biodiversity of butterflies at ambasamudram taluk, tirunelveli district, tamil nadu

Biodiversity of Butterflies at Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District,

Tamil Nadu

Keywords: Butterflies, Species, Relative Abundance, Crop Ecosystem, Ambasamudram.

ABSTRACT: The present study has been aimed to explore the existing diversity of butterflies from Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. A total of 19 genera and 23 species belonging to eight families were recorded. Out of these, Nymphalidae were dominant with 7 species, followed by Papilionidae (5 species), Pieridae (5 species), Danaidae (3 species), Acraeidae (1 species), Hesperiidae (1 species), Lycaenidae (1 species), and Satyridae (1 species). Nymphalidae was found to be the most dominant members with 30.43% followed by Papilionidae (21.74%), Pieridae (17.39%) and Danaidae (13.04%). The minimum number of species found in this habitat was from the families such as Acraeidae (4.35%), Hesperiidae (4.35%), Lycaenidae (4.35%) and Satyridae (4.35%).

099-107 | JRA | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 2

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Journal of Research in

Agriculture An International Scientific

Research Journal

Authors:

Elanchezhyan K1,

VinothKumar B2,

Madhu Sudhanan E3.

Institution:

1. Assistant Professor

(Agrl. Entomology),

Rice Research Station,

Tamil Nadu Agricultural

University, Ambasamudram-

627 401, Tirunelveli,

Tamil Nadu, India.

2. Assistant Professor

(Agrl. Entomology),

Hybrid Rice Evaluation

Centre, Tamil Nadu

Agricultural University,

Gudalur - 643 212,

The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu,

India.

3. Research Scholar,

Dept. of Agricultural

Entomology, Tamil Nadu

Agricultural University,

Coimbatore - 641 003,

Tamil Nadu, India.

Corresponding author:

Elanchezhyan K.

Email:

[email protected]

Web Address:

http://www.jagri.info

documents/AG0025.pdf.

Dates: Received: 12 Jul 2012 Accepted: 25 Jul 2012 Published: 31 Jul 2012

Article Citation: Elanchezhyan K, VinothKumar B, Madhu Sudhanan E. Biodiversity of Butterflies at Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu. Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1(2): 099-107

Original Research

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INTRODUCTION

Insects are extremely important components of

the bioindicators of the world (Chakaravarthy et al.,

1997; Jana et al., 2009). Butterflies are one of the most

amazing and magnificent elements of bio-diversity.

They are most beautiful and attractive than most other

insects and have fascinated human imagination and

creativity. They are valuable pollinators in the local

environment and help to pollinate more than

50 economically important crops (Borges et al., 2003)

and are one of the important food chain components of

birds, reptiles, spiders and predatory insects. They are

also good indicators of a healthy environment and

healthy ecosystems because they are sensitive to changes

in microclimate, temperature, solar radiation and the

availability of host plants for oviposition and larval

development (Thomas et al., 1998; Fordyce and Nice,

2003).

Though there are number of records of butterflies

in various places of India (Mani, 1986; Haribal, 1992;

Mehta et al., 1999; Murugan et al., 1999; Pai and Priya,

2001), due to the typical eco-climatic and geographic

features, Western Ghats is considered as one of the most

diversified areas containing a wide variety of species of

butterflies. Out of 1501 species of butterflies recorded

from the Indian region so far (Kunte, 2000), 350 species

are from Peninsular India, 331 species from the Western

Ghats and 313 species of butterflies from South India

(Gaonkar, 1996). The butterfly fauna of the southern part

of the Peninsular India is very rich and diverse compared

to the other parts of the peninsula due to the availability

of diverse habitats, a wide range of altitudinal gradients

and associated microclimate regimes.

India has a rich butterfly fauna, but due to

various reasons such as increased urban features

including roads and buildings, habitat destruction, fire,

use of pesticides and illegal collection for trade, many

species have become very rare and some are on the verge

of extinction. Therefore, the present study makes an

attempt to explore the existing diversity of butterflies

from Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District,

Tamil Nadu.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area

The study on the biodiversity of butterflies was

carried out in Ambasamudram and nearby areas.

Ambasamudram is located in the foothills of Western

Ghats of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, Southern India.

The area receives good rainfall during both the north-east

and south-west monsoons. The location is situated

at 8°42’ latitude and 77°28’ longitude at an altitude of

64.8 m above MSL. The mean annual rainfall of the area

during the study period was 652.4 mm.

Methodology Adopted

The study on the biodiversity of butterflies was

carried out in different crop ecosystems at

Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu.

The area under study includes cultivated crops viz., rice,

black gram, cotton, sugarcane, vegetables, Lime, flowers

and forest trees besides weeds such as Calotropis sp.,

Leucas aspera, Lantana camera and Tridax procumbens.

The adult butterflies were carefully collected from

different ecosystems, killed, preserved and stored in

insect storage boxes, using naphthalene as repellent, to

prevent secondary infection to the stored specimens.

