Eurema Hecabe Research Articles

Non-Native Plants Provide Nectar and Host Plant Resources to Native Butterflies

Urban restoration projects often aim to completely remove non-native plant species from the restored landscape and replace them with native plant species. However, this is unrealistic as early successional plants in urban settings comprise predominantly of non-native plant species. In this study, we investigate whether native butterfly species showed a preference on using native versus non-native plant species in their nectar sourcing and caterpillar host plant choice in two urban gardens at Monash University Malaysia. Native butterflies significantly preferred non-native plant species as nectar food plants, suggesting butterflies are generalists in nectar sourcing. Native butterflies showed no preference towards non-native plants as caterpillar host plants. However, six native butterfly species in our study (Zizula hylax, Hypolycaena erylus, Chliaria othona, Junonia orithya, Yppthima spp., and Eurema hecabe) can use non-native plants as their caterpillar host plants. This demonstrates the usefulness of these non-native plant species in an urban garden in maintaining native butterfly biodiversity. This study indicates a paradigm shift is required among urban ecologists to recognize that not all non-native plants have negative impacts on biodiversity. For more effective urban restoration planning and management, further research emphasising how native insects use non-native plant species is required to maximise biodiversity and ecosystem services restoration.

Ultraviolet signaling in a butterfly is preferred by females and conveys male genetic quality.

Indicator models of sexual selection posit that females choose males on the basis of traits that reveal male genetic quality and thereby enjoy increased offspring production. Here, we report that females of the butterfly Eurema hecabe receive indirect benefits from choosing males based on their ultraviolet (UV) wing coloration, a heritable and condition-dependent trait in this species. We first used a large laboratory-bred pedigree to demonstrate a per-family association between inbreeding and male UV trait value. Females exerted choice for UV-bright males within this protocol, and the average male UV trait value increased over six consecutive generations, presumably due to such selection and despite an increasing rate of pedigree-wide inbreeding. We then experimentally imposed a standard strength of inbreeding upon lines of divergent male UV trait values. Inbreeding depressed the siring performance of low UV treatment males more severely and resulted in a marginal reduction of their UV brightness, which rebounded sharply following subsequent outcrossing. These findings are consistent with the ornament-based signaling of genetic quality as a function of underlying individual-level mutational load.

Digest: Sexually selected traits can affect individual fitness and trait evolution in a butterfly species.

Wedell and Kemp ([2024]. Examined the importance of female sexual preferences for male UV reflectance on offspring viability and the evolution of male traits in the butterfly Eurema hecabe. Female preferences were found to have multiple consequences, including increased trait value, higher offspring viability, and reduced mutational load. These findings highlight that female sexual preferences for specific male traits can also have further consequences for individual fitness and evolution of specific morphological characteristics.

The quantitative genetic basis of variation in sexual versus non-sexual butterfly wing colouration: autosomal, Z-linked, and maternal effects.

Viability indicator traits are expected to be integrated extensively across the genome yet sex-limited to ensure that any benefits are sexually concordant. Understanding how such expectations are accommodated requires elucidating the quantitative genetic architecture of candidate traits in and across the sexes. Here we applied an animal modelling approach to partition the autosomal, allosomal, and direct maternal bases of variation in sexual versus non-sexual dorsal wing colouration in the butterfly Eurema hecabe. The sexual colour trait-coherently scattered ultraviolet that is under strong directional selection due to female choice-is brighter and more expansive in males, and overlays non-sexual pigmentary yellow markings that otherwise dominate both wing surfaces in each sex. Our modelling estimated high and sexually equivalent autosomal variances for ultraviolet reflectance (furnishing h2 ~ 0.58 overall and ~0.75 in males), accompanied by smaller but generally significant Z-linked and maternal components. By contrast, variation in non-sexual yellow was largely attributed to Z-linked sources. Intersexual genetic correlations based upon the major source of variation in each trait were high and not different from 1.0, implying regulation by a pool of genes common to each sex. An expansive autosomal basis for ultraviolet is consistent with its hypothesized role as a genome-wide viability indicator and ensures that both sons and daughters will inherit their father's attractiveness.

