International Journal of Biological

Research and Development (IJBRD)

ISSN (P): 2250-0022; ISSN (E): Applied
Vol. 5, Issue 2, Dec 2015, 1-4
TJPRC Pvt. Ltd.

BUTTERFLY FAUNA IN FOUR SITES OF UJJAIN

CITY, MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA
SHOBHA SHOUCHE & SATYENDRA SINGH RATNAKAR
Department of Zoology, Microbiology and Bioinformatics,
Government Madhav Science P.G. College, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India
ABSTRACT
Butterflies are diverse animals and sensitive to changes in microclimate and habitat which influences their
distribution and abundance, they are also good indicator of environmental changes. The present study based on
observation and sighting records of butterfly fauna from august 2014 to September 2015 in four sites of Ujjain City.
Madhya Pradesh, India. In the present study a total of 584 individuals belonging to 27 species of 5 families were
identified. Out of these families Nymphalidae with 13 species was the most dominant followed by Pieridae with 5 species,
Lycaenidae with 5 species, Papilionidae with 3 species and Hesperiidae with 1 species being the least.
KEYWORDS: Abundance, Diversity, Ujjain City, Madhya Pradesh, Butterfly Species

INTRODUCTION
Butterflies and moths belong to the insect order Lepidoptera. They can distinguish from all other insects
by having their delicate wings covered with scales. Butterflies are generally regarded as one of the best

Original Article

Received: Oct 29, 2015; Accepted: Nov 03, 2015; Published: Nov 14, 2015; Paper Id.: IJBRDDEC20151

taxonomically studied groups of insects (Robbins and Opler, 1997).They also have a complete series of
transformation or metamorphosis. Butterflies like other insects are dominant components of the web of life. Being
so diverse and ecologically important, they are the first to get affected by any disturbances to their habitat, even if
it is only very delicate. Butterflies have most ecological significance among all insects. Butterflies are diverse
animals and sensitive to changes in microclimate and habitat which influences their distribution and abundance.
India possesses 1501 species of butterflies (Kunte et al., 1999). In nature butterflies have been regarded as the
symbol of beauty and grace (Rafi et al., 2000). Butterflies widely appreciated for ecological indicators
(Chakravarthy et al., 1997) Diversity of butterflies is high in the tropics compared to the temperate region because
vegetation diversity is high in tropical region. Deforestation by increasing urban features, including roads, building
and mowed lawns, correspond with decrease in butterfly species richness, diversity and abundance. The present
climatic changes also had adverse effects in butterfly life and ecological balance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was conducted to study the diversity of butterfly fauna in four sites of Ujjain city,
Madhya Pradesh, India from August 2014 to September 2015. Ujjain is situated at 23.182778N and 75.777222E.
It has an average elevation of 491 metres (1610 ft). In this city the selected four study sites namely (1) Chakor
Park, (2) Arvind Nagar Park, (3) Ranibagh Garden and (4) Iskcon Temple. The survey has been carried out for a
period from august 2014 to September 2015. Photography of the butterflies was done during the study period. No
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Shobha Shouche & Satyendra Singh Ratnakar

specimens were collected for the study. Butterflies were identified by various field guide of Wynter Blyth (1957), Kunte
(2000). The relative abundance or say status of individuals species is categorized within the Ujjain City as (1) Very
Common (VC) - when butterflies recorded regularly in large numbers, (2) Common (C) - when recorded regularly, (3)
Uncommon (UC) -when recorded frequently, (4) Rare (R) - when recorded occasionally, (5) Very Rare (VR) - when
recorded rarely in study sites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

