<strong>Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) diversity in relation to habitat utilization at Jagannath Kishore College, Purulia, West Bengal (India)</strong>

Abstract

Documentation of butterfly diversity is necessary for ecosystem management both at the local and the global scales. The varied types of functional role of the butterflies qualify them for conservation and thus sustenance of the ecosystem services. Information about the biodiversity of Purulia district as well as arid regions of Chota Nagpur Plateau is insufficient and this necessitates to investigate about the butterfly diversity of Purulia which will provide subsequent information for ecosystem management. On the basis of this proposition, the present study was carried out in the campus of Jagannath Kishore College, Purulia, West Bengal (India). The species richness, species diversity, seasonal variation and habitat utilisation by the butterflies were studied for a period of one year between February 2016 and January 2017 with photographic documentation. A total of seventy-one butterfly species under five families were encountered, of which, the family Nymphalidae represented highest number of species. The butterfly species richness was lower in summer probably due to the scarcity of water, but during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons water availabitity boost up the vegetation and therefore species richness increased to its maximum. Among the different species, Eurema hecabe was the most abundant species throughout the year followed by Leptosia nina, Danaus chrysippus and Catopsilia pomona. In the study area, thirty-one species of herbs and shrubs were identified as nectaring plants for adult butterflies. Among them, Tridax procumbens, Lantana camara, Alternanthera sessilis and Tagetes sp. were recognized as the preferred nectaring plants based on the number of butterflies visiting them. As an effort for conservation of the butterflies, the information on the plants and the species avaialble in the concerned region may be used further. However, long term monitoring of the concerned region is recommended to understand the changes in the environmental quality as reflected through the variations in the butterfly species assemblages.

A preliminary assessment of butterfly diversity from Mekhliganj town, Cooch Behar District, West Bengal, India

“…Thirty-three species out of a total 55 species of butterflies recorded during this study were also reported in those studies (Das et al 2020;Roy et al 2022). Whereas, 22 species were observed for the first time from Cooch Behar District, which were not recorded by previous authors (Das et al 2020;Roy et al 2022) Moreover, the number of species recorded in this study is consistent with other studies regarding butterfly diversity in various locations of West Bengal with similar landscape patterns (Ghosh & Siddique 2005;Mukherjee et al 2015;Ghosh & Saha 2016;Mandal 2016;Mukherjee et al 2016;Dey et al 2017;Samanta et al 2017;Das 2018;Pahari et al 2018;Mahata et al 2020;Mukherjee & Mondal 2020). The number of species recorded from the two study sites differed slightly maybe because TA was topographically more diverse than RB and also maybe TA was more suitable to support the host plants of the recorded butterfly species.…”

An appraisal of avian species diversity in and around Purulia Town, West Bengal, India

“…which can tolerate drought, flourish in this district (Das 2016;Samanta et al 2017). Purulia has been least explored concerning the biological diversity and relatively little published information is available to date (Das 2016;Samanta et al 2017;Das 2018). In this circumstance, to enrich the knowledge on the biodiversity profile, an attempt was made to update the information about birds of Purulia Town and surroundings for the diversity and seasonal abundance.…”

Butterfly Diversity in Relation to Human-Impact Gradient in Outskirts of Kolkata, West Bengal, India

“…Though the present study is only a preliminary observation of the butterfly species diversity of the Baruipur Sub-division, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, it has some significance as it is the first reporting of butterfly fauna from this region, and these can be used in monitoring ecosystem health, stability and functioning from the present study area. Conservation of these important pollinators is essential for sustainable development [63,64] . Future studies to point out the effect of specific anthropogenic activities like cutting of trees from wooded areas, solid waste disposal, pollution of natural water bodies, and reducing greenery for urbanization, on butterfly species diversity and community structure should be carried out to facilitate conservation measures.…”