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Butterfly diversity in Lateritic biotope of Kavvayi River Basin, Kerala, India

K. A Sreejith 1 * , T. S. Prasad 1 , Dhaneesh Bhaskar1 , M. P. Prejith1 , K. P. Rajkumar1 and C. J. Alex1

Corresponding author Email: sreejith@kfri.res.in

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.12.1.16

A study on butterfly diversity of lateritic biotopes of Kavvayi River Basin was conducted during February 2013 to January 2015. The study area represents diverse habitats that include sacred groves, laterite hills, riparian ecosystem, and kanams. A total of 140 species butterflies were recorded from the study area, among which the highest number of butterfly species were from the family Nymphalidae (48 species), followed by Hesperiidae (32 species), Lycaenidae (27 species), Papilionidae and Pieridae with 16 species each and 1 from the family Riodinidae. The present study revealed the faunal richness of the unique ecosystems and microhabitats in lateritic biotopes in terms of butterfly diversity. The study also highlights conservation significance of the area which is under severe human pressure including mining, habitat fragmentation and change in the land-use system.


Laterite ecosystem; Host plant; Butterfly diversity; Northern Kerala

Copy the following to cite this article:

Bhaskar D, Prejith M. P, Rajkumar K. P, Alex C. J, Prasad T. S, Sreejith K. A. Butterfly diversity in Lateritic biotope of Kavvayi River Basin, Kerala, India. Curr World Environ 2017;12(1). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.12944/CWE.12.1.16

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Bhaskar D, Prejith M. P, Rajkumar K. P, Alex C. J, Prasad T. S, Sreejith K. A. Butterfly diversity in Lateritic biotope of Kavvayi River Basin, Kerala, India. Curr World Environ 2017;12(1). Available from: http://www.cwejournal.org/?p=16936


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Article Publishing History

Received: 2017-03-04
Accepted: 2017-04-11

Introduction

The midland exposed laterite biotope associated with diverse ecosystems and microhabitats represents the most imposing and extremely threatened topographical floristic and faunistic features in the northern part of Kerala. Lateritic hills of the study area are unique with high microhabitat diversity and associated rich floral components.1 The diversity of plants, habitats, topography and climates influence distribution, diversity and abundance of butterflies2,3 and they are good biological indicators of habitat quality as well as general environmental health.4,5,6,7 Butterflies play a major role in the ecosystem as they interact with the environment as pollinators, seed dispersers, herbivores, predators and prey.8,9 Out of the 334 reported butterfly species of Western Ghats, 316 species of butterflies were recorded from Kerala.10 As per the review of literature, a large number of studies on diversity and distribution of butterflies were done in the protected areas of Kerala includes; Mathew & Rahmathulla11 who reported 100 species from Silent Valley National Park, Sudheendrakumar12 reported of 124 species from Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Shamsudheen and Mathew13 reported 73 species Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Mathew14 reported 71 species from Peechi - Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Mathew15 reported 53 species from Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Other than protected areas, human dominated non-protected natural habitats like sacred groves, home gardens, and countryside city gardens are also important in terms of butterfly diversity9,17 as Kunte18 recorded 104 butterfly species from Pune city along with the human impact gradient, and recently Gaude17 reported 33 species of butterflies from four selected sacred groves of Goa. As far as Kerala is concerned, Aneesh19 reported 139 species of butterflies from Kerala Agricultural University Campus, Prasad20 recorded 52 species from Kerala University campus. There is very little information available on the ecology and biodiversity of laterite hills in which Palot and Radhakrishnan21 reported 111 species of butterflies from madayippara. The current study focused on butterfly diversity of Midland laterite biotope of Kavvayi river basin, North Kerala. This landscape includes lateritic hills, sacred groves, mangroves, riparian vegetation and locally conserved vegetations such as kaanam. As studies revealed the distribution patterns of many of the organisms that are currently of the greatest international conservation concern don’t coincide with broader diversity patterns like protected areas, parks and sanctuaries.22,23, 24,25 Hence diversity assessment in non-protected areas such as laterite hills, Kanams and sacred grooves are also significant.

