CONTENT

CHAPTER PARTICULAR PAGE NO.

1
 INTRODUCTION

India harbors more than 1500 species of butterflies (Kunte, 2000), of

which northeast India accounts for nearly two-third (962 species) of the
species (Evans, 1932). Although many pioneer workers carried out
research on the butterfly species diversity in different parts of India
(Mason and Niceville, 1886; Doherty, 1889; Talbot, 1939, 1947; Wynter-
Blyth, 1957; Saharia, 1967 and Varshney and Chanda, 1971), the butterfly
study in Orissa is less studied (Anonymous, 1995; Sethy, 2004 Sahu et al.,
2006 and Nair, 2007). Most of the butterfly studies have been carried out
in Similipal Tiger Reserve and Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary (Palei, 2006).
This study is an attempt to document the butterfly diversity in
Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuary which includes zoological garden, State
botaanical garden and Kanjia Lake. Nandankanan Zoological Park (NZP),
one of the premier zoos of the country situated amidst natural forest
along the banks of Kanjia lake in the state of Orissa. It is located between
200 23' North latitude and 850 48' East longitude (Survey of India
Toposheet No. 73 H/15-NW) with Chandaka-Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary
in its vicinity. Zoological park, botanical garden along with the Kanjia lake
have been declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary on 3rd August 1979 (vide
erstwhile Forest, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department,
Government of Orissa Notification No. 8F (WL)-160/78-20672/FFAH). The
land is characterized by undulating topography, broken by low hills of
very gentle slope. The botanical garden is having steeper hills in
comparison to zoological park. These remnant hills form part of
erstwhile Khurda.The forest of Nandankanan zoo includes many semi-
evergreen elements which are important biogeographic stepping stones
which is the link between the forest species of north-east and southwest
India. The forest areas of Nandankanan can be classified as
a heterogenous cluster of semievergreen patches, dry deciduous forest,
scrub forest, swamps and water body of Kanjia lake. The annual
average rainfall varies between 1220 mm to 1902 mm. The mean annual
maximum humidity varies from 90% to 93% and the mean
annual minimum humidity varies from 55% to 61%. The typical climatic
condition and varied floral composition attract many species of
butterflies to this place.

2
 MATERIALS AND METHOD STUDYSITE

‘Butterfly park’ of this park contains butterfly bushes,

milkweed, lantana which are famous for attracting
butterflies.

3
 Map of Nandankanan
The survey was carried out with main focus on
documentation of butterfly distribution around the
botanical garden. This was done at different site of the
botanical garden. The records were taken from Rosarium,
Butterfly park, orchid house, landscape garden,
Bougainvillea.

4
Members of our team spread to different satellite parks.
The data were collected during 9am to 5pm by their
respective phones. Later those photos were compared with
butterfly of India website by taking help of field guides such
as “Butterfly of peninsula India” and the book of Indian
Butterflies. Data sheets were prepared and noted during the
whole survey period.

5
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION
APPROACH FOR BUTTERFLIES
• Pollination Pollination is the process in which pollens are
transferred from male parts of flower to female parts of flower
and reproduce sexually even over large areas. Nectar produced
from flower contains nutritious vitamins, lipids,sugar, amino acid
etc. which is important food source for pollinators.Butterflies are
also pollinators and visit the flower to eat nectar tiny scales on
the butterfly bodies brush against anthers and pollen adhere to
scales. Now the butterfly visit to another flower, the pollen which
attach to its scales brush in to the flower’s stigma.
• Genetic Variation in Plant Species Butterflies collect nectar
from plant species which induce genetic variation in the plants.
Some butterfly species migrate over long distance and share
pollens across plants which are far away from one another. This
helps plants to recover against disease and gives them a better
chance at survival.
• Reduce Pollution Some species of butterfly help to reduce the
air pollution. These species decrease the carbon dioxide in the
air. The host plants of butterflies and caterpillars absorb carbon
dioxide and reduce the amount of air pollution. The caterpillars
eat host plant and grow back bigger and better so, it can absorb
more carbon dioxide.
• Ecological Indicators of Healthier Ecosystem Indicator species
indicate the physical and chemical changes in the environment,
or the abundance of other species through changes in their own
abundance. These indicators are known as ecological indicators
and main goal of indicators is to measure the complex system
without missing important information. In many regions of the
world Lepidoptera are accepted as the ecological indicators of the
ecosystem health.Butterflies have high reproductive rates and are
at low trophic level due to this, they response quickly to
environmental stress.

