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VOL. 9, ISSUE 1 (2024)
Floral diversity and seasonal availability to butterflies (Order: Lepidoptera) at various agro-climatic landscapes of Mysore district, Karnataka, India
Authors
Bhagya U, S Basavarajappa*
Abstract
Persistence of herbivorous insects like
butterflies completely depended on good floral source in the areas where they
live and complete their life cycle. Different species, larvae and adult
butterflies serve as major components of various food-chain and food-web at
different agro-climatic landscapes. Several butterfly species behave like
generalists or specialists based on the habitat where they live and flourish.
Further, they exhibit species specific habitat requirements which should
provide congenial temperature, humidity, source of good food plants for larvae
and adults. Further, imago staged butterflies longevity, energy for flight and
fecundity is depended on nectar (only source of carbohydrate). Hence, realizing
the importance of floral source to butterfly fauna, present investigation was
conducted at various distinct agro-climatic landscapes of Mysore district
during 2022-2023 by following all out search, visual count and other standard
methods. Total 171 host plant species and 73 nectar plant species were extended
the food source to 100 different butterfly species at eight distinct
agro-climatic areas during rainy, winter and summer seasons. Per cent
occurrence of herbs, shrubs, trees, creepers, climbers, palm and liana was
uneven and varied significantly during different seasons. Analysis of variance
between different plant species and distinct landscapes revealed a significant
variation existed during different seasons. Accordingly, this plant species
diversity and distribution varied considerably at Mysore district. At certain
landscapes, butterfly species are facing difficulty to get good food resource
and travel to longer distances in search of suitable nest host plants and
nectar plants during winter and summer seasons. This affected the reproductive
success of butterflies by enhancing the energy investment in search of food and
egg laying sites. Therefore, during the present investigation, importance of
adequate requirement of host plants to complete the lifecycle of butterflies
was observed. It is an important tool in the success and effective conservation
management of butterflies. Thus, floral source availability is necessary during
larval stage for normal growth and development, acquisition and assimilation
for the future build-up of adult somatic and reproductive organs. As,
butterflies are habitat specific, depended on different plant species to
complete their lifecycle, maintaining distinct habitats which harbor different
plant species during different seasons is essential to protect and conserve
locally existing butterfly fauna. Further, butterfly species are facing severe
threat due to inclement weather conditions, non-availability of required number
of host plant and nectar plant species both during larval and imago stages,
disturbances during breeding by various anthropogenic activities at different
agro-climatic landscapes. Hence, it is high time to take appropriate mitigation
measures to protect locally existed butterfly species. Further, suitable
eco-friendly measures should be adopted by the farmers during cropping seasons
to safeguard the nest host and nectar plant species midst different
agro-climatic landscapes.
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Pages:102-108
How to cite this article:
Bhagya U, S Basavarajappa* "Floral diversity and seasonal availability to butterflies (Order: Lepidoptera) at various agro-climatic landscapes of Mysore district, Karnataka, India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 9, Issue 1, 2024, Pages 102-108
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