A Preliminary Checklist of Butterflies (Insecta: Lepidoptera) at Kunchebailu, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka

Abstract

The field survey was conducted to prepare a preliminary checklist of Butterflies at Kunchebailu, Chikmagalur district, Karnataka which is a part of Western Ghats area in India. Butterflies were sampled from November, 2019 to April, 2020 by following standard methods. This short term study revealed a total of 61 butterfly species belonging to 05 different families. Amongst them, family Nymphalidae records highest number of Butterfly species (41%), followed by Pieridae (20%), Papilionidae and Lycaenidae (16% each) families respectively. Whereas, the least number of Butterfly species was contributed by family Hesperiidae (7%). Further, these butterflies were classified into Very Common (41%), Common (43%) and Rare (16%) based on relative abundance status. Interestingly, Butterfly species viz., Castalius rosimon Fabricius, Pachliopta hector Linnaeus, Papilio clytia Linnaeus, Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius, Cepora nerissa Moore and Euploea core Cramer which are listed in Schedule I, II and IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 were documented from the study area. Thus, the present investigation forms a baseline data on Butterfly diversity from the Western Ghats area and also may aid in need for its conservation in future.