6
Many butterflies specialize on a specific plant species for oviposition
or feeding. Butterflies tend to be easy to find and measure. In a
particular habitat if butterfly is endangered then the plants, insects
and vertebrates live in that habitat are also at risk. Therefore
endangered butterflies serve as barometer of natural conditions in
that habitat. In the last 20 years 72% butterfly and moth species
have declined. Butterflies react quickly to minor changes in the
environment, providing an alarming signal for other reductions in
wildlife and making them good indicator of biodiversity. So, they are
best monitored group of insects in the world. Some butterfly species
are very sensitive to even light disturbance of natural forest. These
species of butterflies are good indicators for natural forest.

• Provide Food for Other Organisms Butterflies provide food for

number of animals such as birds, reptiles, amphibians etc. and
caterpillars provide an occasional meal for scorpions and ants. Eggs
of some flies and wasps live as parasites inside caterpillar's body
and feed on it. If populations of butterfly diminish, then population
of birds, mice and other animals that rely on them as food source
will also reduce. This loss will collapse the entire ecosystem.

• Predators Some butterfly larvae feed on harmful insect for

example Hoverfly larvae are Predators of aphids so, caterpillars are
also use as biological pest control.

• Habitat Destruction Human activities destroy the butterfly

habitats. Global climate fluctuation also affects the butterfly
habitats. Governmental policy on forestry, farming and road
planning has great effect on the abundance and distribution of
butterflies.

• Pesticides The distribution and abundance of butterflies decline

due to the habitat destruction. The use of pesticides on crops has
profound harmful effects on farmland wildlife but its impact on
butterflies is unknown. The use of insecticides has little evidence for
the reduction in numbers. The use of Herbicides with chemical
fertilizers and drainage reduce the butterfly number indirectly by
changing the unimproved grassland in to improved pasture
7
 MORPHOLOGY

Morphology of an adult butterfly can be explained and studied by

dividing its body into 3 parts, namely Head, Thorax and Abdomen
Head
Head, the anterior portion of the body carries the most important
sensory organs- A pair of club ended antennae, the receptors of
scent and a pair of compound eyes for vision. Also present besides
the antennae are two sensory palps acting as the organ of touch and
also shielding the eyes.
Thorax to which the head is joined by a thin , short and membranous
neck is a portion made of three segments fused together –the Pro,
Meso and Meta-thorax each segment carrying a pair of legs. The first
two segments i.e. Prothorax and Mesothorax each carry a pair of
wings, the forewings and hindwings.
Abdomen of an adult butterfly consists of ten segments, and is
cylindrical, slim and fairly long. The abdomen consists of organs for
digestion, excretion, respiration and reproduction. Out of ten, only
seven or eight are visible with last two or three modified to form
reproductive parts. Butterfly exhibit tracheal respiration in which
oxygen is supplied directly to tissue through tubules called tracheae
which open to the outside through spiracles. A tubular heart at the
back keeps the blood moving between the tissues with no blood
vessels.

8
CLASSIFICATION OF BUTTERFLIES

KINGDOM-Animalia

PHYLUM-Anthropoda

CLASS-Insecta

ORDER-Lepidoptera

SUBORDER-Rhopalocera

SUPERFAMILY-Hedyloidea SUPERFAMILY-Papilionoidea

FAMILIES-Hesperiidae,
Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae,
FAMILY-Hedylidae
Papilionidae, Pieridae,
Riodinidae

9
 LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY
• EGG: Soon after mating, the adult
female starts its search for an
appropriate food plant for egg
laying. Butterflies lay their eggs
singly or in batches. According to
the species the eggs vary in shape,
texture and size. The egg shell or
chorion is tough, made up of of
chitin and coated with an adhesive
for sticking to the leaf surface.
Micropyle, a minute opening at the
top of the egg allows exchange of
gases for the developing
caterpillar.
• CATERPILLAR: The fertilized egg
takes from 3-7 days for hatching.
The caterpillar emerges by biting
through the egg shell and its first
food is the empty eggshell. Later it
feeds only on its food plant, eating
leaf, bud, flower and shoot that
come in its way. This is the only
stage of growth in the life of a
butterfly, though caterpillar body
grows rapidly, its skin does not
grow along with the body, but
stretches to accommodate the
growing body to a limit.
• PUPA: On attaining full growth,
the caterpillar ceases to feed and
begins to wander restlessly on the
food plant or moves away to some
other plant or ground. Soon the
undigested food is thrown out
clearing the digestive tract. Finally
the caterpillar settles down on a
suitable spot.