Species diversity and abundance of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) in Lata Hokkaido, Jeli, Kelantan

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) serve as vital bioindicators for terrestrial environments and habitat quality, making them critical in biological monitoring and conservation efforts. Here, we report the first checklist of butterflies in Lata Hokkaido, Jeli, Kelantan. Butterflies were sampled for 14 consecutive days using fruit-baited traps and aerial net. In total, 303 butterflies belonging to 53 species from 11 subfamilies were documented. Coliadinae was the most dominant subfamily with four species and 60 individuals recorded, meanwhile, Morphinae represents the least recorded subfamily with just one species from one individual. The most abundant species were Eurema hecabe, Leptosia nina, and Mycalesis mineus. The Shannon-Wiener Index (H’ = 3.246) indicates a notable richness in butterfly diversity at Lata Hokkaido, supported by the Margalef’s Richness Index (M = 9.101) which highlights substantial species richness. The Pielou’s Evenness Index (J’ = 0.818) suggests a fairly even distribution of individuals across species. Aditionally, the species accumulation curve reached an asymptote, suggesting that most of the species present in the study area have been detected. This study provides valuable insights into the ecological significance of Lata Hokkaido as a habitat for butterflies and contributes to the broader understanding of butterfly diversity in this area.

The genome and sex-dependent responses to temperature in the common yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe

BackgroundLepidoptera (butterflies and moths) is one of the most geographically widespread insect orders in the world, and its species play important and diverse ecological and applied roles. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges to biodiversity this century, and lepidopterans are vulnerable to climate change. Temperature-dependent gene expression differences are of relevance under the ongoing climate crisis. However, little is known about how climate affects gene expression in lepidopterans and the ecological consequences of this, particularly with respect to genes with biased expression in one of the sexes. The common yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe (Family Pieridae), is one of the most geographically widespread lepidopterans that can be found in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Nevertheless, what temperature-dependent effects there may be and whether the effects differ between the sexes remain largely unexplored.ResultsHere, we generated high-quality genomic resources for E. hecabe along with transcriptomes from eight developmental stages. Male and female butterflies were subjected to varying temperatures to assess sex-specific gene expression responses through mRNA and microRNA transcriptomics. We find that there are more temperature-dependent sex-biased genes in females than males, including genes that are involved in a range of biologically important functions, highlighting potential ecological impacts of increased temperatures. Further, by considering available butterfly data on sex-biased gene expression in a comparative genomic framework, we find that the pattern of sex-biased gene expression identified in E. hecabe is highly species-specific, rather than conserved across butterfly species, suggesting that sex-biased gene expression responses to climate change are complex in butterflies.ConclusionsOur study lays the foundation for further understanding of differential responses to environmental stress in a widespread lepidopteran model and demonstrates the potential complexity of sex-specific responses of lepidopterans to climate change.

Variations in species diversity and the role of butterflies in oil palm agroecosystems at PT BSM South Sumatra

Reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and controlling pests/chemical diseases is one of the prerequisites for the realization of sustainable oil palm plantation management. In line with that, the paradigm of green economic development requires optimizing the utilization of biodiversity in various aspects of managing oil palm plantations in Indonesia. Therefore, research is needed that can describe the variation and role of biodiversity (one of which is butterfly taxa) in the agro-ecosystem of oil palm plantations. This study aims to identify variations in species diversity and the role of butterflies in the agro-ecosystem of oil palm plantations. Observation of butterfly species diversity was carried out on seven types of oil palm plantation land cover at PT BSM. The method used is pollard transect (2 km with a width of 10 m) and trapping. The role of various types of butterflies is carried out through a literature search. The results showed that there were 163 individuals from 30 species and consisted of 4 families namely Papilionidae, Pieridae and Lycaenidae. The highest diversity and richness index values were found in smallholder plantations 1 (H′=2.42) and (Dmg=4.01), while the lowest were found in young oil palm areas (H′=0.87) and (Dmg=0. 99). The highest evenness index value was found in shrubs (E=1) while the lowest was in young oil palm land cover (E=0.54). Butterfly species that have potential as environmental bioindicators are Tanaecia pelea, Neptis hylas, Cupha erymantis, Neptis ida, Danaus affinis, Junonia atlites, Leptosia nina, Catopsilia pyranthe, Rapala iarbus, Papilio memnon, Losaria coon, Papilio polytes, Spindiasis lohita and Eurema hecabe. While the pollinators are Ypthima baldus, Catopsilia pyranthe, Hypolimnas bolina, Papilio polytes, and Neptis hylas.

