Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

Vol 28, Issue 4, 2022; Page No.(1713-1719)

BUTTERFLY DIVERSITY IN THE VILLAGE BANIHARI, DISTRICT DAKSHIN DINAJPUR, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Tapan Sarkar

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was determine the butterfly diversity in a village Banihari, West Bengal, India and calculate the diversity indices. Pollard transect line method with minor changes was adopted for study. Survey was done at early morning with monthly interval. Butterflies were photographed with digital camera. Number of butterflies within the transect line were counted and then calculated the diversity indices with PAST 3.0 software. A total 48 butterfly species under four families were recorded during the study period. Most dominant family was Nymphalidae then followed by Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Papilionidae. Number of taxa, Shannon diversity index and Margalef species richness index were maximum at site1 and minimum at site 4. Most common butterflies were Common Mormon, Psyche, Blue Tiger, Plain Tiger, Striped Tiger, Grey Pansy, Small branded swift and Angled Castor. Moderate numbers of Butterflywere reported at the study site. Butterfly diversity depends on availability of host plants. Butterfly diversity decreased day by day due to many anthropogenic activities such as habitat loss, loss of host plant and use of pesticides.