Larval Food Plants Research Articles

Ecology and conservation of the British Swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon britannicus: old questions, new challenges and potential opportunities

Abstract The British Swallowtail, Papilio machaon britannicus, is an iconic flagship for its unique but now restricted and fragmented fenland ecosystem in the UK's Norfolk Broads. Occurrence in 1 km2 recording squares fell by 56% over the period of 1974–2014 and by 13% in 2005–2014, but the breeding populations, mainly confined to reserves, have increased in size. Climate change‐induced sea‐level rise and consequent seawater incursion into the Norfolk Broads represent a significant existential threat to the butterfly. Translocation to more secure fenland sites is recommended; several are being restored or recreated through stakeholder partnerships in East Anglia and Somerset. Well‐researched introduction and management of the foodplant, Milk‐parsley, is essential for such translocations to succeed. A better understanding is needed of the genetic structuring of the British Swallowtail populations using modern sequencing technologies, in particular to elucidate the significance of gene flow in relation to the viability of introductions to small or isolated sites. In a species in which hybridisation is commonplace across the Holarctic, the continued influx and future spread in Britain of the continental subspecies Papilio machaon gorganus may present a threat to the genetic integrity of subspecies britannicus, despite their differences in habitat and larval foodplants.

Succession matters: Community shifts in moths over three decades increases multifunctionality in intermediate successional stages

Species composition strongly depends on time, place and resources. In this context, semi-natural grasslands belong to the most species-rich habitats of Europe, and succession may eventually cause local extinction of typical grassland species, but conversely increase species richness due to habitat diversification. Here, we analyse potential effects of succession of calcareous grasslands on moths. Our studied community, assessed over three decades in south-eastern Germany, comprised >1000 species. We compiled data on the ecology of each of these species, considering the larval and adult stages. We assigned Ellenberg indicator values to each main larval food plant species used by these lepidopterans. Changes in the community means of these indicators were applied to test for possible consequences of the changes in habitat structure and quality. Our data revealed increasing multifunctionality of community structure, higher variability of habitat association over time, the appearance of range expanding species, but also local extinction of various typical grassland moth species. These shifts in species composition mirror effects of succession, which frequently transform previously homogenous semi-natural grasslands into a heterogeneous habitat mosaic.

Dispersal in a metapopulation of the critically endangered Danube Clouded Yellow butterfly Colias myrmidone: implications for conservation

Colias myrmidone has suffered a dramatic decline in Europe, and now its occurrence is restricted to just a few countries. We investigated one of the last viable metapopulations (Knyszyn Forest, NE Poland), where the butterfly is almost completely dependent on forestry, inhabiting some clearings and young tree plantations rich in larval food plants (Chamaecytisus ruthenicus) and nectar resources. Intensive mark-recapture studies were performed in 2017 on eight occupied patches separated by 0.5–5 km. The overall population size of imagoes in the second brood was calculated at about 750 individuals. Sex ratio was shown to be well-balanced and average residency was estimated at 5.6 days. Dispersal occurred mostly between neighbouring patches, and isolation of patches contributed to the high mortality of emigrants. The average distance covered during dispersal was significantly higher for males. However, females left small patches much more readily than males. These patches were probably used only as ‘stepping stone’ sites in dispersal. Restricted dispersal could be related to barriers created by forest stands but it is also not excluded that individuals living in an isolated metapopulation become increasingly sedentary and our results are an early warning sign. The most distant local population was clearly isolated, with hardly any immigration from the other populations. To maintain a network of more stable habitat patches some clearings should be left deforested and appropriately managed. However this goal is difficult to achieve under the current forestry rules and therefore (re)creation of habitats on other available open areas should be considered.

Larval Food Limitation in a Speyeria Butterfly (Nymphalidae): How Many Butterflies Can Be Supported?