Identifikasi Jenis Kupu-kupu (Lepidoptera) di Taman Wisata Alam Baning Kabupaten Sintang

Baning Nature Park is located on the Ana River, Sintang District, Sintang District, West Kalimantan Province, is an ex-situ conservation area of ​​dry lowland plants with various collections of plant habitus, both from trees, shrubs, herbs, lianas, and others. other. The existence of butterflies in a habitat has a role as pollinating insects which have a very important position in maintaining the balance of nature. Butterflies aside from being natural pollinating agents, can be used as an indicator in testing environmental quality, by observing the state of their habitat. This study aims to find out what types of butterflies are found in the Baning Nature Park and their ecological roles. This research is a type of exploratory research. Data collection was carried out using a belt transect, by circling the Baning Nature Park. Catching butterflies is done using sweeping technique. Observations made at the Baning Nature Park found 15 species in 4 different families. These species namely; Arhopala centaurus, Leptosia nina, Appias olferna, Eurema blanda, Catopsilia pomona, Eurema hecabe, Junonia hedonia, Junonia atlites, Junonia iphita, Hypolimnas bolina, Phaedyma columella, Elymnias hypermnestra, Tanaecia trigerta, Papilio memnon, and Papilio polytes. The ecological role of the butterfly is as a pollinating organism. Nectar-producing plants in Baning Nature Park which are frequently visited by butterflies, namely, the species Psydrax dicoccos and Ixora sp.

Study on Butterflies (Lepidoptera) from Taluka Larkana, Sindh Pakistan

Butterflies are elegant, beautiful, and charming insects due to their colourful squamate. They are a great source of economic and beautification and indicators for biodiversity of agroecsystem. In addition to this, they are more important pollinators of flora than the flies and moths. An investigation of several locations in Taluka Larkana with the goal of collecting as many specimens of butterflies was carried out from March to July 2022. About 288 samples of butterflies were captured from different sites. The collected specimens were sorted out into 03 families: Pieridae, Papilionidae and Nymphalidae with 06 genera and 06 species: Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus,1758), Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus,1758), Junonia almana (Linnaeus,1758), Papilio demoleus Linnaeus,1758, Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus,1758) and Pieris canidia (Sparrman, 1768). Description of the collected species, detailed genitalia, digital images and habitat of species are provided first time from the studied area. Hopefully, this study will be fruitful for the future researchersconcerned with this group

Syzygium myrtifolium Walp. flowering stages and its visitor insects

Abstract. Mudiana D, Ariyanti EE. 2021. Syzygium myrtifolium Walp. flowering stages and its visitor insects. Biodiversitas 22: 3489-3496. “Pucuk merah” or Red lip (Syzygium myrtifolium Walp.) is widely known as an ornamental plant used as garden components. This species belongs to the Myrtaceae family with the scientific name Syzygium myrtifolium Walp. This paper specifically aimed to observe the stages of flowering and visiting insects of S. myrtifolium, while the determination of insects as pollinators was not carried out in this study, and was intended merely to make a species list of visiting insects, without counting the number of individuals and the times of their visits. These are done by examining two individual trees of S. myrtifolium (which have flowered and fruited several times) during its flowering season, recording all visible flower developments and the visitor insects. The visitor insects were observed during flower bloom. The results showed ten stages of flowering process in S. myrtifolium starting from emerging flower buds until fruits riped, which took 105-124 days. Twelve species of insects were recorded visiting flowers of S. myrtifolium during full blooming period, namely Euploea core, Hypolimnas bolina, Telicota colon, Eurema hecabe, Rapala pheretima, Apis cerana, Apis mellifera, Trigona sp., Dysphania sagana, Amata trigonophora, Chrysomya megacephala, Lucilia caesar. They belong to three orders, i.e. Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera; and eight families, namely Calliphoridae, Apidae, Hesperiidae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae, Geometridae, Erebidae, and Pieridae.

Genotype-environment interaction reveals varied developmental responses to unpredictable host phenology in a tropical insect.