Study Area

The mid land laterite hills of Kavvayi river basin is located between 120 05’ to 120 15’ North latitude and 750 05’ to 750 20’ East longitude (Fig 1). It spread over an area of 164.76 km2 covering 14 villages and spreads over nine local bodies in the districts of Kannur and Kasargod.

The selected ecosystems include Lateritic hills (IT Park, Ariyittapara and Madayippara); Sacred Groves (Edayilakkadu Kavu, Mappittassery Kavu and Chamakkavu) and ‘Kaanam’ (Vattapoyil Kaanam and Vannathikaanam) which are distributed in Lateritic biotopes of Kannur and Kasargod Districts (Fig 1).

 Fig.1Showing the study area( A1: IT Park, A2: Chamakkavu, A3: Riparian Ecosystem, A4: Madayippara, A5: Ariyittapara, A6: Edayilakkadu Kavu, A7: Vannathikanam, A8: Mappittassery Kavu, A9: Vattappoyi Kanam.


Figure 1: Showing the study area( A1: IT Park, A2: Chamakkavu,
A3: Riparian Ecosystem, A4: Madayippara, A5: Ariyittapara, A6:
Edayilakkadu Kavu, A7: Vannathikanam, A8: Mappittassery Kavu,
A9: Vattappoyi Kanam. 

Click here to View figure

 

Materials and Methods

Butterflies were observed for a period two year from February 2013 to January 2015. The observations were made randomly from 0800 hr to 1100 hr, which is the peak time of butterfly activity and also they were observed from 1530 hr to 1730 hr. Butterflies were identified directly from the field and in difficult cases, they were photographed and identified using the field guides.26,27 Taxonomy and nomenclature have been updated after.28 Butterflies observed were categorized into three groups based on their occurrence in selected study areas. Accordingly, those observed in 7-9 locations were listed as very common (VC), 4-6 as common (C), 1-3as rare (R).Data were further analysed by cluster analysis based on squared Euclidean distance using SPSS 20 version.

Results and Discussion

The study reports a total of 141 species butterflies from lateritic biotopes of Kavvayi river basin. Among which the highest number of butterfly species were from the family Nymphalidae (48 species) with three Western Ghat endemic butterflies (Cirrochroa thais, Kallima horsfieldii and Mycalesis junonia) followed by Hesperiidae (32 species) with one Western Ghat endemic (Oriens concinna), Lycaenidae (27 species) with one Western Ghat endemic (Curetis siva), Papilionidae (16 species) with two Western Ghat endemics (Papilio dravidarum, Papilio liomedon), Pieridae(16 species)with one Western Ghat endemic (Pareronia ceylonica), and one butterfly from the family Riodinidae. Family wise distribution of butterflies is represented in the Fig. 2. The study area hosts eight butterflies which are protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (Table 1).

 Fig. 2 Family wise distribution of butterfly species in lateritic biotope of Kavvai River basin


Figure 2: Family wise distribution of butterfly
species in lateritic biotope of Kavvai River basin

Click here to View figure

Butterfly diversity in different laterite ecosystems is varied in terms of a number of species ( Fig. 3).

Fig.3. Diversity of butterflies in different ecosystems 


Figure 3: Diversity of butterflies in different ecosystems 
Click here to View figure


The distribution of a butterfly species in a definite area is mainly based on the diversity of plants, habitats, topography and climates.2 Other than the environmental conditions diversity of butterflies in sacred groves is also influenced by the presence of surrounded human settlements and home gardens. The presence of home gardens has a positive influence in Mappittassery and Chamakkavu in terms of a number of butterfly species, whereas in Edayilakkadu Kavu the diversity is comparatively lesser than the other two. The newly proposed IT park area is having a total of 88 species of butterfly among which Pachliopta hector, Papilio clytia, Hypolimnas misippus and Castalius rosimon are protected species under the Schedule I and Appias lyncida is protected species under Schedule II of Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Madayippara and Ariyittapara are two open laterite hills along with riparian ecosystem having the highest number of butterfly species among the other laterite ecosystems respective to the high diversity of host plant species. The high diversity of butterflies in lateritic hills may be due to the presence large number of microhabitats within the system.1

 Fig. 4. Dendrogram depicting the clustering of different laterite ecosystems.


