Faunal Diversity of Butterflies in Tehsil Shabqadar District Charsadda, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Butterflies are the most beautiful and attractive insects in class insecta, order Lepidoptera. Economically they are important as pollinators as well as environmental indicators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fauna diversity of butterflies in Tehsil Shabqadar, District Charsadda. A total of 250 specimens were collected and identified which yielded 3 families, 10 genera and 13 species. Nymphalidae family comprised the largest number of individuals followed by Pieredae and Papilonidae. The species were lime butterfly, Papiliodemoleus (Linnaeus); common grass yellow, Euremahecabe  (Linnaeus); blue pansy, Junoniaorytha (Linnaeus); plain tiger, Danauschrysippus (Linnaeus); Indian Cabbage White, Pieriscanidia (Linnaeus); common leopard, Phlantaphlantha (Drury); peacock pansy, Junoniaalmana (Linnaeus); emigrant or lemon emigrant, Catopsiliapomona (Fabricus); mottled emigrant, Catopsilapyranthe (Linnaeus); Bath white, Pontiadaplidice (Linnaeus 1758); common castor, Aridnaemerione and Bellusaurota. The most encountered species found was Catopsiliapyrenthe whose 43 specimens were collected. The least encountered species was Bellusaurota and Catopsiliapomona. 12 species with 10 genera belonging to 3 families from 13 study sites suggests that this region may have a diverse butterfly fauna. Similar surveys on large scales are recommended to fully evaluate the butterfly fauna of District Charsadda.