10
 MIGRATION OF BUTTERFLY
The seasonal movement of a complete population of animals
from one area to another. Migration is usually a response to
change in temperature, food supply, or the amount of daylight,
and is often undertaken for the purpose of breeding. Mammals,
insects, fish and birds all migrate. Every year, two seasonal
butterfly migrations occurs between the Western and Eastern
Ghats of the Indian peninsula in search of food and survival. Two
species make up the overwhelming majority in these migrating
swarms - The Dark Blue Tiger and Double branded Black Crow.
The other species also make a significant part of the swarms that
is Oriental Blue Tiger and Indian Common Crow. Intense rain in
the Western Ghats complex during the southwest monsoon
makes it difficult for the butterflies to survive. To avoid the
inclement weather, butterflies start their first migration in May
and June before the onset of southwest monsoon from the
Western Ghats to the plains and to the Eastern Ghats. During the
southwest monsoon, Eastern Ghats provide the ideal climate for
the butterflies to survive. The migratory adults become
reproductive, breed, lay eggs and die. The successive generation
starts to migrate back from Eastern Ghats in late September and
October before the onset of the northeast monsoon, which
brings rainfall to the Eastern Ghats. This is the second seasonal
migration of the year.

11
o Each type or species form
a pupa of its own peculiar
shape and pattern, appearing
almost lifeless and inert, but
inside there is great
activity and
metamorphosis .The Tissues
and structures of the caterpillar
are broken down and replaced
with those of the adult
butterfly. The duration of the
pupal stage depends upon the
prevailing weather and
vegetational season; some may
go for hibernation or diapause
if climate is not suitable.
• ADULT: The sight of emergence
of the butterfly is one of the
fascinating moments in nature.
The pupal case becomes
transparent the night
before emergence, making the
colours of the wings to be seen
and by morning, the colours
darken and the pupal case
splits open at the head. On
exposure to the air, the soft
wings gradually
become stronger. After resting
thus for half an hour or so, the
newly emerged butterfly first
starts flapping its wings a few
times and then takes off. (Life
cycle of Commonder butterfly)

12
 PIERIDAE (WHITES AND YELLOWS)
Whites and Yellows, as the name suggests have white and
yellow coloration, with black, red or orange markings. Being
strong fliers, most of them prefer open lands as their habitat.
The males can be spotted gregariously during mud-puddling
when they imbibe salts from moist soils. Most Pieridae
members exhibit sexual dimorphism with male and female
differing in the pattern and number of black markings. Spindle
shaped eggs are laid singly or in batches. On hatching, the
early instar larvae usually feed together in groups. The
caterpillar is greenish in colour with a smooth and cylindrical
body. The Pierids have their pupae held at an angle by a silk
girdle running at the first abdominal segment. Most of them
exhibit seasonal variation in coloration, i.e., different wet and
dry season forms. As a protective mechanism against
predators, a few Pierids have unpalatable nature derived from
chemicals obtained from host plants and warning
colourations.

13
 COMMON GRASS YELLOW ( Eurema hecabe)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Pieridae
• Genus: Eurema
• Species: hecabe

CHARACTERS :
• Eurema hecabe, the common grass yellow, is a small pierid
butterfly species found in Asia, Africa and Australia.
• They are found flying close to the ground and are found in
open grass and scrub habitats.
• They prefer open forest areas, wastelands and grasslands.
They also found along roadsides and riverbanks, and in parks
and gardens at elevations between sea level and about 1000
metres.
• They are found flying close to the ground in open grass and
scrub. Their habit of gathering in small groups on patches of
damp sand or soil.
• Male butterflies are often seen in large groups, and the
females usually fly about by themselves to find nectar from a
wide variety of plants.
• They have a wingspan of 35 to 45 mm. Common Grass Yellow
butterflies are small in size. The female is larger and a paler
yellow.

14
 MOTTLED EMIGRANT ( Catosilia pyranthe)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Pieridae
• Genus: Catopsilia
• Species: C. pyranthe

CHARACTERS :
• Mottled emigrant is a medium-sized butterfly of the
family Pieridae found in south Asia.
• The upper side of the body is chalky white, slightly
tinted in some specimens with green.
• The forewing is with or without a black spot that varies
in size.
• In female the upperside is as in the male, but
sometimes with a suffusion of pale greenish tallow on
the terminal third or fourth only of both forewings and
hindwings, rarely of that tint throughout.
• They are found in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Malaya
and New guinea.

