ABSTRACT-
Butterflies are the important pollinating agent for wild and crop plants. Despite of its global significance,
studies of butterfly diversity during monsoon and post-monsoon season in agroecosystem of Arjuni/Morgaon taluka of
Maharashtra have not been recently undertaken. Survey was carried out on butterflies of agricultural field during monsoon
and post-monsoon season, Arjuni/Morgaon, Maharashtra, India because it is now clear that in and around agricultural
fields particularly paddy field are unique ecosystems that provide some butterflies to complete their life span. Total 44
species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 32 genera and 5 families. Nymphalidae family is consisting of maximum
number of genera and species and only three species recorded from family Papilionidae. Maximum species richness
reported from July to November month. The present study will encourage the conservation of a wide range of indigenous
butterfly species in an area.
Key-Words- Butterfly, Diversity, Fauna, Agricultural field, Monsoon, Post monsoon
INTRODUCTION-
Butterflies serve the ecosystem especially by recycling
nutrients (N, P and K) essential for crops. Butterflies are
providing the best rapid indicators of habit quality and they
are the sensitive indicators of climatic change [1].
In central India, about 177 species of butterflies were
reported in the Central Provinces (Vidarbha, Madhya
Pradesh and Chattisgarh) by [2]. [3] recorded 167 species of
butterflies belonging to 90 genera representing 5 families in
Vidarbha region.
There is virtually has not been any published research
works on agricultural butterflies ecology in India whereas,
it is essential to have such data so far as the understanding
of the butterfly diversity and conservation in agro
ecosystem is concerned.
Butterflies being important pollinating agents for wild and
crop plants around the world, it has become expedient to
those [4].
It is very clear that agricultural fields are
containing several agrestals [5] with main crop which are
attracted by butterflies for their various purposes.
According to [6] the dimension, population size and
diversity of the species are most significant biological
elements of an ecosystem.
According to [7-8] among insects, butterflies perform
prominent roles in pollination and herbivores bearing a
history of long-term coevolution with plants [9]. Adult
butterflies are dependent on nectar and pollen as their food
while the caterpillars are dependent on specific host plants
for foliage [10]. Butterflies are considered as good indicators
of the health of any specified terrestrial
ecosystem [7,11-15]
India is one among the twelve mega–diversity countries of
the world. The Indian sub continent (CISC) has about 1439
species of butterflies out of which 100 species are endemic
to it and at least 26 taxa are today globally threatened as per
the IUCN (1990) Red List of threaten animals and insects
[16]. According to [17] India hosts 1,501 species of butterflies,
of which peninsular India hosts 350, and the Western
Ghats, 331.
The flora and fauna that form today’s biodiversity are a
snapshot of the earth’s 3.8 billion year history of life,
representing just 0.1% of all the species that have lived on
earth. Thus 99.9% or virtually all of life that has existed on
earth has gone extinct [18]. [19] were documented about
19,238 species in the world. There were about 1,504
species of butterflies in Indian subcontinent [17,20].
Arjuni/Morgaon taluka of Gondia districts are well known
as richness of the lake and dense forest as well as busy
forest. Elevation/Altitude: 327- 245 meters above sea
level.
It is too hot in summer, highest day temperature is in
between 33 ° C to 49° C. Average temperatures of
January is 21 ° C, February is 26 ° C, March is 31 ° C,
April is 35 ° C, May is 39 ° C. Gondia districts also
famous as a rice producer district in Maharashtra.
In spite of its global significance, studies of butterfly
diversity during monsoon season in and around agricultural
field (paddy growing area) have not been recently
undertaken. Since, the main objective of this study has been
conduct preliminary observation of butterflies and carried
out the checklist, occurrence and richness in an agriculture
field of Arjuni/Morgaon taluka.
MATERIALS AND METHODS-
Study Area-
The present study conducted in the sites agricultural field
of Arjuni/Morgaon taluka of Gondia district Maharashtra,
India. Study was carried out during the month of monsoon
and post-monsoon season; monsoon and post-monsoon
climatic seasons could be considered as comprising of the
months June to November. The present study has been
carried out for a period of 15th June, 2016 to 30th
November, 2016.
Butterfly watching and data recording has been done once a
week for each month. In monsoon and post-monsoon
season the agricultural crops grow regularly day by day
(Sowing to Harvesting). Regularly at least one visit in four
track way during a week.
Observations were made through 4 line transects [21-22] of
0.5 km to 0.7 km length with 2 m to 5 m on either side. The
site was visited in morning and evening hours to note
maximum possible species of butterflies. The observations
were made with the help of binocular (Olympus 8-16X40)
and capture photo by using digital cameras
(Sony cyber- shot 16.2 mega pixels, 16x optical zoom with
24mm wide-angle sony lens) and vivo Y51L.
