Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

CHECKLIST OF BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS FROM NASHIK DISTRICT, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

Agnes John Kharat

Abstract

Total 91 butterfly species comprising 65 genera, along with their host plants were recorded from Nashik District. Plants belonging to families Cupressaceae, Menispermaceae, Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Solanaceae, Convolvulaceae, Tiliaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Mimosaceae, Ebenaceae, Sapotaceae, Sapindaceae, Brassicaceae, Asteraceae, Poaceae, Linaceae, Chenopodiaceae; with subsequent less proportion of plants from families Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, Rhizophoraceae, Periplocaceae, Combretaceae, Thymeliaceae, Fagaceae, Santalaceae were recorded as butterfly host plants from Nashik District. Several adaptations for escaping threats like camouflage, unpalatability and mimicry were also recorded in certain butterfly species.