15
 LYCAENIDAE ( BLUES )
Blues, the second largest family comprises of small to medium
sized butterflies which are brightly coloured, usually with a
metallic tinge. Many Lycaenids despite having the name blue
have no blue colouration on their wings. Adult individuals
often have hairy antenna-like tails complete with black and
white annulated (ringed) appearance. The dark spots at the
end of tail provides decoy from potential predator, making the
predator unable to recognize the true head. Lycaenid eggs are
turban shaped with both ends flattened and slightly cylindrical
with smooth or pitted surface. Larvae are often flattened with
segmented body and retractable head having glands that
produce secretions that attract and subdue ants. Pupation
occurs in ground (leaf litter) or tree cervices with the pupae
existing in association with ants in many cases. Lycaenids are
diverse in their food habits and apart from phytophagy, some
of them are entomophagous feeding on aphids, scale, insects
and ant larvae. Grass jewel (15-22mm), the smallest butterfly
of India comes under this family.

16
 MALAYAN (Megisba malaya)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Lycaenidae
• Genus: Megisba
• Species: M. malaya

CHARACTERS :
• The Malayan is a small butterfly found in South Asia and
Southeast Asia. It belongs to the family of gossamer winged
butterflies.
• It usually not a rare species, but may be less common, even
rare, in parts of its range.
• The female Malayan has broader and more rounded forewing
than the male.
• The male is dark brown with a bluish tint on the upper side. It
has white scaling on the centre of the forewing, which is
enlarged in its dry season from.
• Males are regularly seen on wet patches on the ground.
Females are rarely seen other than when they are feeding on
nectar or laying eggs.
• It prefers shady habitats such as forests and lush gardens.
The Malayan population increases during the monsoonal
rains in the dry zone.

17
 RED PIERROT(Talicada nyseus)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Lycaenidae
• Genus: Talicada
• Species: T. nyseus

CHARACTERS:
• The red Pierrot is a small but striking butterfly found in the
Indian subcontinent Meghalaya, Himalayan foothills, Assam,
Odisha, Punjab and Karnataka belonging to the lycaenids.
• The butterfly has a wingspan of 3 to 3.5cm. the upperside of
its wing are black except for a large orange portion of the
lower edge of the hindwing.
• They are found in semi-arid plains, degraded patches of
evergreen patches, semi-evergreen forests, gardens, hill
station.
• The butterfly is weak flier, and flutters about close to the
ground. It flies in short bursts and settles often but not for
very long. It basks with its wings half open, but prefers shade
to sun, and jungle to open areas.
• It is not a common butterfly, but near its food plant,
Kalanchoe, it is found in abundance and is gregarious in all its
stages.

18
 NYMPHALIDAE (BRUSHFOOTS)

The largest family of butterflies, this group has members with

four legs reduced to a small hairy brush, giving the name
Brush-footed butterflies. The fore legs are held pressed against
the underside of the thorax, giving a fore legged appearance.
Size of Nymphalids ranges from medium to large, with a vast
majority being in medium size. Brush-footed butterflies vary
greatly in colouration. Size and shape of egg vary considerably
within the family. The caterpillars are hairy or spiky with
projections on head. Chrysalids having shiny spots are
suspended free from the anal hook or cremaster without any
silken girdle. Nymphalids exhibit powerful and energetic flight
and feed on animal droppings, urine, and carcasces, nectar and
even overripe fruits.

19
 STRIPED TIGER (Danaus genutia)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Danaus
• Species: D.Genutia

CHARACTERS :
• Danaus genutia, the common tiger is one of the
common butterflies of India. It belongs to the "crows and tigers",
that is, the Danainae group of the brush-footed butterflies family.
The butterfly is also called striped tiger in India to differentiate it
from the equally common plain tiger, Danaus chrysippus.
• The butterfly closely resembles the monarch butterfly (Danaus
plexippus) of the Americas. The wingspan is 70 to 95 millimetres
(2.8 to 3.7 in). Both sexes of the butterfly have tawny wings with
veins marked with broad black bands.
• The male has a pouch on the hindwing. The margins of the wings
are black with two rows of white spots. The underside of the
wings resembles the upperside but is paler in colouration.
• The male common tiger has a prominent black-and-white spot on
the underside of the hindwing. In drier regions the tawny part of
the hindwing pales and approaches white in colour making it
very similar to the white tiger (D. melanippus).

