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Study of Diversity and Current Status of Butterflies (Rhopalocera) at Vasai Fort, Dist-Palghar, India

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Viva College of Arts, Science and Commerce,Virar, Dist.-Palghar, Maharashtra, India
  • 2Viva College of Arts, Science and Commerce,Virar, Dist.-Palghar, Maharashtra, India
  • 3Viva College of Arts, Science and Commerce,Virar, Dist.-Palghar, Maharashtra, India
  • 4Viva College of Arts, Science and Commerce,Virar, Dist.-Palghar, Maharashtra, India
  • 5Viva College of Arts, Science and Commerce,Virar, Dist.-Palghar, Maharashtra, India
  • 6Viva College of Arts, Science and Commerce,Virar, Dist.-Palghar, Maharashtra, India

Int. Res. J. Biological Sci., Volume 5, Issue (3), Pages 11-19, March,10 (2016)

Abstract

The great historical place Vasai fort is an ancient fort initiated by Bahadur Shah in 12th Century after that it was well established by Portuguese in the 15th Century and was later captured by Chimaji Appa in 17th Century. The area of study includes the entire Vasai fort, situated in Vasai (Bassein) Village and is inhabited by Fishermen. The area has floral biodiversity of trees, shrubs and wild plants and fauna includes insects, reptiles and aves. The present study was undertaken for a period of one year from June 2013 to July 2014 on Lepidopterans( butterflies species). The aim of this study was undertaken to explore the species richness and biodiversity of butterflies in and around Vasai fort. Butterflies are very sensitive to climate change and habitat degradation. They play an important role in the ecosystem as pollinators and are excellent indicator species. Butterflies were examined and photographed from the vicinity of Vasai fort. Butterflies belonging to five families and forty four species followed by Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae were identified and recorded. Family Nymphalidae was the dominant family with 28 species which constituted 53.85% of the total butterflies recorded during the study period followed by Papilionidae(15.38%), Lycaenidae (13.46%) and Pieridae (11.54%), the least observed being from the Family Hesperiidae (5.77%).

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