Additions to the Butterflies of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

588 Manuscript received 28 March 2001; Revised manuscript received 12 June 2001; Accepted for publication 1 July 2001 Previous field studies in the National Park revealed 34 species of butterflies in the 29sq.km. Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur (Palot & Soniya, 2000). Further, survey during the winter month of December, 1999 (1-7), added six more species to the list, making a total of 40 species from the Park. The notable addition to the list is the Common Crow (Euploea core), observed in large numbers along the road from Barrier (entry) to the Keoladeo Temple. Satyrids like Common Evening Brown (Melanitis leda) and Dark Brand Bushbrown (Mycalesis mineus) were also observed in fairly good numbers. Zebra Blue (Syntaurcus plinius) and Pointed Pierrot (Tarucus theophrastus) were the lycaenids added to the list. The Bank’s Swift (Baoris kumara) was the only Hesperiid observed during the present survey. This species was observed to be associated with the nectary blue flowers of Hygrophila auriculata, a common spiny herb, found along the bund and trekpaths lining the wetland regions.