20
 TAWNY COSTER (Acraea terpsicore)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Acraea
• Species: A. terpsicore

CHARACTERS :
• Acraea trepsicore commonly called as tawny coster.It belongs to
the largest family of butterflies Nymphalidae.
• This species occurs naturally in grassland and scrub habitats.
• It is found India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand,
Cambodia and recently in Australia.
• It is a medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of 48 to 54 mm.
• This species do not fly high, but seems to keep within 3m of the
ground and tends to rest on vegetation in the regions of meter
off the ground.
• It is one of the boldest butterflies, protected as it is from
predators by a nauseous chemical.
• When attacked it plays dead and exudes a noxious yellowish
fluid from the glands in the joints of the legs.

21
 BLUEMOON BUTTERFLY (Hypolimnas bolina)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Hypolimnas
• Species: H. bolina

CHARACTERS :
• The Blue Moon Butterfly is a species of dark butterflies that are
found in 20 different subspecies in several countries. These
butterflies are territorial, and the males are found chasing the
females during spring/summer, their mating season, which is the
best time to watch them. They get their name from the two
bright blue circular patches on the male’s wings, resembling the
full ‘blue moon’ in the dark sky.
• Color and Appearance: When the wings are open, the dorsal
side of the wings in the male shows a dark jet black coloration
with three pairs of white spots bordered by violet iridescence,
with two pairs being on the primary wings and one pair on the
secondary wings. The hindwings also show a series of small white
dots marking the outer border. The females have a brownish
black base color and devoid of spots like those of the male. The
edges of their wings also display white markings. When the
wings are closed, the males show a jet black with intricate white
markings arranged in a pattern parallel to the edges, while in the
female, the markings are the same as in the male, except that
the base color is tan brown in place of black.
• Average wingspan: 70 to 85 mm (2.8–3.3 in)
• Flight pattern: Slow, yet erratic

22
 DANAID EGGFLY (Hypolimnas misippus)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Hypolimnas
• Species: H. misippus

CHARACTERS :
• Danaid eggfly is widespread species of nymphalid butterfly. It is
well known for polymorphism and mimicry.
• Males are blackish with distinctive white spots that are fringed in
blue.
• Females are in multiple forms that include male like forms while
other closely resembles the toxic butterflies.
• They are found in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan,
china and in Thailand.
• They feed on Abutilon, Hibiscus, Sida cordifolia, Portulaca
oleracea, Abelmoschus, Justicia betonica .
• Habit and habitat of Danaid Eggfly. Danaid Eggflies prefer
wetlands, woodlands and open areas. They also found in desert,
savannah, acacia scrub, well vegetated beaches, tropical
rainforest, and botanical gardens.
• Males bask on the ground, or perch with wings half-open on
bushes, to await passing females. The latter are most commonly
seen flitting about on open ground looking for egg-laying sites.

23
 COMMON CROW (Euploea core)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Euploea
• Species: core

CHARACTERS :
• Euploea core, is a common butterfly found in South Asia to
Australia. In India it is also sometimes referred to as the
common Indian crow.
• butterfly with rows of white spots on the margins of its wings
its a slow, steady flier. Due to its unpalatability it is usually
observed gliding through the air with a minimum of effort.
• As caterpillars, this species sequesters toxins from its food plant
which are passed on from larva to pupa to the adult.
• While feeding, it is a very bold butterfly, taking a long time at
each bunch of flowers.
• The males of this species visit plants like Heliotropium to
replenish pheromone stocks which are used to attract female
during courtship.
• Wing span is about 85-95 mm.

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 BLUE TIGER (Tirumala limniace)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Tirumala
• Species: T. limniace

CHARACTERS:
• Tirumala limniace, the blue tiger, is a butterfly found in South
Asia, and Southeast Asiathat belongs to the crows and tigers,
that is, the danaid group of the brush-footed butterfly family.
This butterfly shows gregarious migratory behaviour in
southern India.
• In some places, it may be found in congregations with Danaus
genutia, Tirumala septentrionis, Euploea sylvester, Euploea
cor, Parantica aglea, and at high elevations, with Parantica
nilgiriensis, on Crotalaria.
• It has a wingspan of 90 to 100 millimeters, with the males
being smaller than the females. The upper side of the wing is
dark brown to black and patterned with bluish-white, semi-
transparent spots and lines.
• The blue of the bluish-white spots consists of the pigment
pterobilin. In general, all butterflies can directly absorb heat
from the sun via their wings to facilitate autonomous flight.
• Studies on blue tiger butterflies show that high-intensity light
significantly increased flight activity. Blue tiger butterflies have
a wing surface color that is composed of both light and dark
colors. The dark areas on the wing surfaces are the heat
absorption areas that allow for the facilitation of autonomous
25
flight.
 GREY PANSY (Junonia atlites)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Junonia
• Species: J. atlites

