Population structure of pierid butterflies in Savar at North West part of Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

The present study incorporates detailed field observations of family Pieridae in different areas of Savar during January to December, 2014. During the course of field study, 2665 specimens of Pierid butterflies belonging to 24 species under 11 genera were recorded and assessed their species status, flying period, species abundance and their annual fluctuation pattern. The Eurema and Leptosia were most dominating genus with recorded highest number of individuals and they occupied 42.10% and 25.40% of total genera respectively, respectively. Nine species occur throughout the year and rest of the species showed very short seasonal peaks and they are either absent or rare in other seasons. Study revealed that the Pierid butterfly populations and species showed bimodal annual fluctuations peaked in December and May in study sites and also showed the first peak formed in December was much higher as compared to the second peak occurred in May. Monthly occurrence of pierid butterfly population was lower from June to September. Leptosia nina nina and Eurema hecabe hecabe were recorded highest abundant species in study sites.