e-issn: 2320-7078 a preliminary list of lepidopteran ... · formation, locally known as ‘pat’...

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(3): 654-661 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2017; 5(3): 654-661 © 2017 JEZS Received: 01-03-2017 Accepted: 02-04-2017

Navneet Singh Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar, India Jalil Ahmad Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar, India Correspondence Navneet Singh Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Sector-8, Bahadurpur Housing Colony, Patna-800 026, Bihar, India

A preliminary list of lepidopteran insects from Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand

Navneet Singh and Jalil Ahmad

Abstract The present research paper deals with the preliminary data on the diversity of Lepidopteran insects of Palkot WLS. The information is based on a survey tour conducted during October 11-13, 2015. Around the Palkot three sites were selected for the collection. Two sites were selected on Gobarsilli (22053.058N, 084039.229E), and one site was selected on Kura Pahar (22051.621 N, 084038.123 E).The collection survey and identification yielded a total of 89 species of Lepidoptera including 30 species of Butterflies under 26 genera and 59 species of Moths under 42 genera. As far as Butterflies are concerned, Nymphalidae with 64% of total reported Butterflies dominated the group whereas, in moths, Erebidae dominated with 73% of the collected moth species. Keywords: Inventory, Lepidoptera, Jharkhand, Gumla, Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary 1. Introduction The Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary falls within the districts of Gumla and Simdega of state of Jharkhand and lies between 22045’N and 230 N longitude and 84030’E to 84045E latitude [1]. The National Highway no. 23 crosses and divides the sanctuary between two parts. The sanctuary received its status in the year 1990 vide Govt. Notification no. 1168 dated 22.03.1990. The total geographical area of the sanctuary is 182.83 sq. Km[1].The geography of Palkot WLS is unique by having several caves, cavities, crevice, dens, holes, and snags which forms a suitable habitat for wild animals. The sanctuary area is full of small hills and undulating land with intermittent plains in which habitation and agricultural land exist. Some of the hills are flat, others are with smooth curves and some having steep slopes. Plateau formation, locally known as ‘Pat’ is the most striking topographical feature of the track and is found on almost all hills in smaller or larger extent. The plains are rice producing fields. Patches of the land are also covered with Sal forest. There is usually three climatic seasons: the cold weather, the hot and rains. The cold weather sets in early November and lasts until about end of February. The hot weather corresponds to the period between ends of March to June [2]. The rain breaks at about the end of June and continues till the end of September. The average rainfall in Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary is about 1000 mm per year. The range of temperature varies according to the season during summer and it varies from 35– 40 degree whereas in winters it goes below 10 degree [2]. The forests of the sanctuary are classified according to the Champion and Seth [3]. The sanctuary comprises Northern tropical dry deciduous forest (Dry peninsular Sal - Type 5B/C), Northern dry mixed deciduous forest type 5B/C, Dry Sal scrub type Ds. The key floral components of the sanctuary are Sal and its associates like Asan, Gamhar, Salai, Piar, Amla, Mahua, Kusum, Mango etc [2]. The sanctuary area and its surroundings are not so healthy in vertebrate population. As per the forest department census of 1993, number of major vertebrate species is as follows: Leopards(05), Langur (80), Rhesus Macaque(500), Elephant(6), Sloth Bear(150), Wild Boar(240), Hyena(90), Wolf(50) and Jackal(200) besides number of Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fishes[2].But, no data is available on the invertebrate diversity of Palkot WLS. The Zoological Survey of India, Gangetic Plains Regional Centre, Patna with the first author as a leader of the party surveyed the sanctuary for the first time in October, 2015 for the study of Lepidopterous fauna of the sanctuary. The Lepidopteran insects are among the best-known insects, and are mainly recognized due to the body and wings covered with scales (modified and flattened hairs which give the butterflies and the moths their extraordinary variety of colour patterns). Lepidopteran insects are broadly divided into Butterflies and moths.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

The latter includes most of the Lepidopteran species (about 88%) and are nocturnal and often drably coloured. Moths can be separated from Butterflies due to its various types of antennae but not clubbed, fat furry bodies and the sitting posture, where adults sit by spreading wings. The present study was undertaken with a broader objective to study the diversity of Lepidopteran insects from a geographical important area of Jharkhand, the Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary. 2. Materials and Methods The information is based on a survey tour conducted during October 11-13, 2015. The collection of moths was made with the help of vertical sheet light traps during night time. Butterflies were collected with the help of hand nets during day time. The collected specimens were killed with the help of ethyl acetate vapours and processed as per standard techniques in Lepidopterology. Dry preservation is done in fumigated ento-boxes and stored in the insect cabinets in Zoological Survey of India, GPRC, Patna. The identification is done with the help of relevant literature [4-6]. The classification followed here is given by Nieukerken et al. [7]