For herbivorous insects the importance of larval food plants is obvious, yet the role of host abundance and density in conservation are relatively understudied. Populations of Speyeria butterflies across North America have declined and Speyeria adiaste is an imperiled species endemic to the southern California Coast Ranges. In this paper, we study the link between the food plant Viola purpurea quercetorum and abundance of its herbivore Speyeria adiaste clemencei to better understand the butterfly’s decline and aid in restoration of this and other Speyeria species. To assess the degree to which the larval food plant limits adult abundance of S. a. clemencei in 2013, we compared adult population counts to population size predicted from a Monte Carlo simulation using data for number of V. pur. quercetorum plants, number of leaves per plant, and leaf area per plant, with lab estimates of leaf area consumed to reach pupal stage on the non-native host V. papilionacea. Results indicated an average estimate of 765 pupae (median = 478), with 77% of the distribution being <1000 pupae. However, this was heavily dependent on plant distribution, and accounting for the number of transect segments with sufficient host to support a pupa predicted 371 pupae. The adult population empirical estimate was 227 individuals (95% CI is 146 to 392), which lies near the first quartile of the simulated distribution. These results indicate that the amount of host available to larvae was more closely linked to adult abundance than the amount of host present, especially when considering assumptions of the analyses. The data also indicate that robust populations require host density well in excess of what is eaten by larvae, in combination with appropriate spacing, to mitigate factors such as competition, starvation from leaving host patches, or unrelated to food plant, such as mortality from drought, predators, parasites, or disease.

Habitat‐related differences in the adult longevity of two ecotypes of a specialized butterfly

AbstractThe life expectancy of adult butterflies is highly diverse. Substantial variation may be found among closely related species, and even on the intraspecific level, where it could be associated with sex, genetic differentiation, diet and weather conditions. We compared the demographic parameters of populations of the regionally endangered Boloria eunomia butterfly living in two different habitats. Across its boreal‐mountane distribution range in Europe, B. eunomia occurs in two ecotypes associated with wet meadows and raised bogs using distinct both larval and nectar plants. We carried out simultaneous studies of both ecotypes through mark–recapture surveys of two large populations in NE Poland, located close to each other. A total number of 1124 and 644 individuals were marked at the bog and meadow sites respectively, and 51 and 33% of them were recaptured at least once. The estimated adult population size of the bog population (about 3000) was twice as large as that of the meadow population, which however was characterized by more than three‐fold higher density. The emergence of imagoes was highly synchronized, and protandry was evident. The sex ratio was slightly male‐biased and the mean capture probability was significantly higher for males. More importantly, the estimated life span of males was considerably shorter than that of females at each site. Finally, both sexes of the ‘meadow’ ecotype lived significantly longer than those from the raised bog. The detected pattern can be related to distinct larval food plants and/or nectar resources, different pressures from predators, genetic variation and morphological differences affecting thermal properties. Further investigations would be useful to reveal if the shorter adult life span translates into reduced viability of bog populations and consequently whether they are potentially more threatened, at least in the southern margins of the distribution range in Central Europe.

Review of Lophomyra Schaus, 1911 (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae): a new combination and re-descriptions of species newly associated with ferns (Polypodiaceae).

Lophomyra Schaus, 1911 (Noctuidae) is the smaller of two noctuid genera originally described by Schaus that include species recently associated with ferns (Pteridophyta), in this case Polypodiaceae, as larval food plants. Following an examination of type material and reared specimens accompanied by DNA barcode data, Lophomyra is revised to include L.tacita Schaus, 1911, L.santista (Jones, 1914), and L.commixta (Schaus, 1914), comb. n., the last of which is transferred from Chytonidia Schaus, 1914 (= Leucosigma Druce, 1908). Lophomyra is characterized based on adult and larval morphology, especially that of the male genitalia. Structures associated with the valvae are discussed with reference to dissected and in situ images. Larvae of L.commixta and L.tacita are described from images, and the recorded food plants of both species are discussed in the context of known New World noctuid pteridivores.

Japanese beetles\u2019 feeding on milkweed flowers may compromise efforts to restore monarch butterfly habitat

The eastern North American migratory population of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is in serious decline. Habitat restoration, including adding millions of host plants to compensate for loss of milkweed in US cropland, is a key part of the international conservation strategy to return this iconic butterfly to sustainable status. We report here that Popillia japonica, a polyphagous, invasive beetle, aggregates and feeds on flowers of Asclepias syriaca, the monarch’s most important larval food plant, reducing fruiting and seed set by >90% and extensively damaging milkweed umbels in the field. The beetle’s ongoing incursion into the monarch’s key breeding grounds in the US Midwest is likely to limit pollination and outcrossing of wild and planted milkweeds, reducing their capacity to colonize new areas via seeds. Popillia japonica represents a previously undocumented threat to milkweeds that should be considered in models for monarch habitat restoration.

