E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Checklist of ...€¦ · of Zoology Jagannath University Dhaka-1100, ... Checklist of butterflies of Kushtia District, Bangladesh Samsur Rahman,

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3 (2): 365-373

E-ISSN: 2320-7078

P-ISSN: 2349-6800

JEZS 2015; 3 (2): 365-373

© 2015 JEZS

Received: 04-02-2015 Accepted: 02-03-2015

Samsur Rahman Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Mohammad Abdul Baki Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Jagannath University Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Anik Chandra Mondal Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Amit Kumer Neogi Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Farzana Islam Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Rajib Chandra Sutradhar Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Correspondence: Mohammad Abdul Baki Assistant Professor Department of Zoology Jagannath University Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]

Checklist of butterflies of Kushtia District, Bangladesh

Samsur Rahman, Mohammad Abdul Baki, Anik Chandra Mondal, Amit Kumer Neogi, Farzana Islam, Rajib Chandra Sutradhar

AbstractTill date, the Northern parts of Bangladesh are more or less neglected for any biodiversity surveys. Keeping this in view, the present study was undertaken at the Kushtia district, which is located in the northern region (23○54’N and 89○03’E) of Bangladesh with an area of 1621.15 square kilometers. A field study was conducted to determine the existing butterfly fauna of Kushtia district, Bangladesh from March, 2012 to February, 2014. A total of 77 species were recorded belonging to 9 families and 64 genera. Family Lycaenidae was the most dominating family with 23 species followed by Hesperiidae (14 species), Nymphalidae (12 species), Pieridae (10 species), Papilionidae (7 species), Satyridae (7 species), Danaidae (4 species), Acraeidae (1 species) and Amathusiidae (1 species). This survey was an initial step to know the existing butterfly number and diversity which will be helpful to take further steps in upgrading the checklist of butterflies of our country.

Keywords: Kushtia, Butterfly, Northern part, Bangladesh

1. IntroductionBangladesh has realm number of biological diversity for its geographical location and favorable climatic condition for life. Kushtia district is situated in the north region of Bangladesh, is an area of 1621.15 square kilometer. The average maximum temperature of the locality is 37.8 0C and minimum 9.2 0C. Annual rainfall is about 1,467 mm. Lepidoptera (butterfly) is widely accepted as a good indicator of ecosystem health [13]. In Bangladesh, the butterfly fauna is not well documented compared to the other wildlife [10]. IUCN took the first attempt to create a complete checklist on butterfly fauna of Bangladesh by the famous lepidopterist Torben B Larsen. Considering the floral diversity and habitat variation it could be predicted that 500-550 butterfly species should be present in Bangladesh [11]. Regional documentation of butterflies has great importance as they provide basic information to taxonomists, zoogeographers, and ecologists; showing when and where to look for certain taxa. Unfortunately, this sort of work is often ignored [4]. The regional checklist of any region or part of a country has a great importance to update existing butterflies, status and diversity that may be a crucial help for their conservation. The present study in Kushtia was undertaken as an inventory step to know the existing number of butterfly species and their richness which may be helpful to create a management plan for butterfly conservation.

2. Methods and MaterialsKushtia is situated at the northern part of Bangladesh (23º54’N and 89º08’E). Study has been carried out from March, 2012 to February, 2014. Study areas have been chosen based on contrasting vegetation type, diversity, abundance and rate of disturbance in Kushtia districts. Butterflies species have been documented randomly by direct visual observations. Butterflies were primarily identified directly by watching and taking photographs using Canon-P510 camera. Sometimes species were caught gently for identification and then released without any harm. In few cases, species were collected with sweep nets, placed in a plastic bag and carried in laboratory for further identification. Butterflies were identified using field guides Evans (1932), Hossain (2013) and Kehimkar (2013) [3, 5, 8]. The scientific name and common name of butterflies are corrected by using Larsen 2004 [11].

