UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

The present study provides the first baseline account of butterfly diversity from Bazpur, a semi-urban landscape situated in the Terai region of Kumaun, Uttarakhand, India. The Terai belt, representing an ecotonal zone between the Himalayan foothills and the Gangetic plains, remains less studied in terms of insect diversity. Pilot surveys were conducted from 15 July to 16 October 2025 at two sites—MundiaPistor (Site A) and Namoona (Site B)—using the modified Pollard Walk method. A total of 22 species belonging to five families and 267 individuals were recorded. The family Nymphalidae was the most dominant (35.21%), followed by Pieridae (31.46%), Papilionidae (15.73%), Hesperiidae (12.73%), and Lycaenidae (4.87%). Species richness and abundance were slightly higher at Site B due to greater vegetation heterogeneity. The Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′ = 2.954) and Pielou’s evenness (J = 0.956) indicated a well-balanced and heterogeneous butterfly community. The most common species included Phalanta phalantha, Danaus chrysippus, and Catopsilia pomona, whereas Tarucus balkanica, a rare species in Uttarakhand, was recorded once from Site A. The observed post-monsoon peak in butterfly activity corresponds with patterns reported from other Himalayan foothill regions. Despite increasing anthropogenic pressures, the Bazpur Terai supports diverse butterfly taxa, reflecting its ecological significance within the Terai Arc Landscape. This study establishes essential baseline data for future biodiversity monitoring, habitat management, and conservation planning in the lowland ecosystems of the Kumaun Himalaya.