Effects of Field-Relevant Concentrations of Clothianidin on Larval Development of the Butterfly Polyommatus icarus (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae).

Arable field margins are often sown with wildflowers to encourage pollinators and other beneficial or desirable insects such as bees and butterflies. Concern has been raised that these margins may be contaminated with systemic pesticides such as neonicotinoids used on the adjacent crop, and that this may negatively impact beneficial insects. The use of neonicotinoids has been linked to butterfly declines, and species such as the common blue butterfly ( Polyommatus icarus) that feed upon legumes commonly sown in arable field margins, may be exposed to such toxins. Here, we demonstrate that the larval food plants of P. icarus growing in an arable field margin adjacent to a wheat crop treated with the neonicotinoid clothianidin not only contain the pesticide at concentrations comparable to and sometimes higher than those found in foliage of treated crops (range 0.2-48 ppb) but also remain detectable at these levels for up to 21 months after sowing of the crop. Overall, our study demonstrates that nontarget herbivorous organisms in arable field margins are likely to be chronically exposed to neonicotinoids. Under laboratory conditions, exposure to clothianidin at 15 ppb (a field-realistic dose) or above reduced larval growth for the first 9 days of the experiment. Although there was evidence of clothianidin inducing mortality in larvae, with highest survival in control groups, the dose-response relationship was unclear. Our study suggests that larvae of this butterfly exhibit some deleterious sublethal and sometimes lethal impacts of exposure to clothianidin, but many larvae survive to adulthood even when exposed to high doses.

The Effects of Cervus nippon on Two Key Ecological Drivers Controlling Populations of Plebejus argus on Heaths: Larval Food Sources and Mutualistic Ants

This study investigated the effects of grazing by invasive sika deer, Cervus nippon on the abundance of the silver-studded blue butterfly Plebejus argus on a lowland heath system in the UK. Plebejus argus is a rare species whose UK stronghold is lowland heath, where it is dependent on a mutalistic relationship with species of Lasius niger ants. Cervus nippon is an invasive species but genetically and ecologically closely related to native red deer C. elaphus and so may have positive as well as negative ecological effects. This study examines the relationship between the incidence of C. nippon and the abundance of P. argus and tests the effect of deer i) directly via their impact on vegetation structure and composition, ii) indirectly their impact on the abundance of L. niger ants. Data were collected from 37 plots of heathland in Dorset, measuring 50 m by 50 Original Research Article Woodley and Diaz; ACRI, 12(1): 1-11, 2018; Article no.ACRI.39140 2 m which were differentially grazed by deer. The abundance of P. argus was found to be significantly higher in areas with high incidence of C. nippon and the best predictor of butterfly abundance was the abundance of L. niger ants rather than the abundance of butterfly larval food plants. We conclude that this result provides evidence for an important indirect impact of grazing via manipulating habitat suitability for a key mutualistic species.

Decoupling habitat fragmentation from habitat loss: butterfly species mobility obscures fragmentation effects in a naturally fragmented landscape of lake islands.

Since the publication of the theory ofisland biogeography, ecologists have postulated that fragmentation of continuous habitat presents a prominent threat to species diversity. However, negative fragmentation effects may be artifacts; the result of species diversity declining with habitat loss, and habitat loss correlating positively with degree of fragmentation. In this study, we used butterfly assemblages on islands of Lake of the Woods, Ontario, Canada to decouple habitat fragmentation from habitat loss and test two competing hypotheses: (1) the island effect hypothesis, which predicts that decreasing fragment size and increasing fragmentisolation reduces species diversity beyond the effects of habitat loss, and (2) the habitat amount hypothesis, which negates fragmentation effects and predicts that only total habitat area determines the diversity of species persisting on fragmented landscapes. Using eight independent size classes of islands (ranging from 0.1 to 8.0ha) that varied in number of islands while holding total area constant, species diversity comparisons, species accumulation curves, and species-area relationship extrapolations demonstrated that smaller insular habitats contained at least as many butterfly species as continuous habitat. However, when highly mobile species occurring on islands without their larval food plants were excluded from analyses, island effects on potentially reproducing species became apparent. Similarily, generalized linear models suggested that effects of island isolation and vascular plant richness on insularbutterfly richness were confounded by species of high mobility. We conclude that inter-fragment movements of highly mobile species may obscure important fragmentation effects on potentially reproducing populations, questioning support for the habitat amount hypothesis.