Understanding the genetic architecture of life history plasticity may inform resilience under environmental change, but relatively little is known for the inhabitants of unpredictable wet-dry tropical environments. Here, I explore the quantitative genetics of juvenile growth and development relative to hostplant phenology in the butterfly Eurema hecabe. Wet season generations of this species breed explosively on leguminous annuals whereas dry season generations subsist at low density upon an alternative perennial host. The wet-to-dry season transition is temporally unpredictable and marked by widespread host defoliation, forcing a large cohort of stranded larvae to either pupate prematurely or prolong development in the hope of renewed foliage production. A split-brood experiment demonstrated greater performance on high quality annual as opposed to perennial host foliage and a marked decline under the stressed conditions faced by stranded wet season larvae. Genetic variances for rates of growth and development were equivalent among high quality treatments but strikingly elevated under resource stress, and the associated cross-environment genetic correlations were indistinguishable from zero. The results demonstrate genotype-environment interaction involving both rank order and variance scale, thereby revealing genetic variance for norms of reaction that may reflect variable risk aversion given an unpredictable tropical host phenology.

First report of morphometrics and length-length relationships of the common grass yellow butterfly, Eurema hecabe (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

The present investigation was conducted to study the morphometrics and length-length relationships (LLRs) of the Common Grass Yellow Butterfly, Eurema hecabe (L.) (Lepidoptera: Pieridiae). Samples were collected randomly from the Rajshahi University Campus (RUC), Bangladesh, and the pictures were taken with a DSLR camera (Canon 750D) and measured using ImageJ software (l.48v). Here, a total of 14 different morphometric lengths viz. total body, antenna, wings (fore- and hindwing) and legs (fore-, mid- and hindleg) were evaluated. Total length (TL) was recorded as a minimum of 11.51 mm and a maximum of 22.01 mm, whereas antenna length (AL) has differed from 5.78-8.68 mm. The highest morphometric mean was found in forewing base-apex (FWBA) as 21.45±2.21 mm, and the lowest mean of length was recorded in the hindleg (HL) as 6.21±0.67 mm. The FWBA was larger than the TL about 33% followed by the forewing base-tornus (FWBT), hindwing base-apex (HWBA), hindwing base tornus (HWBT) and forewing cubitus2 vein (C2V). According to co-efficient of determination (r2) values, the best-fitted model of LLRs was TL vs. foreleg (FL) among 13 equations. The allometric coefficient ‘b’ was suggested positive allometric growth. These works will be very useful for species recognition and taxonomic study of butterflies in the RUC as well as in Bangladesh.

Indirect effect of pesticides utilization towards diversity of pollinator insects in chili plantation

The contribution of insect pollinators to the ecology and production of food crops is threatened by excessive use of pesticides. Pesticides have an impact on reducing the presence of pollinators in agricultural land. The diversity of pollinators depends on food availability and habitat quality. This research emphasizes the diversity of insect pollinators by the application of pesticides in chili plantations in Muaro Jambi, Sumatra. Insect observations were conducted on April-May 2018 using the scan sampling method. Specimen collection is carried out from 08.00-16.00. Data analysis used Shannon-wiener diversity index (H’), Simpson’s index (D), and Pielou evenness index (E). The results of the study were 498 collected individuals consisting of 9 species. Apis melífera, Apis cerana, and Eurema hecabe are the most dominant insect pollinators. Whereas Apis mellifera showed two peaks of flower visitation (an intense first one between 08.00 until 11.00 a.m. and a second less intense one after 14.00 p.m.). Pollinator insect diversity index in the medium category. Our observations also show that the application of pesticides, anthesis and dehiscence to flowers as well as the activity of pollinating insects which together cause low diversity index values.

Impact of land use pattern and seasonality on butterfly diversity in a sub-tropical Terai arc landscape (TAL), Pantnagar, Uttarakhand (India)

Species diversity and richness of butterflies in habitats constituted by different land-use patterns were studied in the Terai region of Pantnagar for 2 years from Nov 2017 to Dec 2019. A total of 92 species of butterflies belonging to 66 genera and five families were documented from three different habitats viz., inhabited settlement, agricultural land and secondary forest. Family Nymphalidae (34.13%) dominated over Lycaenidae (28.88%), Pieridae (26.20%), Papilionidae (8.76%) and Hesperiidae (4.04%). Among the different species of butterflies, Pseudozizeeria maha was the most dominant butterfly with 6.09% relative abundance followed by Pieris canidia (5.20%), Eurema hecabe (4.86%), Ariadne merione (3.42%), Catopsilia pomona (3.21%) and Luthrodes pandava (3.01%). Diversity and evenness indices viz., Margalef’s index (Dmg), Shannon diversity index (H') and Pielou’s J revealed a greater diversity in undisturbed secondary forest rich in host and nectar plant than the habitat intervened with crop cultivation. Three-factorial ANOVA showed a significant variation in abundance of butterfly concerning months, site and butterfly families. Pearson’s correlation showed the existence of a positive correlation between butterfly abundance and weather parameters viz., maximum temperature, morning and evening relative humidity and rainfall. The results obtained indicate that the Pantnagar region holds a splendid diversity of butterflies and the diversity is altered by different land-use pattern. Regular survey and monitoring of the region are suggested for conservation and documenting the changing biodiversity.