100 Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1(2): 099-107

Elanchezhyan et al.,2012

Fig 1. Dominant butterfly species at

Ambasamudram Taluk

Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1(2): 099-107 101


Common Name Scientific Name

Family: Acraeidae

Tawny Coster Acraea violae Fabricius

Family: Danaidae

Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus

Striped Tiger Danaus genutia Cramer

Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace Cramer

Family: Hesperiidae

Small Branded Swift Pelopidas mathias (Fabricius)

Family: Lycaenidae

Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus (Fabricius)

Table 1. List of butterfly species identified at Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli



Family: Nymphalidae

Peacock pansy Junonia almana Linnaeus

Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias Linnaeus

Grey pansy Junonia atlites Linnaeus

Danaid eggfly Hypolimnus misippus Linnaeus

Common castor Ariadne merione Cramer

Common Indian Crow Euploea core Cramer



Rustic Cupha erymanthis Drury

Family: Papilionidae

Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus Linnaeus

Common Mormon Papilio polytes Linnaeus

Crimson Rose Atrophaneura hector Linnaeus

Tailed Jay Graphium Agamemnon Linnaeus

Southern Birdwing Troides minos Cramer



Common gull Cepora nerissa (Fabricius)

Pioneer white Belenois aurota (Fabricius)

Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Drury

Common Emigrant (Male) Catopsilia Pomona Fabricius

Common Emigrant

(Female)

Catopsilia Pomona Fabricius

Family: satyridae

Common Evening Brown Melanitis ismene Linnaeus

Family: Pieridae

The specimens were identified with the help of standard

identification keys provided in the reference books

(Kunte, 2000; Kehimkar, 2008; Gunasekaran and

Balasubramanian, 2010; Singh, 2011; Hussain et al.,

2011; Alagumurugan et al., 2011; Guptha et al., 2012).

The butterfly species which were encountered during the

study period are listed in Table 1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of 19 genera and 23 species belonging to

eight families were recorded. Out of these, Nymphalidae

were dominant with 7 species (Fig. 1), followed by

Papilionidae (5 species), Pieridae (5 species), Danaidae

(3 species), Acraeidae (1 species), Hesperiidae

(1 species), Lycaenidae (1 species), and Satyridae

(1 species) (Table 1). The abundance of butterfly species

population in the selected area may be due to the

availability of ample food, optimum climate and a serene

atmosphere (Ravindra et al., 1996).

The relative abundance of butterflies was

calculated and presented in Table 2. Among the eight

families, Nymphalidae was found to be the most

dominant members with 30.43% followed by

Papilionidae (21.74%), Pieridae (17.39%) and

Danaidae (13.04%). The minimum number of species

found in this habitat was from the families such as

Acrae idae (4.35%), Hesper iidae (4 .35%),

Lycaenidae (4.35%) and Satyridae (4.35%) (Fig. 2).

The predominance of Nymphalidae from Western Ghats

has been reported by earlier workers also (Kunte, 1997;

Easwaran and Pramod, 2005; Padhye et al., 2006;

KrishnaKumar et al., 2008; Ramesh et al., 2010).

The reason for the increase in diversity might be due to

the favourable tropical climate conditions, availability of

more number of host plants, and vegetation cover of

herbs, shrubs and trees for nectaring of butterflies

(Tiple, 2009)

In India, Acraeidae represents only two species

and only one species in South India

(Wynter-Blyth, 1957). Subba Reddi et al., (2003)

reported that the rainfall conditions greatly influence the

butterfly numbers and species distribution. The

butterflies tend to avoid dry habitat and prefer moist

places. Moreover, factors such as scarcity of water, poor

nectar and dry vegetation results in less butterfly

abundance and lower survival ability of most species.



Fig 2. Abundance of Butterfly Species at

Ambasamudram

S.No. Family Number of Genera Relative Abundance (%) Number of species Relative Abundance (%)

1. Acraeidae 01 5.26 01 4.35

2. Danaidae 02 10.53 03 13.04

3. Hesperiidae 01 5.26 01 4.35

4. Lycaenidae 01 5.26 01 4.35

5. Nymphalidae 05 26.33 07 30.43

6. Papilionidae 04 21.05 05 21.74

7. Pieridae 04 21.05 04 17.39

8. Satyridae 01 5.26 01 4.35

Total 19 100 23 100

Table 2. Relative abundance of butterflies at Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli

Clark et al., (2007) reported that the increased human

activities (i.e. urbanization) were associated with

decreased butterfly species as the rich and rare and

specialized species were the most affected. Urban

development is expected to have a deleterious impact on

butterfly populations, because, the construction of

buildings and concretes replaces or reduces the area or

natural and semi-natural habitats (Tiple and Khurad,

2009). Sudden occurrence of abiotic stress may lead to

substantial decline of the butterfly species and thus the

change in butterfly diversity can be used as an indicator

of environmental degradation (Hussain et al., 2011).

Thus, biodiversity of butterflies plays an important role

in the healthy environment as well as healthy

ecosystems.

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biodiversity of butterflies at ambasamudram taluk, tirunelveli district, tamil nadu

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