Int. J. Life. Sci. Scienti. Res., 4(4): 1905-1914, July 2018

 

Seasonal Diversity and Status of Butterfly Fauna in Sakoli Taluka of Bhandara District, Maharashtra, India

 

Dharmik R. Ganvir^1*, Kanchan P. Khaparde²

 

¹Guest Professor, P. G. Department of Zoology, Manoharbhai Patel College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Sakoli, India -441802

²Assistant Professor, P. G. Department of Zoology, Manoharbhai Patel College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Sakoli, India -441802

 

*Address for Correspondence: Dr. Dharmik R. Ganvir, Guest Professor, P. G. Department of Zoology, M. B. Patel College, Sakoli- 441802, India

 

ABSTRACT- Sakoli taluka lies in the basin of Chulbandh river and covered with dense forest and comprises agricultural fields and it is less highlighted for butterflies so the main aim of this study to show how these fields serve butterflies and prepare a checklist of that butterflies which use these fields in their various activities. Total 69 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 47 genera and 5 families. Nymphalidae family was dominant and consisting 25 species (36.24%); Lycaenidae 19 species (27.53%); Pieridae 13 species (18.84%); Hesperiidae 8 species (11.59%) and only 4 species (5.80%) recorded from family Papilionidae respectively. Maximum species richness reported from Monsoon and post- Monsoon season.

Keywords: Agricultural field, Species, River Seasonal diversity, Butterfly fauna

 

INTRODUCTION- Agricultural fields are unique ecosystems that provide some butterflies to complete their life span. Butterflies are one of the most colourful, popular and easily recognized groups of insects belong to order Lepidoptera. They are potentially useful ecological indicators of urbanization because sensitive to changes in microclimate, temperature ^[1] and extremely important components of the bioindicators of the world ^[2,3]. Butterflies serve as important plant pollinators in the local environment and help to pollinate more than 50 economically important plant crops ^[4]. Butterflies serve the ecosystem especially by recycling nutrients (N, P, and K) essential for crops ^[5]. Their larvae release feces while feeding on the agrestals and provide required nutrients to the crops ^[6]. Certain butterfly species are believed to be necessary to pollination of various wild plants and crops on which human beings depend on for their livelihoods ^[7]. The influence of butterflies on agroecosystem is better studied in Europe than in Indian subcontinent ^[8]. In Vidarbha region, it was compiled and records of 167 species of butterflies belonging to 90 genera representing 5 families ^[9]. In the agricultural field of Gondia district was recorded 24 species of butterflies belonging to 20 genera and 5 families during winter and pre-monsoon season and 44 species 32 genera during monsoon and post-monsoon season respectively ^[10,11]. But little work did in the district Bhandara, Maharashtra.  So, it is necessary to study about seasonal diversity and status of butterflies of this district especially agricultural field.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study site- The present study has been carried out for a period of Jan 2016 to Dec 2017 and conducted in the sites from agricultural field of Sakoli, Bhandara district Maharashtra, India during the four different season i.e. month of winter (December to February), pre-monsoon (March to May), monsoon (June to August) and post-monsoon season (September to November). Butterfly watching and data recording have been done once a week for each month. In monsoon and post-monsoon season, the agricultural crops grow regularly day by day. Regularly at least one visit in four trackway during a week.

Sakoli city of Bhandara district located at North latitude 21˚09˚30˚ and East latitude 79˚40˚00˚and having 233 meters elevation above sea level. District comprises was 185164.H.R agricultural area and main crop was paddy in kharip crop and cereals in rabbi crop (Fig. 1).