Wolbachia have made it twice: Hybrid introgression between two sister species of Eurema butterflies.

Wolbachia, cytoplasmically inherited endosymbionts of arthropods, are known to hijack their host reproduction in various ways to increase their own vertical transmission. This may lead to the selective sweep of associated mitochondria, which can have a large impact on the evolution of mitochondrial lineages. In Japan, two different Wolbacahia strains (wCI and wFem) are found in two sister species of pierid butterflies, Eurema mandarina and Eurema hecabe. In both species, females infected with wCI (C females) produce offspring with a nearly 1:1 sex ratio, while females infected with both wCI and wFem (CF females) produce all‐female offspring. Previous studies have suggested the historical occurrence of hybrid introgression in C individuals between the two species. Furthermore, hybrid introgression in CF individuals is suggested by the distinct mitochondrial lineages between C females and CF females of E. mandarina. In this study, we performed phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA markers of E. hecabe with previously published data on E. mandarina. We found that the nuclear DNA of this species significantly diverged from that of E. mandarina. By contrast, mitochondrial DNA haplotypes comprised two clades, mostly reflecting Wolbachia infection status rather than the individual species. Collectively, our results support the previously suggested occurrence of two independent historical events wherein the cytoplasms of CF females and C females moved between E. hecabe and E. mandarina through hybrid introgression.

Patterns in distribution of butterfly assemblages at different habitats of Corbett Tiger Reserve, Northern India

Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) located in state Uttarakhand is the first protected area established for in-situ conservation of biodiversity in India. Despite its national importance, there exists lacunae in knowledge on butterflies, important from the viewpoints of effective planning and implementation of conservation actions in the CTR. Using standardized methods, the present study conducted between 2013 to 2014 was aimed to record butterfly species composition and distribution in different sampling regimes of the CTR in relation to habitat types and disturbances. Study revealed a total of 2621 individual butterflies of 56 species under 5 families. Among them, 24 species belong to the Nymphalidae family, 14 species to the Pieridae, 9 species to the Lycaenidae, 5 species to the Papilionidae and 4 species to the Hesperiidae. 50% of the total species were recorded as ubiquitous and 30 species are new records to the CTR. Species such as Catopsilia pomona (Fabricius), Papilio polytes (Cramer), Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus), Catopsilia pyranthe (Linnaeus) were most abundant and Athyma zeroca (Moore), Sarangesa purendra (Moore), Cyrestis thyodamas (Boisduval), Polyura agraria (Swinhoe) were least abundant species. Variations in the calculated diversity indices across the seasons were observed; wherein, summer season exhibited maximum value for Shannon-Diversity index, followed by late monsoon and early winter. Lowest diversity of butterflies was observed during the periods of late winter. Presence of seven species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and five species as rare, substantiate the importance of pristine conditions prevailing in the protected landscape of the reserve. Ongoing tourism activities and habitat alterations threatening butterfly diversity and ecological integrity of the CTR, were also discussed.

KEANEKARAGAMAN SPESIES KUPU-KUPU (LEPIDOPTERA:RHOPALOCERA) DI SAVANA PRINGTALI RESORT BANDEALIT TAMAN NASIONAL MERU BETIRI

Butterfly is the insect that the existence is determined by the ability of their distribution and adaptation towards the environmental factor. The decrease of the plant species diversity in a habitat will affect the diversity of the butterfly species. One of the buterflies habitat which experinces the degradation of species diversity is Resort Bandealit which some parts of the region are designated as the habitat of Invasive plants. The aim of this study is to know the composition and diversity of butterfly species in the pringtali Savannah Resort Bandealit Meru Betiri national park. The method used in the data collection is the road sampling method. The road sampling method is done by walking and counting spesimen which were collect by active collection. Exploration is carried out by walking along the five cruise lines with a length of each path is 100 m in Savana Pringtali Meru Betiri National Park. The composition and diversity species of butterfly is a 11 species represented from 3 family and 10 genus. The four most common species of butterflies found in the study area are Jamides pura, Ypthima Philomela, Leptosia nina, and Eurema hecabe.