CHARACTERS:
• Junonia atlites, the grey pansy, is a species
of nymphalid butterfly found in South Asia.
• J. atlites is found in Bangladesh, India, southern
China, Cambodia, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, western and
central Indonesia, and the Philippines.
• Upperside of both sexes pale lavender brown, apical half of
wings paler. Forewing: cell with, three transverse, short,
sinuous black bands, the outermost defining the discocellulars;
a similar short, somewhat broader band beyond the apex of
the cell; two transverse discal dusky black fasciae, the inner
highly sinuous and outward, angulate above vein 4, the outer
straighter, somewhat lunular, bordered by a series of whitish
ovals with dusky or black centers.
• Underside lilacine white markings as on the upperside but very
delicate, slender and somewhat obsolescent. In the dry-season
forms of the males the rows of oval ocelli are only indicated by
the yellow-centered ovals.
• The most prominent marking is the inner discal fascia crossing
the wings; this is much less sinuous than on the upperside and
not angulated on the forewing.
26
 COMMON FOURRING (Ypthima huebneri)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Nymphalidae
• Genus: Ypthima
• Species: Y. huebneri

CHARACTERS:
• These low flying butterflies are a dull brown grey, but
they are adorned with black and yellow eye spots the
are used to confuse predators.
• The butterfly has wingspan of 33-99 mm.
• This butterfly usually found in the north-western
Himalayas, Kashmir.
• This butterfly prefers gardens, roadsides, secondary
growth and forest borders.
• It has limited dispersal range, but it can move through
open areas and road verges.
• This butterfly feeds on nectar as butterfly and host
plants as caterpillar.

27
 PAPILIONIDAE(Swallow tail)

Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the

family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species. Though
the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit
every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the
largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies of
the genus Ornithoptera.Swallowtails have a number of
distinctive features;
forexample,thepapilionid caterpillar bears
a repugnatorial organ called the osmeterium on its
prothorax. The osmeterium normally remains hidden, but
when threatened, the larva turns it outward through a
transverse dorsal groove by inflating it with fluid.
The forked appearance in some of the swallowtails'
hindwings, which can be seen when the butterfly is resting
with its wings spread, gave rise to the common
name swallowtail. As for its formal
name, Linnaeus chose Papilio for the type genus,
as papilio is Latin for "butterfly".

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 GREAT WINDMILL (Byasa dasarada)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Papilionidae
• Genus: Byasa
• Species: B. dasarda

CHARACTERS :
• Byasa dasarada, the great windmill, is a butterfly found
in India that belongs to the windmills genus, Byasa, comprising
tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red
submarginal crescents.
• Wingspan: 100 to 140 mm.The butterflies resemble the common
windmill but are usually larger with broader tails.
• The upper hindwing marginal crescent is white or cream-
coloured.
• Sexes similar. The female often has a complete discal band of
white spots on the hindwing.
• The butterfly is considered to be beautiful in appearance.
• The great windmill is a woodland butterfly. It can often be
spotted slowly and gracefully flying across clearings. It flies
between 4,000 and 9,000 feet (1,200 and 2,700 m) in the spring
and summer. Its habits resemble those of the common windmill.

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 GREAT WINDMILL(Byasa dasarada)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Papilionidae
• Genus: Byasa
• Species: B. dasarda

CHARACTERS :
• Byasa dasarada, the great windmill, is a butterfly found
in India that belongs to the windmills genus, Byasa, comprising
tailed black swallowtail butterflies with white spots and red
submarginal crescents.
• Wingspan: 100 to 140 mm.The butterflies resemble the common
windmill but are usually larger with broader tails.
• The upper hindwing marginal crescent is white or cream-
coloured.
• Sexes similar. The female often has a complete discal band of
white spots on the hindwing.
• The butterfly is considered to be beautiful in appearance.
• The great windmill is a woodland butterfly. It can often be
spotted slowly and gracefully flying across clearings. It flies
between 4,000 and 9,000 feet (1,200 and 2,700 m) in the spring
and summer. Its habits resemble those of the common windmill.