A total of 27 species belonging to 21 genera under 5 families were recorded from the selected four sites during
study period (table 1). The family Nymphalidae showed the maximum species richness, comprising of 13 species under 8
genus followed by Pieridae (5 species under 5 genus), and Lycaenidae (5 species under 5 genus), Papilionidae ( 3 species
under 2 genus ), and Hesperiidae ( 1 species under 1 genus ) being the least. Abundance showed that out of the 27 butterfly
species recorded, 12 are Uncommon, 4 are common, 4 are very common, 4 are rare and 3 are very rare. A total of 584
individuals were recorded from the four study sites, of which the Ranibagh garden contributing 179 individuals was
dominant while the Arvind nagar park with 129 individuals was the least. Eurema hecabe was the most dominant species
of butterfly in the terms of number of individuals (262) followed by Catopsilia pyranthe (85), Danaus chrysippus (40),
Junonia lemonias (38) in the study sites (table1). Graphium doson (1), Graphium Agamemnon (1) and Zizina otis (1) were
the rearest species. Result suggested that the family Nymphalidae with 8 genera and 13 species was the most dominant in
the study area.
Table 1: Checklist of Butterflies and their Abundance Recorded in Selected Sites, Ujjain City, Madhya Pradesh
Sl. No.

Scientific Name

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Junonia lemonias
Junonia orithya
Junonia hierta
Junonia almana
Danaus chrysippus
Danaus genutia
Hypolimnas misippus
Hypolimnas bolina
Euploea core
Tirumala limniace

11.

Melanitis leda

12.
13.

Ariadne merione
Phalantha phalantha

14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

Belenois aurota
Eurema hecabe
Catopsilia pyranthe
Ixias marrianne
Cepora nerissa

19.
20.
21.

Papilio demoleus
Graphium doson
Graphium agamemnon

22.
23.

Chilades parrhassius
Tarucus nara

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Common name
C.P
Family- Nymphalidae
Lemon pansy
5
Blue pansy
3
Yellow pansy
3
Peacock pansy
1
Plain tiger
5
Striped tiger
2
Danaid eggfly
1
Great eggfly
2
Common crow
2
Blue tiger
1
Common evening
1
brown
Common castor
4
Common leopard
2
Family- Pieridae
Indian pioneer
1
Common grass yellow
74
Mottled emigrant
20
White orange tip
_
Common gull
_
Family- Papilionidae
Lime butterfly
4
Common jay
_
Tailed jay
_
Family- Lycaenidae
Small cupid
5
Striped pierrot
3

ARP

R.G.

IT.

Total

RA

14
1
5
1
6
1
_
1
1
_

8
3
3
3
23
1
3
1
5
11

11
4
5
1
6
1
3
_
4
3

38
11
16
6
40
5
7
4
12
15

VC
UC
C
UC
VC
UC
UC
UC
C
C

UC

5
_

_
2

1
1

10
5

UC
UC

1
51
26
1
1

_
72
24
2
1

3
65
15
2
_

5
262
85
5
2

UC
VC
VC
UC
R

5
1
_

2
_
_

_
_
1

11
1
1

UC
VR
VR

4
2

8
2

3
_

20
7

C
UC

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Butterfly Fauna in Four Sites of Ujjain City, Madhya Pradesh, India

24.
25
26.

Zizina otis
Freyeria putli
Arthopala bazalus

27.

Hasora chromus

Table 1: Contd.,
Lesser grass blue
_
Oriental grass jewel
_
Powdered oakblue
_
Family- Hesperiidae
Common banded awl
1

_
_
_

_
_
_

1
4
2

1
4
2

VR
R
R

CP- Chakor Park, ANP- Arvind Nagar Park, RG- Ranibagh Garden, IT-Iskcon Temple, RA- Relative Abundance.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors are grateful to Department of Zoology and staff members for their kind help during the study.
REFERENCES
1.

Chakravarthy, A.K., Rajagopal, D., and R. Jagannath (1997), insect as bio indicators of conservation in the tropics. Zoos
Print Journal. 12:21-25

2.

Kunte, K., Joglekar, A., Utkarsh, G., and Padmananbhan, P. (1999), Pattern of butterfly, birds and tree diversity in Western
Ghats. Current Science 77 (4): 577

3.

Kunte K (2000), Butterflies of Paninsular India universities press limited, Hyderabad.

4.

Robbins, R.K. and P.A. Opler (1997), Butterfly diversity and a preliminary comparison with bird and mammal diversity In:
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(Eds.). Joseph Henry Press, Washington, DC.

5.

Rafi MA, Khan MR, Irshad M (2000), Papilionid (swallowtails) butterflies of Pakistan. Gul Awan Printers, Islamabad,
Pakistan, 1-33.

6.

Winter Blyth M.A. (1957), Butterflies of the Indian Region Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay.

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