3. Results and DiscussionA total of 77 species of butterflies under 9 families including 64 genera were recorded during

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the study period (table 1). Most dominant family was Lycaenidae, consisting of 23 (29.87%) species, followed by Danaidae (5.19%), Papilionidae (9.09%), Pieridae (12.99%), Nymphalidae (15.58%), Hespiriidae (15.58%), Satyridae (9.09%), Acraeidae (1.30%) and Amathusiidae (1.30%) (fig 2). Though urbanization made a variation in the floral diversity of the total area of Kushtia. Vegetation was moderately rich in herbs, shrubs and canopies. The maximum number of butterflies was observed on the Mikania micrantha, Lantana camera, Cosmos sp., Lippia alba, Tridax procumbens, Tagetes patula, Ixora finlaysoniyana, Gomphrena globosa, Acmella sp., Acacia sp., Leucas aspara, Ageratum conyzoides, Ixora sp., Cuphea hyssopifolia, Saraca indica etc. Moreover Junonia sp. was mostly found as very abundant in Kushtia. Most of the butterfly species were found at the time of nectar collection from the flowering plants. Some were observed during resting time on the different plants. The availability and dominance of flowering wild plants are found to influence on the butterfly number richness. Composition of herbaceous plant species in an ecosystem may bring an importance on butterfly species richness; and vegetation types can contribute disproportionately high numbers of butterfly species compared to dominant vegetation type of the single species of plant [7, 16]. Woody plant species richness may not good predictor for butterfly species richness [16]. The species/individual richness of butterflies was observed in the month of December during pre-winter period. In terms of species/individual richness, there are reasons why butterflies have been successful in

abundance during pre-winter period. The chemical range, food plants and the variety of plant microhabitats, such as leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and fruit that can be exploited for the other purposes such as defense against predation and parasitism are a driving force in abundance. Through the entire study period some species of butterflies were found to occur frequently such as Danaus Chrysippus Chrysippus, Euploea core core, Papilio polytes romulus, Papilio demoleus demoleus, Graphium doson axion, Catopsilia pomona Pomona, Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe, Leptosia nina nina, Eurema hecabe hecabe, Appias albinadarada, Spindasis syama peguanus, Pseudozizeeria maha maha, Euchrysops cnejus, Parnara guttatus mangala, Udaspes folus, Junonia atlites atlites, Melanitis leda ismene. The study area also occupied by more larval host plants of some most abundant species of butterflies such as Calotropis gigantean, Citrus sp., Polyathia longifolia, Senna tora, Senna alata, Cassia fistula, Cassia tora, Acacia species, Cleome viscose, Ricinus communis etc. This list of butterflies can be used as an indication of butterflies to be expected in these areas. The basic objective of this study was the construction of a database on resources for butterflies to further their conservation. Our result indicated that most butterfly species was observed in a specific season. The numbers of butterflies’ fauna vary greatly depending on floral vegetation (e.g. Number of host plants, nectar plants and visited plants) and ecological condition in around the study areas.

Table 1: List of butterflies in Kushtia district

SL. No. Family Common Name Scientific Name 1

Dan

aida

e Plain Tiger Danaus Chrysippus Chrysippus Linnaeus, 1758 2 Striped Tiger Danaus genutia genutia Cramer 1779 3 Common Crow Euploea core core Cramer, 1780 4 Blue Tiger Tirumala limniace exoticus Cramer, 1775 5

Pap

ilio

nida

e

Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae aristolochiae Fabricius, 1775 6 Common Mormon Papilio polytes romulus Cramer, 1775 7 Lime Butterfly Papilio demoleus demoleus Linné, 1758 8 Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor polymnestor Cramer, 1775 9 Common Jay Graphium doson axion Felder & Felder, 1864

10 Tailed Jay Graphium agamemnon Linné, 1758 11 Common Mime Chilasa clytia clytia Linné, 1758 12

Pie

rida

e

Mottled Emigrant Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe Linné, 1758 13 Common Emigrant Catopsilia pomona pomona Fabricius, 1775 14 Common Gull Cepora nerissa nerissa Fabricius, 1775 15 Three-Spot Grass Yellow Eurema blanda silhetana Wallace, 1867 16 Common Grass Yellow Eurema hecabe hecabe Linné, 1758 17 Psyche Leptosia nina nina Fabricius, 1793 18 Common Jezebel Delias eucharis Drury, 1773 19 Striped Albatross Appias albina darada Swinhoe, 1890 20 Common Wanderer Pareronia hippia hippia Fabricius, 1787 21 Pioneer Belenois aurota Fabricius, 1793 22

