Monday 28 August 2017

Tania Khan, Mohammad Quamruzzaman Babu, Mohammad Ashraf Ul Hasan, Tahsinur Rahman Shihan, Prosenjit Debbarma : First records of Zinaspa todara distorta de Nicéville, 1887 and Arhopala rama ramosa Evans, 1925 (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) butterflies in Bangladesh.

 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2017 | 9(8): 10581–10584

Abstract: Zinaspa todara distorta de Nicéville, 1887 and Arhopala rama ramosa Evans, 1925 were recorded during the field survey from March 2016 to August 2016. A total of four individuals were recorded in the Adampur Forest and Satchari National Park of Sylhet Division in northeastern Bangladesh. These are the first records of these subspecies from Bangladesh.


Link: Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 August 2017 | 9(8): 10581–10584

Sunday 13 August 2017

Junas Ekka, A. Joshua Andrews and S. John William: Investigation on Papaya Feeding Butterflies (Nymphalidae) at Dhelsara Village, Teshil Sitapur, District Surguja, Chhattisgarh, India

International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2017; 6(6): 1429-1430

Abstract: Research on Fruit-feeding butterfly fauna was carried out in Dhelsara Village, Sitapur Teshil, District Surguja, Chhattisgarh. A total of 4 species of Nymphalidae were observed feeding on Papaya fruit on tree as well as fallen fruits on ground. These were most commonly seen sipping in through their long unfurl proboscis, on Ripped Papaya. Butterfly conservation can be done by planting Papaya trees in home gardens; this will help in maintaining the number of existing butterfly population, especially those feeding on Papaya fruits constantly for energy gain. Movements of butterflies while feeding on Papaya were still, therefore, the identification was very easy to do on field itself. A peculiar characteristic noticed was that while feeding, it sits on the fruit and flaps its wing up and down as a queen of the fruit and makes sure thatthere is a slight disturbance while feeding.

Friday 11 August 2017

Debapriya Chakraborty Thakur and Anuradha Chaudhuri: Eco-ethology study of butterfly species found in set up garden in an urban area, Kolkata, India

Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 2017; 5(3): 1900-1909.

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to identify the habitat preferences (ecology), nectar-plant as well as host-plant interaction and different behavioural (ethology) activities in the unmanaged and set up garden within the campus (southern side) of Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata, India. The set up garden was constructed in an effort to offset the damage caused to their habitat due to heavy construction activity/anthropogenic disturbances in the campus. The study was conducted of an area of about 30m X 14m size through focal-animal sampling method and studied in two phases as in the first phase, survey of butterflies’ habitat and behavioural activities within an unmanaged garden in the campus prior to construction activity (May 2012 to October, 2012) and in the second phase, setting up a garden in another site of same campus with plantation of host plants preferred by butterfly species between October, 2012 to June, 2015. Specific behaviour pattern like resting, hovering, basking, flight, courtship flight, chasing, mud puddling, mating and also nectaring preferences of local butterflies for local plants was studied. The results showed that Plains Cupid spent maximum time on basking (21%), other species 10 % to 13% or less time. The Blue Tiger, Castor, and Common Jezebel showed nectaring (8-10%) and others species 3-7%. Resting (10-15%) was seen by Common Grass Yellow and other species viz. Plains Cupid, Forget-Me-Not, Peacock Pansy, Gram Blue and Common Mormon were not found in resting. Blue Tiger, Mottled Emigrant, Lime Butterfly, Common Jezebel, Psyche spent maximum time (9-15%) on hovering. No hovering activity was observed in Plains Cupid, Forget-Me-Not, Common Evening Brown. On courtship, Plains Cupid shows maximum activity. Common Evening Brown spent most time sitting in cool shady place sitting on garbage, ripped fruit etc. Mottled Emigrant (19.5%), Blue Tiger (18%), Common Castor (11%), Striped Albatross (6%) were observed to mudpuddle. This study indicates preference of weeds as nectar source by the different families of butterflies. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of saving some land in a garden for the so-called weeds. The normal ethology indicates their adaptation in the new habitat and success of effort for restoration of sustainable ecosystem in the urban area.


Link: Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies, 2017; 5(3): 1900-1909.