Figure 4: Dendrogram depicting the clustering
of different laterite ecosystems. 

Click here to View figure

Dendogram depicting the similarity in species composition between different selected study areas (Fig. 4) showed more similarity between IT park and Chamakkavu followed by Madayippara and Ariyttapara. Madayippara and ariyittapara are open laterite hill top with almost same vegetation, where as in the case of IT park and Chamakkavu both are different in their topography and plant distribution the presence of home gardens around the chamakkav is one the main reason for similarity of butterfly species with the laterite hills of IT park area.

Figure 1

Figure

Figure

Figure

Figure

Figure

 

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment, Government of Kerala for providing financial support. Thanks to Dr.K.V.Sankaran and Dr. P.S .Easa, former Directors of KFRI for their support and encouragement.

Table 1: Butterfly checklist of Laterite ecosystems of Kavvayi river basin, Kerala, India.

#

Scientific name

Common name

Status

A1

A2

A3

A4

A5

A6

A7

A8

A9

Family: PAPILIONIDAE

1

Troides minos

Sahyadri Birdwing

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

2

Pachliopta aristolochiae

Common Rose

VC

+

+

-

+

+

+

-

+

+

3

Pachliopta pandiyana Moore

Malabar Rose

C,E

+

-

+

-

-

+

-

-

+

4

Pachliopta hector

Crimson Rose

C,

SchI

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

5

Papilio clytia clytia

Oriental Common Mime

VC, Sch I

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

6

Papilio demoleus

Lime Butterfly

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

7

Papilio liomedon

Malabar Banded Swallowtail

R, E

Sch I

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

8

Papilio dravidarum

Malabar Raven

VC, E

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

9

Papilio helenus

Red Helen

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

10

Papilio polytes

Common Mormon

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

11

Papilio polymnestor

Blue Mormone

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

12

papilio paris

Paris Peacock

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

13

Papilio buddha

Malabar Banded Peacock

C

-

+

-

+

+

-

-

-

+

14

Graphium sarpedon

Common Bluebottle

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

15

Graphium doson

Common Jay

R

-

-

+

-

-

+

-

+

-

16

Graphium agamemnon

Tailed Jay

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

Family: PIERIDAE

17

Delias eucharis

Common Jezebel

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

18

Prioneris sita

Painted Sawtooth

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

19

Leptosia nina

Psyche

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

20

Cepora nerissa

Common Gull

C,

Sch II

-

-

+

+

+

+

-

+

-

21

Cepora nadina

Lesser Gull

R,

Sch II

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

22

Belenois aurota aurota 

Pioneer

R

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

23

Appias lyncida

Chocolate Albatross

VC, Sch II

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

24

Appias albina

Common Albatross

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

25

Ixias pyrene

Yellow Orange Tip

C

-

+

+

-

-

+

-

+

-

26

Hebomoia glaucippe

Sahyadri Great Orange Tip

VC

-

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

27

Pareronia ceylonica

Dark Wanderer

VC, E

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

28

Catopsilia pomona

Lemon Emigrant

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

29

Catopsilia pyranthe pyranthe 

Mottled Emigrant

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

30

Eurema brigitta

Small Grass Yellow

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

-

31

Eurema hecabe

Common Grass Yellow

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

32

Eurema blanda

Three-spot Grass Yellow

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

Family: LYCAENIDAE

33

Spalgis epeus

Apefly

C

+

-

-

+

-

-

+

-

+

34

Castalius rosimon

Common Pierrot

VC, Sch I

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

-

35

Caleta decidia decidia

Angled Pierrot

VC

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

36

Discolampa ethion ethion 

Oriental Banded Blue Pierrot

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

37

Acytolepis puspa felderi 

Malabar Common Hedge Blue

R

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

38

Neopithecops zalmora

Quaker

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

39

Megisba malaya

Malyan

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

41

Euchrysops cnejus

Gram Blue

R

+

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

41

Lampides boeticus

Pea Blue

