Diversity of Butterflies in the Village Kunnur, Aundipatti Taluk, Theni District, Tamil Nadu, India
A. John Paul
Department of Zoology, Thanthai Periyar Government Arts and Science College (A), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
P. Mohideen Askar Nawas *
Department of Zoology, Thanthai Periyar Government Arts and Science College (A), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
Miriam Cecilia Vassou
Department of Zoology, Thanthai Periyar Government Arts and Science College (A), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
H.F. Seyed Mafiya Haniff
Department of Zoology, Jamal Mohamed College (A), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University) Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study was conducted to record and assess the diversity of butterfly species in the village Kunnur, Aundipatti Taluk, Theni District, Tamil Nadu for the period of 12 months (January, 2024 to December, 2024). The initial investigation aimed at identifying and recording butterfly species as well as to understand the species distribution within the study area. The outcome of this research will enable a foundation for further study and conservation efforts related to species diversity. In this current study, in consolidation, a total of 2676 sightings were recorded and out of the sightings, 24 species of butterflies were recorded from the study site throughout the entire study period. Out of the 24 species, the major representation was by the family Nymphalidae with (29%), followed by Pieridae (25%), Papilionidae (17%), Hesperiidae (17%) and Lycaenidae (13%). It was noted that one species of butterfly named Castalius rosimon is legally protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. In this present study, it was evident that presence of butterflies in this study site was moderately diversified.
Keywords: Lepidoptera, abundance, ecology, diversity, agriculture, Nymphalidae