KEANEKARAGAMAN JENIS KUPU-KUPU (ORDO LEPIDOPTERA) PADA RUANG TERBUKA HIJAU KOTA PONTIANAK

Butterflies are one type of insect found in the green open space of Pontianak City. Butterflies can be used as bioindicators of environmental changes because butterflies are very sensitive to biotic and abiotic factors (Rizal, 2007). This study aims to obtain data and analyze the diversity of butterfly species in the green open space of Pontianak City. The study used a field observation method with sweeping net techniques and explored areas in three habitats namely Sylva Untan Arboretum, Untan S1 Forestry Campus and West Kalimantan Governor's Hall Pavilion. The three green open spaces were chosen based on the density and diversity of the vegetation. The results of the study found 22 types of butterflies. The same six types are found in three different types of open green space, namely Leptosia nina, Agamemnon Graphium, Papilio polytes, Hipolimnas bolina, Eurema hecabe, and Appias lybithea. The species diversity index at the Arboretum has a value of 2.74, Campus S1 Forestry Untan with a value of 2.19 and Pendopo Park with a value of 2.02. This value indicates that species diversity in green open space is classified as medium.Keywords: butterfly diversity, green open space, bioindicator

<strong>Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) diversity in relation to habitat utilization at Jagannath Kishore College, Purulia, West Bengal (India)</strong>

Documentation of butterfly diversity is necessary for ecosystem management both at the local and the global scales. The varied types of functional role of the butterflies qualify them for conservation and thus sustenance of the ecosystem services. Information about the biodiversity of Purulia district as well as arid regions of Chota Nagpur Plateau is insufficient and this necessitates to investigate about the butterfly diversity of Purulia which will provide subsequent information for ecosystem management. On the basis of this proposition, the present study was carried out in the campus of Jagannath Kishore College, Purulia, West Bengal (India). The species richness, species diversity, seasonal variation and habitat utilisation by the butterflies were studied for a period of one year between February 2016 and January 2017 with photographic documentation. A total of seventy-one butterfly species under five families were encountered, of which, the family Nymphalidae represented highest number of species. The butterfly species richness was lower in summer probably due to the scarcity of water, but during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons water availabitity boost up the vegetation and therefore species richness increased to its maximum. Among the different species, Eurema hecabe was the most abundant species throughout the year followed by Leptosia nina, Danaus chrysippus and Catopsilia pomona. In the study area, thirty-one species of herbs and shrubs were identified as nectaring plants for adult butterflies. Among them, Tridax procumbens, Lantana camara, Alternanthera sessilis and Tagetes sp. were recognized as the preferred nectaring plants based on the number of butterflies visiting them. As an effort for conservation of the butterflies, the information on the plants and the species avaialble in the concerned region may be used further. However, long term monitoring of the concerned region is recommended to understand the changes in the environmental quality as reflected through the variations in the butterfly species assemblages.

Effect of natural gas flaring upon the butterfly, Eurema hecabe (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) and its host plant, Cassia tora (Fabales: Fabaceae) in two group gathering stations of Assam, India: an approach of environmental monitoring.

Apart from other pollutants, flaring of natural gas adds carbon dioxide into the environment and changes the atmospheric composition, including temperature and humidity. As a major gaseous product, carbon dioxide changes plant structural components as well as herbivores, i.e., insect by dilution of nitrogen under such circumstances. Present analysis demonstrated the impact of gas flaring upon adjoining biota especially Eurema hecabe butterfly and its host plant, Cassia tora in some wells (group gathering stations) of Assam, India. Analysis, pertaining from the current investigation, documented higher carbon dioxide as well as temperature in the studied flaring sites. Apart from this, reduction of leaf nitrogen, SLA, and chlorophyll with increasing in LDMC, thickness, and carbon in the studied plant as well as poor developmental rate, RGR, ECD with high RCR in insect indicated severe impact of flaring in those areas. Simulation studies with different concentration of CO2 in open top chamber on the plant and butterfly also revealed similar trend of results.