Emerging from adversity: Factors influencing the roosting behaviour & plant-species interaction of different butterfly species in a modified urban park in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Roosting behaviour in butterflies remains understudied, particularly in the Indian subcontinent. This study, conducted in the Eco-tourism Park Butterfly Garden, West Bengal, India, documented butterfly roosting patterns, habitat preferences, and plant associations over three months (January-March 2021). A total of 659 individuals from 24 species across five families were recorded, with Lycaenidae being the most abundant. Roosting heights ranged from 0.1 to 6.1 m, with most butterflies preferring lower heights (0.1-1 m). Leaves were the preferred perch (66%), and butterflies predominantly roosted near vegetation, within 0.8-1.4 m of flowering patches. Roosting sites maintained cooler, drier conditions, influenced by temperature and humidity. Twenty-one plant species were used as roosting sites, with Cuphea hyssopifolia and Kyllinga monocephala being most preferred. Larger species exhibited both solitary and communal roosting. These findings highlight the importance of plant selection and microhabitat conditions in butterfly conservation efforts.