Small Scale Social Foresting in Suburban Area for Upholding the Temporal Variations of Butterflies

Abstract

Butterflies are the second largest pollinators after bees and also the most prominent biodiversity indicator as well. The present work was concentrated to understand whether the temporal variations occur among the butterfly species in a suburban area where small scale social foresting are usually done in every year. The study was conducted in different seasons (winter, summer and monsoon) as well as in different months under a specific season. The data were taken through instantaneous sampling method during the day hours only. Total 50 species of butterflies were recorded under five taxonomic families and among them various forms of a single species has also been identified. It was seen that the number of species belonging to different families fluctuates in different seasons, though the deviations among various families and three respective seasons were not significant (p > 0.05). Between the winter and summer months, 21 species were common for both seasons, whereas 7 species were observed as new for each of the season. In monsoon period species richness was 39 but out of which 12 were new in respect to the months of previous season. Common Bush Brown was hardly seen during winter while it was more frequently sighted during the monsoon. The sighting of Plains Cupid increased when Zamia furfuracea sprouted new leaves. Since a connection exists between butterflies and their resources, i.e., nectar and host plants, we can keep an eye on suburban forestry by monitoring butterflies.