Larval host plants of the butterflies of the Western Ghats, India

Ravikanthachari Nitin,Satya Prakash,Krushnamegh Kunte,Paresh V Churi,S Kalesh,V C Balakrishnan

doi:10.11609/jott.3104.10.4.11495-11550

Ravikanthachari Nitin, Satya Prakash + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.3104.10.4.11495-11550

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Abstract

We present a systematic, updated checklist of larval host plants of the butterflies of the Western Ghats, a globally recognized biodiversity hotspot. This includes recent new records, with a total of approximately 834 plant species/groups belonging to 88 families that are used by 320 butterfly species of the Western Ghats (the host plant records for 16 species are unknown). A reverse list is also provided as a reference to plant species-wise plant-butterfly associations. This work highlights the diversity of plant species on which the endemic and other butterfly species of the Western Ghats depend.

Highlights

The Western Ghats is a prominent, globally recognized biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al 2000; Gunawardene et al 2007)
The butterfly fauna of the Western Ghats is well documented, consisting of 336 species belonging to six families (Kunte 2008a): 329 previously known species (Kunte 2008a; see below for the exclusion of Logania distanti massalia, Udara singalensis, Colotis vestalis and Colotis phisadia), with recent additions of Ypthima singala, Ypthima striata, Celaenorrhinus putra, and Zographetus ogygia (Kunte et al 2018)
Valid plant species names were taken from the checklist of global plants that is being continually updated based on major revisions of plant taxonomy and systematics (The Plant List 2013)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The Western Ghats is a prominent, globally recognized biodiversity hotspot (Myers et al 2000; Gunawardene et al 2007). Compilations typically exclude information such as seasonal and localityspecific usage, this information is critical and is of immense importance to ecology, agriculture and taxonomy With this view in mind, we here present a systematic, comprehensive account of verified larval host plants for the butterflies of the Western Ghats from previous literature and recent, unpublished records. This should form a baseline from which it may be feasible to assemble well-referenced locality-, season- and taxonspecific datasets that may be helpful in ecological studies and conservation management

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

97. Cynanchum liukiuense Warb

Celtis lycodoxylon