Butterfly Species Diversity of Bir-Billing Area of Dhauladhar Range

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2013; 1 (5): 53-57
ISSN 2320-7078
JEZS 2013; 1 (5): 53-57
© 2013 AkiNik Publications
Received 8-09-2013
Accepted: 18-09-2013
Sangeeta Chandel
Divisional Forest Officer (HQ)
M&E, Hamirpur Circle, Himachal
Pradesh, 177001.
Email: sangeetachandel26@gmail.com
Tel: +91-94182-11476
Vijay Kumar
Veterinary Officer-Wild Life, Monkey
Sterilization
Centre,
Gopalpur,
Kangra,H.P, India.176059.
Email: drvijay0220@gmail.com
Tel: +91-94591-33330.
Bhagwati Prashad Sharma
Assistant Professor – Department of
Botany, Post graduate Degree College,
Hamirpur
Himachal Pradesh,
177001.
Email: bp76sharma@gmail.com
Tel: +91-9418032505.
Reetu Patiyal
F.G – Wild Life, Wildlife Division,
Hamirpur,
Himachal
Pradesh,
177001.
Email: patiyalreetu@gmail.com
Tel: +91- 9459075449.
Correspondence:
Sangeeta Chandel
Divisional Forest Officer (HQ) M&E,
Hamirpur Circle, Himachal Pradesh,
177001.
Butterfly Species Diversity of Bir-Billing Area of
Dhauladhar Range of Western Himalayas in
Northern India
Sangeeta Chandel, Vijay Kumar, Bhagwati Prashad Sharma, Reetu Patiyal
ABSTRACT
The present study of butterfly species diversity was carried out in the Bir-Biling area of Dhauladhar
Range of the Western Himalayas in Northern India. The study was done since April 2012 to March
2013, throughout the year during the routine field visits to Bir-Billing. A total of 50 butterfly species
were recorded from the study areas which belonge to five families i.e. Nymphalidae, Pieridae,
Papilionidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae and 39 genera. The Nymphalidae family was the most
dominant family in the study area having 32 species and followed by Lycaenidae family with 7
species.
Keywords: Butterfly Diversity, Dhauladhar Range, Bir-Billing, Western Himalayas.
1. Introduction
Butterflies plays important roles in ecosystem, including pollination and also plays an important
role in food chain component of the spiders, birds, reptiles and other predatory insects. The
butterflies are good indicators of environmental changes as they are sensitive and are directly
affected by changes in their habitats, atmosphere, temperature and weather conditions [1, 2, 3]. As
many butterflies are food bio-indicators of the environment, they can be used to identify
ecologically important landscapes for conservation purposes, and help to plan the appropriate
management strategies to protect the degrading habitats [4]. Diversity of butterflies in an area
depends primarily on the availability of mixed plant species, which constitute their major food
resources [5]. Many species are strictly seasonal [6]. In India, butterflies have been documented
since the turn of 19th century [7]. Increased human activities such as deforestation, construction,
pollution, grazing, agricultural practices, and urbanization threaten the habitat of the butterflies.
Thus, monitoring the butterfly populations in a given area provides support for the conservation
of the endangered species and also provides an opportunity to find out the impact on the
ecosystem.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Study Area
Bir- Billing area is located at 32.05°N 76.70°E at Baijnath, in District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh,
and Indian. It is situated approximately 50 km southeast of Dharamshala at a distance of two to
three hours by road. Bir is situated in the Joginder Nagar Valley of Dhauladhar Range in the
foothills of the Indian Himalayas. This place however becomes the boot camp for paragliders
during the flying season from September to November who seek out for an adventurous vacation.
Some 14 kms from Bir is a little meadow called Billing, at 8500 feet on the Dhauladhar ranges
which is famous take- off destination for the paragliding activities. Bir-Billing area was under the
jurisdiction of Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary at the time of present study. The Bir-Billing area
has become a favourite eco-tourism and adventure travel destination which is now hosting many
international paragliding and mountain sport events.
Email: sangeetachandel26@gmail.com
Tel: +91-94182-11476
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
2.2 Flora
The dominant floral species are chiefly include Kail, Deodar, Fir,
Spruce, Ban Oak, Mohru oak, Kharsu oak, Alders, Rhododendrons,
Khnaor, Bird Cherry, Maple, Akhrot, Betula, Pyrus spp., Wild
Poplar, Salix, etc. The under growth is Indigofera, Desmodium,
Rubus, Sarcococca, Viburnum, Berberis, Prinsepia, Prunus, and
medicinal herbs like Banfsha, Dhoop, Karu, Patish, Bankakri,
Hathpanja, and Mushaqbala etc. are also found here.
Fig 1: Red areas in map showing Bir –Billing areas of Dhauladhar Range
2.3 Fauna
Due to wide variation in altitudinal zonation a variety of animals
viz Himalayan Black bear, pheasant’s viz. Monal, Koklass, Kalij,
Western Tragopan, Cheer, are found. More than 250 species of
birds are also found in the Sanctuary. In addition this area is also
rich in Butterflies and present study is focused on butterflies only.