Nym

phal

idae

Danaid Eggfly Hypolimnas misippus Linné, 1758 23 Great Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina bolina Linné, 1758 24 Common Leopard Phalanta phalantha phalantha Drury, 1770 25 Common Castor Ariadne merione tapestrina Moore, 1884 26 Painted Lady Vanessa cardui cardui Linné, 1758 27 Common Baron Euthelia aconthea garuda Moore, 1857 28 Leopard Lacewing Cethosia cyane Drury, 1773 29 Common Sergeant Athyma perius perius Linnaeus, 1758 30 Grey Pansy Junonia atlites atlites Linné, 1763 31 Lemon Pansy Junonia lemonias lemonias Linné, 1758 32 Peacock Pansy Junonia almana almana Linnaeus, 1758 33 Chocolate Pansy Junonia iphita iphita Cramer, 1779 34

Lyc

aeni

dae

Striped Pierrot Tarucus nara kollar, 1848 35 Common Pierrot Castalius rosimon Fabricius, 1775 36 Shot Silverline Spindasis ictis Hewitson, 1865

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37 Common Silverline Spindasis syama peguanus Fabricius, 1775 38 Long -banded Silverline Spindasis lahita himalayanus Moore, 1884 39 Common Cerulean Jamides celeno celeno Cramer, 1775 40 Dark Grass Blue Zizeeria karsandra Moore, 1865 41 Pale Grass Blue Pseudozizeeria maha maha Kollar, 1848 42 Tiny Grass Blue Zizula hylax Fabricius, 1775 43 Forget-me-not Catochrysops strabo strabo Fabricius, 1793 44 Pea Blue Lampides boeticus Linné, 1767 45 Quaker Neopithecops zalmora zalmora Butler, 1870 46 Slate Flash Rapala manea schistacea Moore, 1879 47 Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus Fabricius, 1798 48 Lime Blue Chilades lajus lajus Stoll, 1870 49 White-disc Hedge Blue Celatoxia albidisca Moore, 1883 50 Tailless Lineblue Zizeeria otis otis Fabricius, 1787 51 Common Lineblue Prosotas nora ardates Moore, 1875 52 Apefly Spalgis epius epius Westwood, 1851 53 Monkey Puzzle Rathinda amor Fabricius, 1775 54 Peacock Royal Tajuria cippus Fabricius, 1798 55 Common Ciliate Blue Anthene emolus emolus Godart, 1823 56 Pointed Ciliate Blue Anthene lycaenina lycambers Hewitson, 1878 57

Hes

peri

idae

Straight Swift Parnara guttatus mangala Moore, 1865 58 Conjoined Swift Pelopidas conjuncta conjuncta Herrich-Schäffer, 1869 59 Grass Demon Udaspes folus Cramer, 1775 60 Chestnut Bob Iambrix salsala salsala Moore, 1865 61 Indian Palm Bob Saustrus gremius gremius Fabricius, 1798 62 Dark Palm Dart Telicota bambusae bambusae Moore, 1878 63 Pale Palm Dart Telicota colon Fabricius, 1775 64 Common Red Eye Matapa aria Moore, 1865 65 Grizzled Skipper Spialia galba Fabricius, 1793 66 Bengal Swift Pelopidas agna agna Moore, 1865 67 Brown Awl Badamia exclamationis Fabricius, 1775 68 Smaller Dartlet Oriens goloides Moore, 1881 69

