Diversity of Butterflies in The Thankot And Syuchatar Vdcs of Kathamndu District
Date
2008
Authors
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Publisher
Department of Zoology
Abstract
Diversity of butterflies was studied in Thankot and Syuchatar VDCs of
Kathmandu District, Nepal during June 2007-March 2008. The main objectives
were to study the diversity, seasonal variation and habitats of butterflies.
Equipments like insect net, insect pin, preservatives, paper envelops, stretching
board and insect box were used. After trapping, the butterflies were killed by
pressing the thorax dorsoventrally. Relaxing was done by either injecting hot
water or placing over moist sand and stretched on a stretching board, pinned
with insect pins. They were then preserved in an insect box. A total of 43
species of butterflies belonging to 32 genera and 9 families were recorded with
Nymphalidae as the most commonly recorded Family and Libytheidae and
Acreidae as the least recorded families. Species richness increased with
upcoming warmer summer days while decreased with cold and dry winter days.
Most of the species were collected in summer and very few in winter season.
Bushes, cultivated land, open field and forest were selected to study the habitats
of butterflies. Bushes were found to be the most preferable habitat. Some
species were common to all the four habitats. Color variation was also observed
in some species. Three species namely Ypthima baldus, Ypthima nareda and
Precis iphita showed color variation. Although Thankot and Syuchatar harbors
many species of butterflies but their habitats are being destroyed due to
urbanization. So a strong measure has to be taken to protect and conserve these
species.
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Key words: Acreidae, diversity, Libytheidae, Nymphalidae, seasonal variation,
species richness.
Description
Keywords
Acreidae, Libytheidae, Nymphalidae, seasonal variation