Studies on butterfly diversity in adichanalloor Village, Kollam District, Kerala

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study butterfly diversity in Adichanalloor Village, Kollam district in Kerala, for the period of November 2016 to March 2017. Results showed that 79 species of butterflies representing 5 major families were recorded. Family Nymphalidae showed the maximum number of species followed by Lycanidae 13 species, Papilionidae 10 species, Pieridae 9 species and Hesperiidae 7 species. Among these families abundance of butterfly species in maximum in garden area (GI) with 21 species, followed by agrifield (GIII) (17 species), pond region (GV) (16 species), grassland (GII) (13 species) and shrubs and herbs (GIV) (12 species).Based on IUCN list, 49 species were common(C), 27 species, uncommon (UC) and 3 species under rare category. According to monthly wise distribution of butterflies, maximum numbers of butterflies were recorded in November (32 species) followed by a December (21 species), January (12 species) and least in the month of March (8 species).