The recorded species are identified with the help of
photographs by using reference books and available
publications and article as well as with the help of experts.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The ability to quantify diversity in this way is an important
tool for biologists trying to understand community structure
[23].
A checklist of butterflies during monsoon and
post- monsoon season of in and around agricultural sites
was recorded and tabulated. Total 44 species of butterflies
were recorded belonging to 32 genera Graph 1A). The
family Papilionidae comprises only three species. Family
Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae were
consisted of 11 genera and 18 species; 6 genera and 6
species; 8 genera and 11species and 5 genera and 6 species
respectively (Table 1 & 2 and Fig. 1 & 2).
Graph: 1 (A and B) Family wise Genera and Species Recorded during Monsoon Period
| Sr. No. | Common Name | Zoological Name | Photography Period | Period of occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Papilionidae (Swallowtails ) (03) | ||||
| 1 | Common mormon | Papilio polytes Linnaeus | M | Oct. |
| 2 | Common rose | Pachliopta aristolachiae Cramer | M | Oct, Nov. |
| 3 | Lime butterfly (Darkerground colour) | Papilio demoleus Linnaeus | M | July, Aug. |
| 3a | Lime butterfly | Papilio demoleus Linnaeus | M | July, Aug, Sept. |
| Nymphalidae (Brush-footed ) (18) | ||||
| 4 | Plain tiger | Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 5 | Stripped tiger | Danaus genutia Cramer | M | July to Sept. |
| 6 | Common baron | Euthalia aconthea Cramer | M | Aug. |
| 7 | Common crow | Euploea core Cramer | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 8 | Danaid eggfly | Hypolimnas misippus Linnaeus | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 9 | Great eggfly | Hypolimnas bolina Linnaeus | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 10 | Blue tiger | Tirumala limniace Cramer | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 11 | Glassy tiger | Parantica aglea (Stoll) | M | Oct. Nov. |
| 12 | Common leopard | Phalanta phalanta | M | Aug, Oct. |
| 13 | Tawny coster | Acraea violae Fabricius | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 14 | Baronet | Euthalia nais Forster | M | Aug. Sep. |
| 15 | Blue pansy | Junonia orithiya Linnaeus | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 16 | Peacock pansy | Junonia almanac Linnaeus | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 17 | Lemon pansy | Junonia lemonias Linnaeus | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 18 | Grey pansy | Junonia atlites Linnaeus | M | November |
| 19 | Long brand bushbrown | Mycalesis visala Moore | M | Sept. |
| 20 | Common Bushbrown | Mycalesis perseus Fabricius | M | Aug to Nov. |
| 21 | Common evening brown | Melanitis leda Linnaeus | E | Aug to Nov. |
| Pieridae (Yellow and blues) (06) | ||||
| 22 | Striped albatross | Appeas libythea Fabricius | M | Aug to Oct. |
| 23 | Common emigrant | Catopsila Pomona Fabricius | M | Aug to Oct. |
| 24 | Common gull | Cepora nerissa Fabricius | M | Aug to Oct. |
| 25 | Common jezebel | Delias eucharis Drury | M | Oct. |
| 26 | Painted Sawtooth (Outer side) | Prioneris sita Felder & Felder | M | Nov. |
| 26a | Painted Sawtooth (Inner side) | Prioneris sita Felder & Felder | M | Nov. |
| 27 | Common grass yellow (Inner side) | Eurema hecabe Linnaeus | M | July to Nov. |
| 27a | Common grass yellow (Outer side) | Eurema hecabe Linnaeus | M | July to Nov. |
| Lycaenidae (Blues) (11) | ||||
| 28 | Dark pierrot | Tarucus ananda | M | Oct. Nov. |
| 29 | Common pierrot | Castalius rosimon Fabricius | M,E | Aug. to Nov. |
| 30 | Striped pierrot (Inner side) | Tarucus extricatus | M | Sept. |
| 30a | Striped pierrot (Outer side) | Tarucus extricatus | M | Sept. Oct. |
| 31 | Rounded pierrot | Tarucus nara Kollar | M | Aug. to Nov. |
| 32 | Striped pierrot | Tarucus theophrastus indica | M, E | Nov. |
| 33 | Gram Blue | Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius | M,E | Nov. |
| 34 | Tiny Grass Blue | Zizula hylax Fabricius | M,E | Nov. |
| 35 | Lesser grass blue | Zizina otis Kollar | M,E | Oct. Nov. |
| 36 | Dark Grass Blue | Zizeeria karsandra Moore | M,E | Oct. Nov. |
| 37 | Pale Grass Blue | Pseudozizeeria maha Kollar | M,E | Oct. Nov. |
| 38 | Forget-Me-Not | Catochrysops strabo Fabricius | M | Nov. |
| Hesperiidae (Skippers) (06) | ||||
