Study on Butterfly Fauna in Southern Hills (Chandragiri And Champadevi) of Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Abstract

The species diversity of butterfly varies with space and time from micro to macro scale of habitat. This study was conducted to find butterfly species distribution and diversity from different elevational gradients of Chandragiri and Champadevi hills of Kathmandu valley from June to November, 2016. Sample collection was done within the altitudinal ranges of 1550 m to 2450 m of both hills, establishing the spots at every 100 m of altitudinal belts. A total of 2293 individuals of butterflies belonging to 113 species, 71 genera and nine families were recorded. Family Nymphalidae was dominant family whereas family Acraeidae is least abundant. During field period 40 species were found rare as per their abundance. Aglais cashmirensis aesis was the species having higher abundance with individual number 176. Species richness was found high at the altitude ranges of 1950 m and 2050 m whereas it decreases with increase in altitudes. Butterfly species richness, abundance and diversity were lowest at upper altitude of study area. The butterfly diversity was recorded higher in southern aspect than that to northern. Species were well separated in different clusters according to the altitude and aspects. A total of 21 butterfly species were recorded as indicator species of low and high altitudes of both northern and southern aspects. Butterfly diversity was higher in autumn than in summer. Negative correlation (r = -0.9525) between altitude and overall wings size of butterfly community was observed. In contrast, positive correlation (r = 0.7344) between wing size of butterflies belonging to family Danaidae with increasing elevational gradient was recorded. Serious conservation threats such as over use of Non-timber Forest Product, forest fire, fire wood collection, coal collection and over grazing of herders were found during field period.