and Zahiri et al. [8]. 2.1 Study area Around the Palkot three sites were selected for the collection. Two sites were selected on Gobarsilli (22053.058N, 084039.229E), with light traps facing to opposite directions and one site was selected on Kura Pahar (22051.621 N, 084038.123 E). 3. Results and Discussion The present research paper deals with the preliminary data on the diversity of Lepidopteran insects of Palkot WLS. The collection survey and identification yielded a total of 89 species of Lepidoptera (30 species of butterflies under 26 genera and 59 species of moths under 42 genera). As far as butterflies are concerned, Nymphalidae with 64% of collected butterfly species dominated the group followed by Papilionidae (16%), Pieridae (10%), Lycaenidae (6%) and Riodinidae (4%). In moths, Erebidae dominated with 73% of collected moth species, followed by Sphingidae (10%), Nolidae (5%). Rest of the 12% species of the studied moths belongs to: Noctuidae, Crambidae, Limacodidae, Notodontidae, and Lasiocampidae. Lepidopterans are now regarded as indicators of Ecological health. For example, Beccaloni and Gaston [9] found a significant positive correlation between the species richness of Amazonian Ithnomiina (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Studies of Blair [10], Swengel and Swengel [11] indicated that diversity of butterflies within a certain habitats can be used to predict the diversity of Birds. Similarly in Moths, Keith et al. [12] studied that Arctiinae (Erebidae) and Notodontidae are the potential indicator taxa in deciduous forests. Arctiinae act as indicator of moth species richness and Notodontidae as disturbance indicator. Therefore, results of the study can be used for making the conservation strategies for important biological resources. No doubt, results based on one survey is definitely not considered as a good information but when we don’t have the documentation of even single species from a particular area than such type of publications will act as a baseline data for the further studies from that region. As mentioned in introduction, Palkot WLS is unique in geography, so vast opportunities are there for exploration of many more species of Lepidoptera from the sanctuary. Repeated surveys with

long term monitoring programmes will help in the enrichment of the information. The list of the identified species of Butterflies and Moths is given in Table 1 and 2 respectively. For the common names of Butterflies, Kehimkar [13] has been followed. 4. Acknowledgement Authors are thankful to Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, Zoological Survey of India for their encouragement and all supports for this research work; to PCCF, Jharkhand; DFO, Palkot WLS; RFO, Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary and all the other forest staff of Palkot Wildlife sanctuary who helped a lot during night collections. We are also thankful to Mr. Kuldip Das (Field Collector ZSI, Patna), and Mr. Prabhat Singh (Motor Driver) for their assistance during survey tour.

Table 1: List of Butterflies

S. No.

Genus & Species Common Name

Family- Nymphalidae

1 Acraea violae (Fabricius) Tawny Coster 2 Ariadne merione (Cramer) Common Castor 3 Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus) Plain Tiger 4 Danaus geneutia (Cramer) Striped Tiger 5 Euploea core (Cramer) Common Crow 6 Euthalia nais (Forster) Baronet 7 Hypolimnas bolina (Linnaeus) Great Eggfly 8 Junonia iphita (Cramer) Chocolate Pansy

9 Melanitis leda (Linnaeus) Common Evening Brown

10 Mycalesis mineus (Linnaeus) Dark Brand Bush Brown

11 Neptis hylas (Linnaeus) Common Sailer 12 Tirumala limniace (Cramer) Blue Tiger 13 Phalanta phalantha (Drury) Common Leopard 14 Euthalia lubentina (Cramer) Gaudy Baron 15 Polyura athamas (Drury) Common Nawab

16 Charaxes psaphon imna (Butler)

Indian Plain Tawny Rajah

17 Limenitis procris (Cramer) Commander 18 Ypthima huebneri (Kirby) Common four ring 19 Athyma nefte inara (Westwood) Colour Sergeant

Family –Papilionidae

20 Graphium agamemnon (Linnaeus) Green-Spotted Triangle

21 Graphium doson (Felder& Felder) Common Jay

22 Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus) Common Lime Butterfly

23 Papilio polytes (Linnaeus) Common Mormon 24 Papilio polymnestor (Cramer) Blue Mormon

Family – Lycaenidae

25 Amblypodia anita (Hewitson) Purple Leaf Blue 26 Tajuria cippus (Fabricius) Peacock Royal

Family- Pieridae

27 Catopsilia florella (Fabricius) Common Gagrant 28 Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus) Common Grass yellow 29 Huphina nerrissa (Fabricius) Common Gull