Sat

yrid

ae

Common Palmfly Elymnias hypermnestra Drury, 1773 70 Common Fivering Ypthima baldus baldus Fabricius, 1775 71 Common Fourring Ypthima huebneri Kirby, 1871 72 Bamboo Treebrown Lethe europa Fruhstorfer, 1911 73 Common Bushbrown Mycalesis perseus blasius Fabricius, 1798 74 Dark Branded Bushbrown Mycalesis mineus Linné, 1767 75 Common Evening Brown Melanitis leda ismene Linné, 1758 76 Acraeidae Tawny Costar Acraia violea Fabricius, 1775 77 Amathusiidae Common Duffer Discopfhora sondaica zal Boisduval, 1836

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s

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Fig 1: Photograph of butterflies

Fig 2: Percentage (%) of observed butterflies of different families at Kushtia

4. Conclusion A total of 77 species of butterflies were recorded during the study period. The existing checklist of butterfly is not complete so further studies are needed to update the checklist. This inventory work will be helpful for upgrading the checklist of butterflies, its host plants and making conservation plan on butterflies of Kushtia more accurately. 5. Acknowledgements We are grateful to Butterfly Bangladesh and their research team for great support during our research period. Also very thankful to Md. Kawsar Khan for his useful comments and

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suggestions to prepare this manuscript. The authors are grateful to Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka for providing laboratory facilities throughout the research period. 6. References 1. Ahmad M, Kabir SMH, Ahmed ATA, Rahman AKA,

Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT et al. (Eds.). Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh: Asiatic Society of Bangladesh 2009; 21(III):460.

2. Baki MA, Neogi AK, Sarker BK, Rahman MS. Butterfly identification, diversity and seasonality in botanicalgarden of Jagannath University campus, Dhaka. Jagannath University Journal of Science 2014; 3(1):105-113.

3. Chowdhury SH, Hossain M. Butterflies of Bangladesh-A Pictorial Handbook (Revised and enlarged version I). Skylark Printers, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2013; 260.

4. Clench H. How to make regional lists of butterflies: some thoughts. Journal of the Lepidopterists' Society 1979; 33(4):216-231.

5. Evans WH. The Identification of Indian Butterflies. The Bombay natural History Society 1932, 130-198, 199-273.

6. Hossain M. Checklist of butterflies of the sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh. Journal of Entomology and Zoological Studies 2014; 2(1):29-32.

7. Hill JK, Hamer KC, Tangah J, Dawood M. Ecology of tropical butterflies in rainforest gaps. Oecologia, 2001; 128:294-302.

8. Kehimkar I. The Book of Indian Butterflies. Bombay Natural History Society 2013; 497.

9. Khan MK. Three new records of butterfly from university of Chittagong and Shahjalal University of science and technology in Bangladesh. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2014; 1(5):30-33.

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11. Larsen TB. Butterflies of Bangladesh: an annotated checklist: IUCN, the World Conservation Union, Bangladesh Country Office 2004; 158.

12. Neogi AK, Baki MA, Sadat MN, Selim SR, Bhouiyan NA. Five New Record of Butterfly Species from Dhaka, Pirojpur and Cox’s Bazar Districts of Bangladesh. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2(2):197-200.

13. Rosenberg DM, Danks HV, Lehmkuhl. Importance of insect in environmental impact assessment. Environmental Management 1986; 10:773-783.

14. Shahadat O, Ahmed T, Neogi AK. Confirmation record of a butterfly species Euploea radamanthus radamanthus Fabricius, 1793 (Family: Nymphalidae) from Dudpukuria- Dhopachari wildlife sanctuary, Chittagong, Bangladesh. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies 2014; 1(5):22-23.

15. Siddiqui KU, Islam MA, Ahmed ZU, Begum ZNT, Hassan MA, Khondker M et al. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Flora and Fauna of Bangladesh, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka 2007; 11: 275.

16. Simonson SE, Opler PA, Stohlgren TJ, Chong GW. Rapid Assessment of butterfly diversity in a montane landscape. Biodiversity and Conservation 2001; 10:1369-1386.

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E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Checklist of ...€¦ · of Zoology Jagannath University Dhaka-1100, ... Checklist of butterflies of Kushtia District, Bangladesh Samsur Rahman,