BUTTERFLIES DIVERSITY (LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONOIDEA) IN AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS OF TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU, INDIA
C. KANIMOZHI
Department of Zoology, Nehru Memorial College, Bharathidasan University, Puthanampatti, 621 007, Tamil Nadu, India.
V. RAMESH *
Department of Zoology, Nehru Memorial College, Bharathidasan University, Puthanampatti, 621 007, Tamil Nadu, India.
P. C. PATHANIA
Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, 700 053, Kolkata, India.
A. RAMESHKUMAR
Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, 700 053, Kolkata, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The present study is aimed to examine the diversity and relative abundance of butterflies.
Place and Duration of Study: In different agroecosystem of Trichy during the period of October 2016 to November 2017.
Methodology: A preliminary survey was carried out during the day from 07.00 to 12.00 from October 2016 to November 2017. The transect walk was done once in a month. The specimens were collected with the insect collection net. The collected species were photographed and deposited in Zoology Department, Nehru Memorial College, Puthanampatti, Tamil Nadu, India.
Results: A total of 80 species were recorded from different agricultural areas at Trichy. Analysis of relative abundance revealed 64 species were classed as common and 16 species as uncommon.
Conclusion: From the results we also observed maximum species diversity and abundance in the month of January to June and October to November and there was a gradual decrease during the early summer from the month of March and it reached maximum in the May.
Keywords: Diversity, butterflies, host plants, conservation