 

Fig. 1:  Google map of Sakoli taluka of Bhandara district, Maharashtra, India

Observation were made through 4 line transects ^[10,11] of 0.5 km to 0.7 km length with 2 m to 5 m on either side along with agricultural field. The site was visited in morning and evening hours to note maximum 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 megapixels, 16x optical zoom with 24mm wide-angle Sony lens). 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- Seasonal diversity and status of butterfly’s fauna were recorded and prepare a checklist during four different seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon, winter, and post-monsoon) in and around agricultural sites of Sakoli taluka and tabulated (Table 1). Total 69 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 47 genera (Tables 2, Fig. 2). The family Papilionidae comprises only 3 genera (6.38%) and 4 species (5.80%). Family Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae consisted of 14 genera (29.79%) and 25 species (36.24%); 9 genera (19.15%) and13 species (18.84%); 15 genera (31.91%) and 19 species (27.53%); and 6 genera (12.77%) and 8 species (11.59%) respectively (Table 2, Fig. 3).

In the present study out of total 69 butterfly species the population of Brush-footed butterflies like Tigers butterfly, Pansys and Tawny coster was higher followed by, white and yellows as well as Blues and Skippers (Fig. 4). The diversity and its status of butterfly contributed population of Swallowtails was recorded very low in and around agro-ecosystem during pre-monsoon season and maximum species richness were observed during winter and post-monsoon season in morning hours (Table 1).

 

Table 1: Checklist of butterflies recorded together with Status and period of occurrence from Sakoli taluka of Bhandara district, Maharashtra, India

