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 This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution, and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited. www.jagri.info Journal of Research in Agriculture An International Scientific Research Journal Authors: Elanchezhyan K 1 , VinothKumar B 2 , Madhu Sudhanan E 3 . 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 Journal of Research in Agriculture Journal of Research in Agriculture An International Scientific Research Journal
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Biodiversity of Butterflies at Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu
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%).
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.
Full Text: http://www.jagri.info/documents/AG0025.pdf
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Biodiversity of Butterflies at Ambasamudram Taluk, Tirunelveli District,
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
This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution, and reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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
Journal of Research in Agriculture
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An International Scientific Research Journal
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
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Elanchezhyan et al.,2012
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
102 Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1(2): 099-107
Elanchezhyan et al.,2012
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
Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1(2): 099-107 103
Elanchezhyan et al.,2012
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
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Elanchezhyan et al.,2012
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