Life history of Chrysozephyrus alienus (Koiwaya &amp; Monastyrskii, 2010) (Lepidoptera) in central Vietnam

We have successfully reared the larvae of Chrysozephyrus alienus (Koiwaya &amp; Monastyrskii, 2010), and presented the life history of this species. The larval foodplant was found to be Lyonia ovalifolia var. pubescens. The tactile setae of the 1st instar larvae are absent at dorsal anterior area at the 1st abdominal segment and dorsal area at the 7th abdominal segment. The pattern is rather similar to that of Chrysozephyrus scintillans. Citation: Hasegawa T., Saito K., Vu Van Lien, Miyagawa T., Kubota A., Yokochi T., 2017. Life history of Chrysozephyrus alienus (Koiwaya &amp; Monastyrskii, 2010) (Lepidoptera) in central Vietnam. Tap chi Sinh hoc, 39(3): 291-295. DOI: 10.15625/0866-7160/v39n3.9348. *Corresponding author: airsjapan64@gmail.com Received 20 March 2017, accepted 20 August 2017

Anatomy, reach and classification of the parasitoid complex of a common British moth, Anthophila fabriciana (L.) (Choreutidae)

ABSTRACTThe small plurivoltine moth Anthophila fabriciana is widespread and often abundant in Britain wherever its main larval foodplant, stinging nettle, occurs. It overwinters as a larva (first generation) then has one or more partly overlapping summer broods (notionally second generation). A total of 5017 larvae were collected and reared from widely distributed populations in Britain, and the resulting 2167 host mortalities due to parasitoids were assessed. Small collections of pupae were also made. Altogether 25 parasitoid species, including secondary parasitoids, were found. Larval parasitism was heaviest in the second generation. In each generation there was a dominant parasitoid that was absent from the other. Summary information on the developmental biology and host range (expressed quantitatively and resulting from very broad rearing programmes) for each parasitoid is given. They are classed as ‘absolute specialists’, ‘taxon oligospecialists’, ‘niche oligospecialists’, ‘niche generalists’, ‘casuals’ and ‘strays’. Both kinds of oligospecialists can be ‘paraspecialists’ if only one potential host occurs locally. Although constructing a quantitative food web is not appropriate, providing both source web and sink web data in quantitative form enables the parasitoid complex to be understood in the wider context of the ecosystem, necessary for both biodiversity and nature conservation interests. In Appendix 1, parasitoids reared from other European Choreutidae are listed quantitatively.

Mimetic asociations in natural populations of tropical papilionid butterflies. I. Life history and structure of a tropical dry forest breeding population of Battus polydamus polydamus

A small breeding population of the butterfly Battus polydamus polydamus Linnaeus was studied at a tropical dry forest site in northwestern (Guanacaste Province), Costa Rica, from March through June, 1970. Life history, adult population size, adult turnover, adult dispersal, breeding behavior, territorial behavior and biotic mortality in larval populations were studied. It was condud­ ed that the apparent patchy distribution of the larval foodplant ( Aristolochia vines ) results in a very patchy distribution of breeding populations of this but terfly; low vagility, high adult survivorship and localized breeding interactions at the larval foodplant account for the apparent high population cohesiveness in this species, despite high levels of parasitism during the larval stage. Males eclose before females and establish territories at the breeding site and adult numbers remain consistent over long periods of time. The latter is believed to be a result of high adult survivorship (from predation by birds), with low mor­ tality associated with old age being counterbalanced with low recruitment of new adults to the population. The relation of such a population structure to mimicry theory is also discussed.

Regional climate on the breeding grounds predicts variation in the natal origin of monarch butterflies overwintering in Mexico over 38years.