S. No.	Common Name	Zoological Name	Photography Time		Status	Seasons
Papilionidae (Swallowtails ) (04)
1	Common mormon	Papilio polytes Linnaeus	M		C	PRM
2	Common rose	Pachliopta aristolachiae Cramer	M		C	PRM
3	Lime butterfly	Papilio demoleus Linnaeus	M		VC	MN, POM
4	Tailed joy	Graphium chironides (Honrath)	M		R	WR
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed ) (25)
5	Plain tiger	Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
6	Stripped tiger	Danaus genutia Cramer	M		C	MN, POM
7	Common baron	Euthalia aconthea Cramer	M		C	MN, POM
8	Common crow	Euploea core Cramer	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
9	Danaid eggfly	Hypolimnas misippus  Linnaeus	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
10	Great eggfly	Hypolimnas bolina Linnaeus	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
11	Blue tiger	Tirumala limniace Cramer	M		C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
12	Glassy tiger	Parantica aglea (Stoll)	M		NR	POM
13	Common leopard	Phalanta phalanta	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
14	Tawny coster	Acraea violae Fabricius	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
15	Baronet	Euthalia nais Forster	M		C	WR, PRM, MN
16	Blue pansy	Junonia orithiya Linnaeus	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
17	Peacock pansy	Junonia almanac Linnaeus	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
18	Lemon pansy	Junonia   lemonias Linnaeus	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
19	Grey pansy	Junonia atlites Linnaeus	M		C	POM
20	Yellow pansy	Junonia hierta Fabricius	M		C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
21	Chocolate pancy	Junonia iphita(Cramer)	M		C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
22	Long brand bushbrown	Mycalesis visala Moore	M		C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
23	Common Bushbrown	Mycalesis perseus Fabricius	M		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
24	Common evening brown	Melanitis leda Linnaeus	M,E		VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
25	Great Evening Brown	Melanitis zitenius Herbst	M		C	MN, POM
26	Common nawab	Polyura athamas Drury	M		R	MN
27	Commander	Moduza procris Cramer	M		C	MN, POM
28	Leopard lacewing	Cethosia cyane Drury	M		R	POM
29	Short-banded Sailer	Phaedyma(Neptis) columella Cramer	M		NR	POM
Pieridae (Yellow and blues) (13)
30	Striped albatross	Appeas libythea  Fabricius		M	C	MN, POM
31	Common Albatross	Appeas albina Boisduval		M	C	MN, POM
32	Common emigrant	Catopsila Pomona Fabricius		M	VC	MN, POM
33	Mottled Emigrant	Catopsilia pyranthe Linnaeus		M	VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
34	Common gull	Cepora nerissa Fabricius		M	VC	MN, POM
35	Common jezebel	Delias eucharis Drury		M	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
36	Painted Sawtooth	Prioneris sita Felder & Felder		M	R	WR
37	Common grass yellow	Eurema hecabe Linnaeus		M	VC	WR, PRM, MN,POM
38	Spotless Grass Yellow	Eurema laeta (Boisduval		M	VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
39	One-Spot Grass Yellow	Eurema andersoni Moore		M	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
40	Indian Cabbage White	Pieris canidia Linnaeus		M	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
41	Pioneer	Anaphaeis aurota Fabricius		M	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
42	Common Wanderer	Pareronia valeria Cramer		M	NR	WR
Lycaenidae (Blues) (19)
43	Two-spot Plum Judy	Abisara bifasciata Moore		M	R	POM
44	Dark pierrot	Tarucus ananda		M	NR	POM
45	Common pierrot	Castalius rosimon Fabricius		M,E	VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
46	Striped pierrot	Tarucus extricatus		M	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
47	Rounded pierrot	Tarucus nara Kollar		M	C	WR, PRM, POM
48	Striped pierrot	Tarucus  theophrastus indica		M, E	C	POM, WR
49	Dark Cerulean	Jamides bochus Stoll		M	R	POM
50	Common Cerulean	Jamides celeno Cramer		M	C	WR, PRM, POM
51	Common Silverline	Spindasis vulcanus Fabricius		M	C	WR, PRM, POM
52	Purple Leaf Blue	Amblypodia anita Hewitson		M,E	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
53	Gram Blue	Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius		M,E	C	WR, POM
54	Pea Blue	Lampides boeticus Linnaeus		M	VC	WR
55	Tiny Grass Blue	Zizula hylax Fabricius		M, E	VC	WR
56	Lesser grass blue	Zizina otis Kollar		M, E	VC	WR
57	Dark Grass Blue	Zizeeria karsandra Moore		M, E	VC	WR
58	Pale Grass Blue	Pseudozizeeria maha Kollar		M, E	C	POM, WR
59	Forget-Me-Not	Catochrysops strabo Fabricius		M	VC	POM, WR
60	Silver Forget-Me-Not	Catachrysops panormus C. Felder		M	VC	POM, WR
61	Indian Cupid	Everes lacturnus Godart		M	C	WR, POM
Hesperiidae (Skippers) (08)
62	Indian skipper	Spialia galba Fabricius		M	C	POM
63	Rice Swift	Barbo cinnarai		M	C	WR, PRM, MN, POM
64	Small Branded Swift	Pelopidas mathias Fabricius		M	VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
65	Blank Swift	Caltoris kumara		M	C	POM
66	Large Branded Swift	Pelopidas subochracea		M	C	POM
67	Grass Demon	Udaspes folus Cramer		M	NR	WR, PRM, MN,
68	Conjoined Swift	Pelopidas conjuncta Herrich-Schäffer		M	VC	WR, PRM, MN, POM
69	Brown Awl	Badamia exclamationis Fabricius		M	C	WR, PRM, MN,

Photography time- M: Morning hour; E: Evening hour

Status- VC - very common (seen > 50 visits); C - common (seen 25-50 visit); NTR - not rare (seen 10-25 visits); R - rare (1-5 visit); NR- not recorded.

Seasons: WR: Winter season: PRM: Pre-Monsoon season; MN: Monsoon season and POM: Post-Monsoon season

 

Table 2: Family wise Distribution of genera and species of butterflies during pre-monsoon, monsoon, winter and post-monsoon season

S. No.		Identified Genera & species (Numbers)		Percentage (%)
	Family	Genera	Species	Genera	Species
1	Papilionidae	03	04	6.38	5.80
2	Nymphalidae	14	25	29.79	36.24
3	Pieridae	09	13	19.15	18.84
4	Lycaenidae	15	19	31.91	27.53
5	Hesperiidae	06	08	12.77	11.59
Total	05	47	69	100	100

