains), South Russia, North Africa: (Morocco to Center and Allama Iqbal Open University Quetta. Egypt), Asia Minor and Near East, widely distributed Also reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Chitral; in West Asia to Iran including Pakistan [16] [33] While from Gilgit-Baltistan: Gilgit, Hunza; Ultar [35]. peak and from Punjab: Murree hills [16] [21]. Genus: Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 Distribution: Occurs throughout the Canary Islands, 5. Polyommatus bogra (Evans, 1932) temperate North Africa, Europe and temperate Asia The Balochi Meadow Blue including Pakistan [16] [21] [33]. Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta: Genus: Zizeeria Chapman, 1910 Hazar Ghanji Chiltan National Park, 15.x. 2015, 3♀; 8. Zizeeria knysna (Trimen, 1862) Leg, F. Mengal. AIOU Campus, 21.ix. 2015, 4♀; The Dark Grass Blue Leg, Fariha Mengal. Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta, Remarks: First time reported from Quetta. However, Shahbaz Park, 18.v.2015, 2♀; Leg, F. Mengal. AIOU earlier this species was reported from Balochistan: Campus, 14.v.2015, 2♀; Leg, F. Mengal. Shingarh Range, Ziarat, Khojak and Bogra Hills near Remarks: During the study, this species was collected Chaman [16]. During the study, this species was from Shahbaz Park and Allama Iqbal Open collected from Hazar Ghanji Chiltan National Park, University Quetta. Previously reported from all areas and Allama Iqbal Open University Quetta. of Balochistan. Already reported from Sindh: Karachi Distribution: North Africa, Europe, West Asia to Iran [4]. Also reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Chitral and Pakistan [16] [33] [36]. and from Punjab: Attock and Murree [16]. 6. Polyommatus florenciae (Tytler, 1926) Distribution: Pakistan [4] [16]. Africa, Tropical Asia The Silvery Meadow Blue and Australia, Canary Islands, South Portugal and Material examined: Pakistan: Balochistan: Quetta: