A checklist of diversity of butterflies in the campus of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya (USTM), Ri- bhoi district, Meghalaya, India

Abstract

Northeastern India is one of the unique biodiversity hotspots marked by its number of endangered and endemic species. This region has variable climatic conditions and vegetation patterns which harbors a number of odonates and lepidopteron species. A number of studies were carried out to ascertain the butterfly species present in Meghalaya, one of the states of northeastern India. However till date no study has been carried out in the campus of the university marked by its unique vegetation patterns. In the present study, a checklist has been prepared to ascertain the number of different species of butterflies present in the University campus. It has been found that 127 species of butterflies belonging to 5 families are present dominated by Nymphalidae (35%), followed by Lycaenidae (27%), Pieridae (14%), Hesperiidae (13%) and Papilionidae (11%). Thus it can be suggested that campus of USTM provides and support good species richness of butterflies which is of great taxonomic significance.