| 39 | Indian skipper | Spialia galba Fabricius | M | Sept. |
| 40 | Rice Swift | Barbo cinnarai | M | Sept. |
| 41 | Small Branded Swift | Pelopidas mathias Fabricius | M | Sept. |
| 42 | Blank Swift | Caltoris kumara | M | Sept. |
| 43 | Large Branded Swift | Pelopidas subochracea | M | Sept. Nov. |
| 44 | Common Grass Dart | Taractrocera maevius Hewitson | M | Sept. |
Table: 2 Distribution of genera and species of butterflies in respective families during monsoon season and post-monsoon season
| Sr. No. | Family | Identified Genera & species (Numbers) | Identified Genera & species Percentage (%) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genera | Species | Genera | Species | ||
| 1 | Papilionidae | 02 | 03 | 6 | 7 |
| 2 | Nymphalidae | 11 | 18 | 34 | 41 |
| 3 | Pieridae | 06 | 06 | 19 | 13 |
| 4 | Lycaenidae | 08 | 11 | 25 | 25 |
| 5 | Hesperiidae | 05 | 06 | 16 | 14 |
| Total | 05 | 32 | 44 | 100 | 100 |
Fig. 1 Scientific and cmmon name of butterfly mentioned in theTable 1 (1 to 23)
Fig. 2 Scientific and cmmon name of butterfly mentioned in the Table 1 (24 to 44)
According to [25] were recorded total 145 species of butterflies in and around Nagpur City at the eight study sites including agricultural land. The highest number of butterflies was recorded belonging to the Nymphalidae (51 species) followed by Lycaenidae (46 species), Hesperiidae (22 species), Pieridae (17 species) and Papilionidae (9 species). The study revealed that Nymphalidae was most dominating family with a highest number of species and most butterfly species were observed from the monsoon to early winter but thereafter declined in early summer. [26]
In Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve of Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh, India recorded a total of 50 species of butterflies belonging to 5 families [27]. The family Nymphalidae (20 species) was found dominant followed by Lycaenidae (12 species), Pieridae (11 species), Papilionidae (5 species) and Hesperiidae (2 species).
In eastern part of Western Ghats, surveyed 103 individual butterfly species belonging to 5 families namely Nymphalidae (32), Pieridae (23), Lycaenidae (19), Hesperiidae (15) and Papilionidae (14), which revealed that Nymphalidae and Pieridae were the rich dominant families, while Hesperiidae and Papilionidae were less dominant; similar to the present observations. [28]
According to [22] In Paddy growing (Rabi rice crop) during winter to pre-monsoon and winter season at Silezari was recorded total 24 species of butterflies belonging to 20 genera The family Papilionidae comprises only one species and Family Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae were consisted of 8 genera and 12 species; 3 genera and 3 species; 5 genera and 5species and 3 genera and 3 species respectively.
In the present study out of total 44 butterfly species the population of Brush-footed butterflies like Plain tiger butterfly, Peacock pansy, Grey pansy, Lemon pansy, Blue pansy and Tawny coster was higher followed by Skippers, Blues, White and Yellows. The occurrence and contribution of population of Swallowtails was recorded very low around paddy field during monsoon season in the year 2016. The maximum species richness is reported from July to November in Morning hours.
CONCLUSION- The butterfly diversity of agroecosystem of Arjuni/Morgaon, Gondia district is very high. Agricultural fields are unique ecosystem that provides better habitat to butterfly. Their diversity in the fields also a good signal of health of agricultural crop. The present work have concludes that systematically studied butterfly diversity first time in and around agricultural field and prepared a checklists in the study area. Family- Nymphalidae carries the maximum number of species than remaining families. This study would be useful to conserve the wide range of indigenous butterfly species in an area.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT- The authors are grateful to the Principal, M. B. Patel College, Sakoli for providing facilities during survey
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| How to cite this article: Ganvir DR, Khune CJ, Khaparde KP: Diversity of Butterfly in and around Agricultural field of Arjuni/Morgaon Taluka, Gondia, Maharashtra, India. Int. J. Life. Sci. Scienti. Res., 2017; 3(1): 848-855. DOI:10.21276/ijlssr.2017.3.1.17 Source of Financial Support: Nil, Conflict of interest: Nil |