A preliminary study of butterfly diversity in hilly terrains of Ghatsila, Jharkhand, India

Abstract

A survey in and around Ghatsila in East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand revealed the record of 72 butterfly species belonging to 6 families and 55 genera. Nymphalidae family dominated the recorded species (37.5%) followed by Lycaenidae (30.5%), Papilionidae (12.5%), Hesperiidae (9.72%), Pieridae (8.33%) and Riodinidae (1.38%). Different diversity indices showed high diversity in community structure. This study is likely to contribute towards the conservation of butterfly fauna in the area.