Addressing population declines of migratory insects requires linking populations across different portions of the annual cycle and understanding the effects of variation in weather and climate on productivity, recruitment, and patterns of long-distance movement. We used stable H and C isotopes and geospatial modeling to estimate the natal origin of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in eastern North America using over 1000 monarchs collected over almost four decades at Mexican overwintering colonies. Multinomial regression was used to ascertain which climate-related factors best-predicted temporal variation in natal origin across six breeding regions. The region producing the largest proportion of overwintering monarchs was the US Midwest (mean annual proportion=0.38; 95% CI: 0.36-0.41) followed by the north-central (0.17; 0.14-0.18), northeast (0.15; 0.11-0.16), northwest (0.12; 0.12-0.16), southwest (0.11; 0.08-0.12), and southeast (0.08; 0.07-0.11) regions. There was no evidence of directional shifts in the relative contributions of different natal regions over time, which suggests these regions are comprising the same relative proportion of the overwintering population in recent years as in the mid-1970s. Instead, interannual variation in the proportion of monarchs from each region covaried with climate, as measured by the Southern Oscillation Index and regional-specific daily maximum temperature and precipitation, which together likely dictate larval development rates and food plant condition. Our results provide the first robust long-term analysis of predictors of the natal origins of monarchs overwintering in Mexico. Conservation efforts on the breeding grounds focused on the Midwest region will likely have the greatest benefit to eastern North American migratory monarchs, but the population will likely remain sensitive to regional and stochastic weather patterns.

A Study of Butterfly Diversity and Distribution at Kolkar Science College Campus Indore, India

The photoautotroph’s and the heterotroph’s are associated with each other. The relationship may be either beneficial or determinant to each other. Such one beautiful beneficial relationship exists in nature between plants and butterflies. Flying insect are the most common and colorful component of an ecosystem in general and butterflies in particular. They play a very important in herbivorous food chain/web. The present study was carried out at Holkar Science College Campus Indore District, Madhya Pradesh, India, during 2014 to 2015. A total of 41 butterfly species were recorded. Family Nymphalidae (19) dominates in the study area, followed by Pieridae (08), with minimum members of Hesperiidae (02). Total larval food plants recorded from the campus are 44 belonging to 23 different families. Hygrophylla aericulata ware found most importance larval food plants as they supports the five pansies found here. The ratio of food plants and butterflies is near about 1:1. Plants of the Asteraceae family were more used by butterflies as nectar food plants. These findings are important with respect to butterfly diversity in planning conservation strategies in the area. The very common butterflies are Common jezebel, Common gull, Common emigrant, Mottled emigrant, Common grass yellow, Lime blue, Pale grass blue, Small grass jewel, and common are Lemon pansy, Great egg fly, Danaid egg fly, Plain tiger and among very rare includes Common baron, Common sailor, Chocolate pansy, Grey pansy Spot swordtail, Royal peacock, Commander, and Common wanderer.

Seed Germination InViola pedunculataandViola purpureaSUBSP.Quercetorum(Violaceae), Critical Food Plants For Two Rare Butterflies

Viola L. are the larval food plants for a charismatic group of butterflies in Speyeria Scudder, 1872, which contains several rare and declining taxa in California and across North America. A current impediment to restoring Viola in California is a lack of knowledge of germination requirements. In this study we focused on determining conditions for successful germination of V. pedunculata Torr. & A. Gray, the food plant of the federally listed endangered Speyeria callippe (Boisduval, 1852) subsp. callippe, and V. purpurea Kellogg subsp. quercetorum (M.S. Baker & J.C. Clausen) R.J. Little, the food plant of the imperiled southern Coast Range butterfly, S. adiaste (Edwards, 1864) subsp. clemencei (Comstock, 1925). We examined the effects of gibberellic acid, seed color, elaiosome removal, and duration of stratification on germination success. We found that both taxa germinate exceptionally well (73–100%) after a prolonged period of after-ripening and 6–10 wk of stratification. Gibberellic acid and elaiosome removal did not have strong effects on germination of V. pedunculata, and both dark and mottled V. purpurea subsp. quercetorum seeds germinated equally well. We make recommendations for successful lab germination of these two native violets, setting the stage for additional research to help restore their populations as well as their herbivores.