 

Fig. 3: Family wise distribution of butterfly Species

 

DISCUSSION- In the present study, total 69 species of butterflies were recorded belonging to 47 genera and 5 families. Family Nymphalideae was the largest family comprised of maximum number of species 22 (36.24%). The ability to quantify diversity in this way is an important tool for biologists trying to understand community structure ^[12]. Earlier was documented the most dominant family was Nymphalideae followed by Lycanideae, Pierideae, Hespiriideae and Papillionidae ^[11,13-19] . The 29 butterfly species from agricultural field of Howrah, West Bengal recorded in 5 families ^[13] and most dominant family is Nymphalidae (11) followed by Lycaenidae (9), Pieridae (4), Hespiriidae (3) and Papilionidae (2) and only in rice field recorded 8 species from 4 families.

Total 145 species of butterflies were recorded in and around Nagpur City including agricultural land ^[14]. The highest number of butterflies was recorded belonging to the Nymphalidae (51 species) and least number of butterflies belong to family Papilionidae (9 species). The study revealed that most butterfly species were observed from the monsoon to early winter and contribute Nymphalideae was most dominating family comparised highest number of species but thereafter declined in early summer ^[15].

Total of 50 species of butterflies belonging to 5 families was recorded in Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve of Eastern Ghats Andhra Pradesh, India ^[16]. 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 ^[17], survey 103 individual butterfly species. Family belonging Nymphalidae contributed highest number of butterflies (32 species) followed by family Pierideae (23species), which revealed that Nymphalidae and Pieridae was rich dominant families, while Hesperiidae (15 species) and Papilionidae (14 species) were less dominant; similar to the present observations.

Earlier ^[10-11] was recorded least population of butterflies during winter and pre-monsoon season it was total 24 species of butterflies belonging to 20 genera and increases species population during monsoon and post-monsoon season. In Jnandweepa, VPM campus, Thane, Maharashtra was recorded 52 butterfly’s species ^[18]. Family Nymphalideae showed 22 species which was maximum species diversity dominance followed by family Pierideae and Lycanideae represents 10 species each and family Papillionideae and Hespirideae having least number of species diversity it was 7 and 3 species respectively.

Total 92 species of butterflies was expressed belong to 59 genera and 5 families   from Gorewada International Bio-Park Nagpur, Central India ^[19]. High incidence of butterfly population with wide distribution was observed during the month of March-April and monsoon season (September-November) which diminish during December-January. All the observation is similar with the present observation.

 

 

Fig. 4: Common butterflies from Sakoli, Bhandara study area

 

CONCLUSIONS- The butterfly diversity and status of Agro ecosystem of Sakoli, Bhandara district is mostly high. The present work has concluded that systematically studied butterfly diversity first time in and around the agricultural field and prepared a checklist in the study site. Family-Nymphalidae carries the maximum number of species 25 (36.24%) than remaining families. This study would be useful to conserve the seasonal diversity of indigenous butterfly species in the study area.

Butterflies play an important role during ripening stage of paddy crop for better pollination and other crop also for harvest quantity and quantity crop, therefore it need to conserve food plant of butterfly larvae in target area.

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS- The authors would want to convey their gratitude to the Dr. H. R. Trivedi, Principal, M. B. Patel College, Sakoli for providing facilities during survey. We are also thankful to the Dr. C. J. Khune Associate Professor and Head, P. G. Department of Zoology, M. B. Patel College, Sakoli, for providing needable aids to carry out the survey and valuable guidance.

 

CONTRIBUTION OF AUTHORS- Authors have planned the valuable work on survey of butterflies in an around agricultural field with respect to seasonal diversity and its status of Sakoli taluka of Bhandara district were ampule number of butterfly species found in different season. Data were collected from different sites and different season of target area, analyzed data and finally prepare a checklist. Butterflies are identified with the help of available literature and experts. After the completion of all findings we decided to publish this work for a future references.

 

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