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 COMMON ROSE(Pachliopta aristolochiae)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Papilionidae
• Genus: Pachliopta
• Species: P. aristolochiae

CHARACTERS :
• Pachliopta aristolochiae, the common rose, is
a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the genus Pachliopta, the
roses, or red-bodied swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which
is extensively distributed across south and southeast Asia.
• It is widely distributed in Asia including Afghanistan, Pakistan,
India (including the Andaman Islands), Nepal, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar, Thailand, Japan (south-western Okinawa only), Laos,
Vietnam, Cambodia, Nicobar Islands, peninsular and eastern
Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines (Palawan and Leyte), Indonesia,
Bangladesh and Taiwan.
• The upperside of male is velvety black.
• Forewing with well-marked pale adnervular streaks on the discal
area that do not reach the terminal margin, the latter broadly
velvety black; the streaks beyond end of cell extended inwards
into its apex.
• Hindwing with elongate white discal markings in interspaces 2–5
beyond the cell.In dry-weather specimens these markings are
very short and do not nearly reach the bases of the interspaces;
beyond these a curved series of subterminal lunular markings in
interspaces one to seven dull crimson irrorated with black
scales, the spot in interspace one large, irregular, diffuse,
margined interiorly with white.
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 GOSSAMER WINGED(Lycaenidae)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Super
• Family: Papilionidae
• Family: Lycaenidae

CHARACTERS :
• Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies
(behind Nymphalidae , brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000
species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-
winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known
butterfly species.
• Adults are small, under 5 cm usually, and brightly coloured,
sometimes with a metallic gloss.
• Larvae are often flattened rather than cylindrical, with glands
that may produce secretions that attract and subdue ants. Their
cuticles tend to be thickened. Some larvae are capable of
producing vibrations and low sounds that are transmitted
through the substrates they inhabit. They use these sounds to
communicate with ants.
• Adult individuals often have hairy antenna-like tails complete
with black and white annulated (ringed) appearance. Many
species also have a spot at the base of the tail and some turn
around upon landing to confuse potential predators from
recognizing the true head orientation. This causes predators to
approach from the true head end resulting in early visual
detection.
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 COMMON MORMON(Papilio Polytes )

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Papilionidae
• Genus: Papilio
• Species: P. polytes

CHARACTERS :
• Papilio polytes, the common Mormon, is a common species
of swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.
• This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the
numerous forms of its females which mimic inedible red-bodied
swallowtails, such as the common rose and the crimson rose.
• Sizes: 90-100mm
• Habit & Habitat: Males have fast flight while females have slow
flight mimicking Common Rose and Crimson Rose. Likes flower.
Can be seen throughout the year.
• Males have velvety black wing with a row of white spots on
central region. Female have 3 different forms. Form cyrus is
similar to males but have red marginal crescents on hind wing.
Form romulas is black and tailed similar to crimson rose. It has
red spots on hind wing apes, cell and discs. Form stichius is tailed
and black, similar to common rose. It has 2-6 elongated white
spots in cell on underside of hind wing.

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 BLUE MORMON(Papilio polymnestor)

Scientific Classification
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Arthropoda
• Class: Insecta
• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Papilionidae
• Genus: Papilio
• Species: P. polymnestor

CHARACTERS :
• Papilio polymnestor, the blue Mormon, is a large swallowtail
butterfly found in south India and Sri Lanka. It is the "state
butterfly" of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With a wingspan
of 120–150 mm, it is the fourth largest butterfly of India.
• The sexes are similar but the female is duller in colouration. Its
hindwing is distinctly large and rounded.
• The upper surface of its forewing has band of blue scales,
while the hindwing is almost blue.
• This butterfly prefers forest habitats including lush home
gardens. It is spread out commonly throughout the country,
but is not found numerously.

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 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The study area was classified in to 5 sub-sites based on the
vegetation composition and level of traffic frequency (Fig. 1).
During the study period a total of 92 species of butterflies have
been documented belonging to 68 genera and 5 families .

