Butterfly Diversity In Ghandruk Area Of Mid- Mountain, Nepal

Abstract

This study was conducted in Ghandruk area of mid-mountain, Nepal from October 2015 to March 2016 within altitude of 1800 m asl to 2400 m asl. Butterfly diversity was recorded in different habitats; cropland, human settlement area and forest in different seasons; autumn, winter and spring in different altitude. All together, 1664 individuals representing 37 species belonging to 30 genera and seven families were observed during study. Nymphalidae and Pieridae were the dominating families whereas Papilionidae and Nemobiidae were the least. Human settlement area possessed the greatest species richness followed by cropland and forest. High diversity and evenness of species was found in cropland followed by forest and human settlement area. Accounting the seasonal variation more species were recorded during the autumn season followed by spring and less species were recorded during winter season. Species richness was decreased with approaching colder days. Low altitude was found to be more diversed than higher altitude. Further study is required to fully explore the butterfly fauna and their ecology in Ghandruk area of mid mountain