To assess the butterfly diversity of the sanctuary area between Bir
and Billing was surveyed during field visit to Billing. The studies,
related to the butterflies were taken up between April 2012 to
March 2013, throughout the year during the routine field visits to
Bir-Billing. Butterflies were documented by direct observations,
random visits and opportunistic observations. The survey was
carried out in the morning and evening hours when the butterflies
show the maximum activity. Pollard walk method (Pollard and
Yates 1993) [8] was followed for observing butterflies, i.e., walking
along the fixed paths while recording and counting the species. The
observation width was limited to about 5 m.
3. Results and Discussions:
The adult butterflies were carefully photographed in the field on
natural plant species and identified with the help of relevant
literature and references [18].Based on the number the recorded
butterflies were classified into three broad categories Very
Common(> 10), Common(=6-10) and Not common( <5) in a
transect.
A total of 50 butterfly species belonging to 39 genera and spread
over five families viz. Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae,
Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae, were recorded during the preaent
study. Out of these, Nymphalidae were the most dominant 64%
with 32 species, followed by Lycaenidae (7 species) Pieridae (5
species), Papilionidae (5 species) and Hesperiidae (only 1 species).
Predominance of Nymphalidae has been reported by earlier
workers alsofrom Western Ghats [9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15], Ninad B R and
Pendharkar Anand, 2010 from Maharastra and Murugesan et al.
2013 from Puducherry. The representation from the family
Hesperiidae was very low as compared to other families.the same
Kind of low species richness was also recorded by Ramesh et al.
2010 and Rajagopal et al. 2011 in the Eastern plains of Sothern
India and in Western Ghats by Eswaran and Pramod, 2005. It may
be partially attributed to the sampling/observer bias, since
Herperids are generally crespuscular in nature and are small and
cryptically coloured.
Thus, the present investigation of the butterflies records in the birbilling areas of the dhauladhar range might be helpful in knowing
the abudance of the various butterflies in this range and also may
be helpful in the future studies. It will also be helpful in the
conservation of the endangered species and also provides an
opportunity to know the impact of environmental changes on the
ecosystem of a particular area.
Fig 2: Family wise percentage of species found in Bir-Billing area.
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Table 1: The butterfly species which were encountered during the study period
SN
Name of Species
Scientific Name
Family
Status
1
2
3
4
Glassy Bluebottle
Common Mormon
Common Peacock
Common Windmill
Common Yellow
Swallowtail
Indian Cabbage White
Pioneer
Pale Clouded Yellow
Common Grass Yellow
Common Emigrant
Club Beak
Common Beak
Striped Tiger
Chestnut Tiger
Common Leopard
Common Sailer
Indian Tortoiseshell
Blue Admiral
Striped Blue Tiger
Spangle
Orange Oak leaf
Indian Fritilary
Indian Red Admiral
Common Tree brown
Painted Lady
Common Map
Grey Pansy
Blue Pansy
Lemon Pansy
Peacock Pansy
Common Crow
Common Castor
Common Bush brown
Common Baron
Queen of Spain Fritilary
Common Sergeant
Large Three Ring
Chocolate Pansy
Great Satyr
Pallid Argus
Common Wall
Dark Blue Tiger
Dark Grass Yellow
Common Copper
Guava Blue
Green Sapphire
Large Hedge Blue
Purple Sapphire
Pea Blue
Fulvous Pied Flat
Graphium cloanthus
Papilio polytes
Papilio polyctor
Atrophaneura polyeuctes
Papilionidae
Papilionidae
Papilionidae
Papilionidae
Common
Very Common
Common
Not common
Papilio machaon
Papilionidae
Common
Pieris canidia
Belenois aurota
Colias erate
Eurema hecabe
Catopsilia pomona
Libythea myrrha
Libythea lepita
Danaus genutia
Parantica sita
Phalanta phalantha
Neptis hylas
Aglais kaschmirensis
Kaniska canace
Euploea mulciber
Papilio protenor
Kallima inachus
Argynnis hyperbius
Vanessa indica
Lethe rohria
Vanessa cardui
Cyrestis thyodamas
Junonia atlites
Junonia orithiya
Junonia lemonias
Junonia almana
Euploea core
Ariadne merione
Mycalesis perseus
Euthalia aconthea
Issoria lathonia
Athyma perius
Ypthima nareda
Junonia iphita
Aulocera padma
Callerebia scanda
Lasiommata schakra
Tirumala septentrionis
Zizeeria karsandra
Lycaena phlaeas
Deudurix isocrates
Heliophorus androcles
Celastrina huegeli
Heliophorus epicles
Lampides boeticus
Pseudocoladenia dan
Pieridae
Pieridae
Pieridae
Pieridae
Pieridae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
Hesperiidae
Very Common
Common
Common
Very Common
Very Common
Common
Common
Not Common
Very Common
Common
Very Common
Very Common
Common
Very Common
Very Common
Very Common
Common
Very Common
Very Common
Very Common
Not Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Very Common
Common
Common
Common
Very Common
Very Common
Very Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
Common
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Fig 3: Images of the butterflies found in Bir – Billing areas of Dhauladhar Range shown in figures below.
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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
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