Family-Riodinidae

30 Dodona egeon(Westwood) Orange Punch

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Table 2: List of Moths

S. No. Genus & Species Family-Sphingidae

1 Pergesa acteus (Cramer) 2 Theretra oldenlandiae (Fabricius) 3 Theretra alecto (Linnaeus) 4 Ambulyx subocellata (Felder) 5 Psilogramma menephron (Cramer) 6 Acherontia styx (Westwood)

Family- Erebidae 7 Artena dotata (Fabricius) 8 Achaea janata (Linnaeus) 9 Grammodes geometrica Fabricius 10 Chalciope mygdon (Cramer) 11 Trigonodes hyppasia Cramer 12 Mocis frugalis Fabricius 13 Mocis undata Fabricius 14 Pericyma cruegeri Butler 15 Ercheia diversipennis Walker 16 Ercheia cyllaria Cramer 17 Buzara luteipalpis Walker 18 Hamodes propitia Guerin-Meneville 19 Creatonotos gangis (Linnaeus) 20 Creatonotos (Phissama)transiens (Walker) 21 Olepa (Ricinia) ricini (Fabricius) 22 Olepa (Orhanta) koslandana Orhant 23 Spilarctia oblique (Walker) 24 Spilarctia sp. 25 Amerila astreus (Drury) 26 Cyana peregrina (Walker) 27 Cyana puella (Drury) 28 Cyana guttifera (Walker) 29 Cyana subornata(Walker) 30 Cyana bianca Walker 31 Brunia antica (Walker) 32 Amata passalis Fabricius 33 Syntomoides imaon Cramer 34 Aemene taprobanis Walker 35 Aemene nilgiricaHampson 36 Dolgoma brevipennis(Walker) 37 Micraloa lineola Fabricius 38 Micraloa emittens Walker 39 Utetheisa pulchelloides Hampson 40 Stigmatophora palmate (Moore) 41 Lymantria marginata Walker 42 Lymantria serva (Fabricius) 43 Lymantria semisincta (Walker) 44 Asota caricae (Fabricius) 45 Asota ficus (Fabricius) 46 Digama hearseyana Moore 47 Digama insulana Felder 48 Calesia haemorrhoa Guenee 49 Episparis liturata Fabricius

Family: Noctuidae 50 Spodoptera litura Fabricius 51 Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval

Family: Crambidae 52 Botyodes asialis(Guenee)

Family: Limacodidae 53 Cheromettia laleana (Moore)

Family –Nolidae 54 Earias vittella (Fabricius) 55 Earias luteolaria (Hampson) 56 Xanthodes transversa (Guenee)

Family –Notodontidae 57 Allata argentifera ( Walker) 58 Teleclita sp.

Family–Lasiocampidae 59 Gastropacha pardale (Walker)

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5. References 1. Website of Jharkhand Wildlife, Department of Forest &

Environment, Govt. of Jharkhand. http://www.jharwildlife.in/2014-10-09-13-56-25/2014-10-10-15-05-38/palkot.html

2. Management plan of Palkot Wildlife Sanctuary, Department of Forest & Environment, Govt. of Jharkhand

3. Champion HG, Seth SK. A revised survey of the Forest Types of India, Government of India, Manager of Publications, Delhi, India, 1968.

4. Hampson GF. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Moths. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 1892; 1:1-611.

5. Hampson GF. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Moths. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 1894; 2:1-609.

6. Hampson GF. The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma, Moths-3. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London, 1895; 3:1-546.

7. Nieukerken EJV, Kaila L, Kitching IJ, Kristensen NP, Lees DC, Minet J et al. Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758. In: Zhang, Z.-Q.(Ed.), Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-Level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness, Zootaxa, 2011; 3148:212-221.

8. Zahiri R, Holloway JD, Kitching IJ, Lafontaine JD, Mutanen M, Wahlberg N. Molecular phylogenetics of Erebidae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea). Systematic Entomology. 2012; 37:102-124.

9. Beccaloni GW, Gaston KJ. Predicting the species richness of Neotropical forest butterflies: ithnomiinae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) as indicators. Biol. Conserv. 1995; 71:77-86.

10. Blair RB. Birds and butterflies along an urban gradient: surrogate taxa for assessing biodiversity? Ecol. Apps 1999; 9:164-170.

11. Swengel SR, Swengel AB. Correlations in abundance of grassland songbirds and prairie butterflies. Biol. Conserv. 1999; 90:1-11.

12. Keith SS, Lisa MR, Thomas OC. Forest moth taxa as indicators of Lepidopteran richness and habitat disturbance: a preliminary assessment Biological Conservation 2004; 116:9-18

13. Kehimkar I. Butterflies of India. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai. 2016, xii+ 528.

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