The Diversity of Butterflies in Southern Part of Western Ghats (Palani Hills)

Abstract

The study has been conducted on butterfly diversity by using pollard walk method in the dry tropical deciduous habitats of Palani Hills Proposed to be a Wildlife Sanctuary, of Tamilnadu, from September 2018 to January 2019.  A total of 150 butterfly species belongs to 99 genera and five families were recorded.  The most dominant family Nymphalidae found with the highest in number (53 species; 36%), followed by the family Lycaenidae (34 species; 23%), Hesperiidae family (26 species; 18%), Pieridae family (25 species; 17%), and Papilionidae family (16 species: 6%). The study was revealed that 24 species of butterflies which are protected under various schedules of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and 13 species are being endemic to the Western Ghats, peninsular India.