In India, entomophagy practices are common among the people who consume insects as ethnic food. In Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, the consumption of insects as food is a common practice, with insects consumed as additional food source. The present study revealed that eleven insect species belonging to six orders are accepted as food by the two tribes (Tangsa and Wancho) of the Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh. Apis indica, Oecophylla smaragdina (Hymenoptera) and Macrotermes sp. (Isoptera) are the three common edible insects. From the nutritional point of view, these edible insects are rich in protein content. Such insects form a regular part of the diet, whenever available. But the people of the district are not much familiar with their nutrition and market value. This study analyses these so as to inform them, the consumers, about their sustainable use as food and their nutritional importance.
Background
The present study deals with the butterfly diversity in Soraipung Range of Dehing Patkai National Park. The site was chosen on the basis that it lies in between Eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma which is acclaimed as global biodiversity hotspot.
Results
A total of 92 butterfly species belonging to 5 families were recorded during the study of which 13 species were listed as protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and 11 species were restricted to the Eastern Himalaya, India. Members of the Nymphalidae family were found to be dominant with (41) number of species followed by Papilionidae (17), Lycaenidae (16), Hesperiidae (10) and the least Pieridae (8). The maximum diversity is obtained in Nymphalidae family: where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 3.604584 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651 while the minimum diversity is in Pieridae family where Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H′) is 1.936217 and Evenness (E) is 0.970651.
Conclusions
The study reveals that Soraipung range is rich in butterfly diversity but on the contrary their study is poorly documented. During the survey 13 threatened species and 11 species restricted to the Eastern Himalaya have been also documented in the National Park, thus making it an important butterfly habitat in the state. Therefore, its necessary to conduct more study as well as research on the butterflies in Dehing Patkai National Park for effective conservation and management programs.
Present study reported the discovery of butterfly species Lebadea Martha Febricius, (1787) -Knight for the first time in Namdapha National Park, Miao, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh. Basic morphology of the species confirmed the identification. However, the occurrence is not surprising as half of the landscape of Miao is covered with forest and this species generally confined to forest.
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