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

42

Jamides bochus

Dark Cerulean

R

-

+

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

43

Jamides celeno

Common Cerulean

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

44

Prosotas nora

Common Lineblue

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

45

Talicada nyseus

Red pierrot

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

46

Thaduka multicaudata

Many-Tailed Oak Blue

C

-

-

-

+

+

-

+

+

+

47

Arhopala centaurus pirama 

Tamil Centaur Oakblue

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

48

Surendra quercetorum

Common Acacia Blue

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

+

-

49

Spindasis vulcanus

Common Sliver Line

C

+

-

-

+

-

-

-

+

+

50

Loxura atymnus atymnus

Sahyadri Yamfly

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

51

Cheritra freja

Common Imperial

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

+

52

Rathinda amor

Monkey Puzzle

VC

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

53

Zesius chrysomallus

Red spot

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

54

Zeltus amasa

Indian Fluffy Tit

C

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

+

+

55

Virachola isocrates

Common Guava Blue

R

+

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

56

Rapala manea

Slate Flash

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

57

Rapala lankana

Malabar Flash

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

58

Curetis thetis

Indian Sun Beam

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

+

-

59

Curetis siva

Shiva Sun Beam

R, E

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

Family: RIODINIDAE

60

Abisara echerius

Plum Judy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

Family: NYMPHALIDAE

61

Danaus chrysippus

Oriental Plain Tiger

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

62

Danaus genutia

Stripped Tiger

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

63

Tirumala limniace

Blue Tiger

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

64

Tirumala septentrionis

Dark Blue Tiger

VC

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

65

Parantica aglea

Glassy Blue Tiger

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

66

Euploea core

Common Crow

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

67

Ariadne ariadne

Angled Castor

VC

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

68

Ariadne merione

Common Castor

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

69

Cupha erymanthis

Sahyadri Rustic

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

70

Phalanta phalantha

Common Leopard

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

71

Cirrochroa thais

Tamil Yeoman

VC, E

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

72

Vindula erota

Sahyadri Cruiser

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

73

Junonia hierta

Oriental Yellow Pansy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

74

Junonia orithya

Blue Pansy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

75

Junonia lemonias

Lemon Pansy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

76

Junonia almana

Oriental Peacock Pansy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

77

Junonia atlites

Oriental Grey Pansy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

78

Junonia iphita

Oriental Chocolate Pansy

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

79

Kaniska canace

Sahyadri Blue Admiral

R

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

80

Hypolimnas misippus

Danaid Eggfly

VC, Sch I

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

81

Hypolimnas bolina

Great Eggfly

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

-

82

Kallima horsfieldi

Sahyadri Blue oakleaf

C, E

-

+

+

-

-

+

-

+

+

83

Doleschallia bisaltide malabarica 

Malabar Autumn Leaf

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

84

Cyrestis thyodamas

Map Butterfly

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

85

Neptis jumbah

Chestnut-Streaked Sailer

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

+

+

86

Neptis hylas

Indian Common Sailor

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

87

Pantoporia hordonia

Oriental Common Lascar

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

88

Athyma inara

Colour Sergeant

C

-

+

+

-

-

+

+

-

-

89

Athyma ranga

Blackvein Sergeant

C

-

-

-

+

+

+

+

-

-

90

Athyma perius

Common Sergeant

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

91

Moduza procris

Sahyadri Commander

VC

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

92

Parthenos sylvia

Sahyadri Clipper

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

93

Tanaecia lepidea

Grey Count