Fig.1 : Map of Nandankanan

Wildlife Sanctuary showing
different study sites; S1 – Scrub
Forest; S2 – Dry Decidous Forest;
S3 – Animal exhibit area; S4 –
Kanjia wet land and S5 – Mixed
forest.
Maximum numbers of species were observed in the family
Nymphalidae (30.43%, n = 92) followed by Lycenidae (21.74%),
Pieridae (19.57%), Hesperidae (17.39%) and Papillionidae (10.87%)
(Fig 2). However, as far as the habitat is concerned, the mixed
vegetation and the drier area i.e. S-5 and S-1 occupy 32% and 22%
(n= 263) of total number of butterflies encountered in the
sanctuary area, respectively. It is observed that the number of
butterflies sighted is minimum i.e. 14% and 15% in moist deciduous
(S2) and near aquatic habitat (S-4), respectively. But the butterflies
like Atrophaneura hector, Graphium nomius, Graphium doson,
Graphium Agamemnon, Euthalia nais, Curetis thetis are the canopy
the dwellers those are mostly preferring the mixed vegetation with
good canopy cover.
As far as the microhabitat is concerned, leaf litter ground is mostly
preferred by Elymnias hypermenstra, Mycalesis perseus, Mycalesis
mineus, Orsotrioena medus, Ypthima huebneri, Neopithecus zalmra
.However, bushy and scrub forest habitat is preferred by most of
thebutterflieslike Papilio polytes, Catopsilia Pomona, Catopsilia pyn
nthe,Eurema spp., Leptosia nina, Appias libythea, Phalanta phalana,
Acraeaviolae,Ixiasspp.,Junoniaspp., Hypolimnas bolina, Hypolimnas
missipus, Amblypodia anita, etc.

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 Fig.2 : Graph showing site specific
species diversity at Nandankanan
Wildlife Sanctuary

Besides, many species belong to family Hesperiidae which prefer

the bushy microhabitat. Although, Nandankanan is situated in
the vicinity of the city of Bhubaneswar, the varied microhabitat of
the sanctuary is adapting more than 92 species of
these host specific colourful insects.Butterflies are most sensitive
to habitat disturbance and environment alteration.
As the microhabitat of the butterflies are very species specific, a
little change in the environment or the microhabitat affect the
distribution pattern of the species. It is noticed that some
butterflies likePapilio polytes, Graphium doson, Catopsilia Pomona,
Eurema hecabe, Cepora nerissa show very good reflex towards the
rise in ambient temperature. These butterflies migrate from the
open grassland area towards the high canopy habitats as the
temperature rises.
The endothermic metabolism of butterflies makes them vulnerable
towards the trends of global warming. Although lots of studies
have been conducted on the habitat utility, distribution and
ecology, the impact of global warming on the distribution pattern
of butterflies have been less studied.

Butterflies are the predominant prey base for many birds, reptiles,
other insects and even spider species. They serve as the primary
consumer in the grassland and forest ecosystem. Other than the
source of prey base, butterflies are excellent pollinators.

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 Most of the butterflies from family Papilionidae, Pieridae,
Nymphalidae significantly contribute towards the pollination
processes. The butterflies like Papilio polymnestor, Graphium
doson, Atrophaneura aristolochiae, Atrophaneura hector,
Graphium nomius, Graphium Agamemnon, Delias eucharis,
Euthalia aconthea, Curetis thetis are the canopy fliers which are
contributing more for pollination in trees whereas Ixias pyrene,
Ixias marianne, Euthalia nais, Euploea core, Phalanta phalantha,
Hypolimnas bolina, Junonia atlites, Junonia almanac,
Amblypodia anita, Rathinda amor etc. are taking major role in
pollination processes in scrub forests and dry deciduous forest
areas. Butterflies do have very significant role in ecological
balance and are also very good pollinator. Among the 92 species
of butterflies recorded at Nandankanan, four of them are
protected by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Danaid egg fly
(Hypolimnas misippus) belongs to schedule – I whereas two
species i.e. Common four ring (Ypthima huebneri) and Indian
ace (Halpe homolea) belong to schedule – II and Striped
albatross (Appias libythea) belongs to schedule – IV of WPA,
1972. Butterflies provide ecological benefit as strong pollinators
and predominant prey base for many animals. They indicate any
little change in environment as instant ecological indicators.
Thus, it is necessary to conserve the species diversity as well as
to continue study to understand the most attractive and
colourful creature of nature.

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 CONCLUSION

The purpose of this study was to identify the variety of

butterfly species in the botanical garden Bhubaneswar,
Odisha. The study was carried out in different sites of
botanical garden in April 2022 during 9am to 1pm. The study
range supports a rich diversity of butterflies with a wide
variety of plants which provide them an ideal breeding
habitat. There are 15 species of butterflies belonging to 4
family recorded in botanical garden during the study period.
Based on the results obtained from the study on butterfly
distribution in the study area, Nymphalidae family was found
in maximum number and percentage of the species of
butterfly among all the families of butterflies. Therefore, it is
concluded that the study area is rich in butterfly diversity and
further research could be conducted to obtain details and
documentation on butterfly diversity for the conservation and
butterfly parks

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