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VOL. 10, ISSUE 6 (2025)
Preliminary studies on butterfly fauna of sarahan bird sanctuary, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors
Dr. Mousumi Das, Avishikta Ghosh, Somdutta Basu Thakur
Abstract
A preliminary study was conducted in the month
of April, 2025, to assess the butterfly fauna at Sarahan Bird Sanctuary
situated in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, India. A total number of 43
butterfly species belonging to 33 genera and 5 different families were
documented from the study site. Results of percentage composition of the
recorded butterflies revealed that highest percentage belonged to the family
Pieridae (50.18%), followed by family Nymphalidae (31.08%), Lycaenidae
(17.20%), Papilionidae (0.95%), Hesperiidae (0.59%). Based on the sightings of
butterflies at the study site it was found that 35.82% belonged to the not rare
category, 30.96% to the common category, 18.62% to the rare category, 14.00% to
the very common category and only 0.59% to the very rare category. Among the
recorded butterfly species, seven of them were found to be protected under
Schedule II of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Value of Shannon diversity index
(H'=3.27) revealed the high species richness of the butterfly community in the
study site. Pielou’s evenness index (j=0.87) depicted the evenly distributed
nature of the butterflies in the studied butterfly community and Simpson's
index of diversity (D=0.95) stated the persistence of high abundance of the
recorded butterfly species in the sampled butterfly community. When considering
species richness, family Nymphalidae was the dominant one (2.43), followed
Lycaenidae (2.38), Pieridae (2.01). While, abundance of butterfly was taken
under consideration, family Lycaenidae was the dominant family (0.90), followed
by the Nymphalidae (0.88), Pieridae (0.84). The maximum value of Pielou’s
evenness index was obtained from family Lycaenidae (0.93), followed by the
Nymphalidae (0.88), Pieridae (0.87). Therefore, the information from this
preliminary survey will prove to be beneficial for the further future long term
studies as well as for the implementation of necessary conservation strategies
required for the persistence of butterfly fauna in this mountainous terrain.
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Pages:41-49
How to cite this article:
Dr. Mousumi Das, Avishikta Ghosh, Somdutta Basu Thakur "Preliminary studies on butterfly fauna of sarahan bird sanctuary, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 10, Issue 6, 2025, Pages 41-49
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