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

94

Euthalia lubentina

Gaudy Baron

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

+

-

+

95

Charaxes athamas

Common Nawab

C

+

+

+

-

-

-

+

-

+

96

Charaxes solon

Pale Black Rajah

R

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

97

Acraea terpsicore

Tawny Coster

VC

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

98

Melanitis leda

Common Evening Brown

VC

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

99

Melanitis zitenius

Sahyadri Great Evening Brown

R

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

+

100

Elymnias hypermnestra

Common Palmfly

C

-

-

+

+

-

+

+

+

-

101

Lethe europa

Dakhan Bamboo Treebrown

C

-

-

+

+

-

+

+

-

-

102

Lethe rohria

Dakhan Common Tree Brown

C

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

+

103

Mycalesis perseus

Common Bushbrown

C

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

+

-

104

Mycalesis mineus

Dark-Brand Bushbrown

R

-

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

105

Mycalesis junonia 

Malabar Glad-eye-Bushbrown

VC, E

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

106

Orsotriaena medus 

Sahyadri Medus Brown

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

107

Ypthima baldus

Sahyadri Common Fivering

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

108

Ypthima huebneri

Common Fourring

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

Family: HESPERIIDAE

109

Bibasis sena

Orange-tail Awl

R

-

-

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

110

Choaspes benjaminii

Indian Awlking

R

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

111

Hasora chromus

Common Banded Awl

C

+

-

-

+

+

+

-

-

-

112

Hasora taminatus

White-Banded Awl

R

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

+

113

Hasora badra

Common Awl

R

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

114

Badamia exclamationis

Brown Awl

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

+

115

Celaenorrhinus ambareesa

Dakhan Spotted Flat

R

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

116

Tagiades gana silvia

Snuffused Snow Flat

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

117

Gerosis bhagava 

Common Yellow-breasted Flat

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

118

Tagiades japetus

Common Snow Flat

VC

-

+

+

-

+

+

+

+

+

119

Tagiades litigiosa

Water Snow Flat

VC

-

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

120

Sarangesa dasahara

Common Small Flat

VC

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

+

121

Sarangesa purendra pandra

Spotted small Flat

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

122

Pseudocoladenia dan

Fulvious Pied Flat

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

123

Coladenia indrani indra

Tricolor Pied Flat

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

124

Iambrix salsala

Chestnut Bob

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

125

Notocrypta curvifascia

Restricted Demon

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

-

-

126

Matapa aria

Common Redeye

R

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

+

127

Borbo cinnara

Rice Swift

VC

+

+

+

+

-

-

+

+

+

128

Aeromachus pygmaeus

Pygmy scrub Hopper

VC

+

+

+

-

-

-

+

-

+

 129

Ampittia dioscorides

Bush Hopper

R

-

-

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

130

Psolos fuligo

Coon

VC

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

+

131

Notocrypta paralysos

Common Banded Demon

R

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

+

+

132

Udaspes folus

Grass Demon

VC

+

+

+

+

+

-

+

+

-

133

Suastus gremius

Indian Palm Bob

C

-

-

+

+

+

-

+

-

-

134

Gangara thyrsis

Giant Redeye

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

135

Telicota bambusae 

Dark Palm Dart

R

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

+

+

136

Oriens concinna

Tamil Dartlet

C, E

+

+

+

+

-

-

+

+

-

137

Oriens goloides

Smaller Dartlet

R

+

+

+

-

-

-

-

-

-

138

Taractrocera maevius

Oriental Grass Dart

R

-

-

-

+

+

-

-

-

-

139

Pelopidas mathias

Dakhan Small Branded Swift

R

+

+

-

+

-

-

-

-

-

140

Erionota thrax

Palm Redeye

R

-

-

-

+

-

-

-

-

+

 

A1 IT park, A2 Chamakkavu, A3 Riparian Ecosystem, A4 Madayippara, A5 Ariyittapara, A6Edayilakkadu kavu, A7 Vannathikkanam, A8 Mappittasserry Kavu, A9 Vattappoyil kanam. VC very common, C common, R rare, E endemic to Western Ghats, Sch I, Sch II,Sch IV: Species protected under schedule I, Schedule II and Schedule IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972). + and – are used to represent the presence and absence of butterflies.

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