Night-active Macroheterocera species in traps with synthetic attractants in the Velyka Dobron’ Game Reserve (Ukraine, Transcarpathia)

We allocated some new types of bait traps using different volatile aromatic compounds in the Velyka Dobron’ Game Reserve (Ukraine, Transcarpathian region) where light trap surveys on Macroheterocera were already carried out since 2009. The phenylacetaldehyde-based traps were especially effective for the species of subfamilies Plusiinae and Helio-thinae, while the members of some other subfamilies (Hadeninae, Noctuinae) were more attracted by the isoamyl-alcohol-based traps. The highest attractivity was observed in case of the mixture containing isoamyl-alcohol, acetic acid and red wine. The highest num-ber of species was observed in mid-July, but the peak of individual numbers appeared in early August. Majority of species of this assemblage was formed by bivoltine species connected to herbaceous food plants. The dominant species of this late summer period was Trachea atriplicis (second brood). It was sharply replaced by the monovoltine Allophyes oxyacanthae in September. The bulk of species of this early autumnal period was formed by monovoltine species with woody-shrubby larval food plants. Biogeographical spectrum of the assemblage was dominated by widely distributed Euro-Siberian species combined with significant presence of Mediterranean and Boreo-continental faunal elements. In the ecological spectrum of the assemblage the species connected to forested habitats are well represented but together with the presence of numerous generalist species.

Introductions of two insect species threatened by sea‐level rise in Essex, United Kingdom: Fisher's estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Mottled grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The approaches taken to establish on the Essex coast (south‐east England, UK) new wild populations of the nationally rare Fisher's estuarine moth Gortyna borelii lunata and the locally scarce Mottled grasshopper Myrmeleotettix maculatus differed in both scale and method. The aim of this paper is to describe and contrast the differing introductions and discuss their appropriateness for specific locations. Because of its rarity locally and lack of funding for a large‐scale project, live transport of M. maculatus was a simple, cheap and quick method of introducing the grasshopper to a single receptor site in 2009. To date, the site has continued to support a small breeding population of the grasshopper, which is spreading across the dunes away from its release site. The legally protected status, vulnerability and national rarity of G. borelii lunata resulted in a landscape‐scale project involving the creation of new areas of habitat by establishing the larval food plant for the species at suitable sites, commenced on the north‐east Essex coast in 2006. The aim of this project was to create a network of interconnected sites away from the threats of coastal inundation, thereby securing the future of G. borelii lunata in the UK. From 2008 onwards, a captive‐breeding programme was established at Colchester Zoo, UK, to provide live stock for the Fisher's estuarine moth introduction programme. At the time of writing, 27 new areas of habitat have been created for G. borelii lunata and 20 of these areas were shown to support signs of the moth's larval feeding in 2015. The moth was directly established using stock from the captive‐breeding programme at six of the 20 sites.

On the occurrence of Common Baron (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae: Euthalia aconthea Cramer, 1777) in the Delhi area and analysis of abiotic factors affecting its distribution in India

This paper gives details of the occurrence of Euthalia aconthea from Delhi area situated in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Occurrence records of this species suggest that it is most frequent in five zones of India, despite the fact that its main larval food plant Mango Mangifera indica is abundantly available almost throughout India. Possible abiotic factors are hypothesized for this distribution.

Seasonal Diversity of Butterflies in the Fragmented Habitats of Waghai Botanical Garden of The Dangs - Gujarat

Background: The world is currently undergoing a very rapid loss of butterfly biodiversity comparable with the great mass extinction events that have previously occurred only five or six times in the Earth’s history. This is an alarming call of these tiny scraps of biodiversity which now have scarce appearance surrounding the huge human kingdom.Objective: The richness of biodiversity depends on the climatic conditions and area of the region. The present research work focuses on studying butterflies diversity, their habitat preferences and seasonal distribution in structured plots of Waghai Botanical Garden.Method: For carrying out systematic study, Waghai Botanical Garden was fragmented into five sub habitats i.e. Dry &amp; Moist Deciduous plot, Evergreen plot, Bamboo plot &amp; Dang plot, Scrub Thorn Forest &amp; Medicinal &amp; Taxonomy plot. Intra-individual comparative abundance study for observed butterfly species within fragmented plots of Waghai botanical garden was carried out graphically to study the butterfly’s preference in the plots of botanical garden.Results: Out of 70 species, the maximum number of species i.e. 27 species were observed from family Nymphalidae, followed by 18 species from Lycaenidae, 15 species from Pieridae, Papilionidae with 7 species and 3 species from Hesperiidae.Conclusion: During post-monsoon season, highest total average rainfall of around 850 mm was observed in Waghai during monsoon, which provided excellent quality and quantity of larval food plants for the caterpillars and nectar rich flower source for adult butterflies in post-monsoon months. Thus maximum numbers of butterflies’ species were observed during the months of October &amp; November.