A DUO of Mumbai-based zoologists has tracked the diversity of butterfly species according to seasonal changes in the Tadoba National Park in Chandrapur.
Scientific duo Manisha Kulkarni and Aparna Ghadi from the Mumbai-based Institute of Science identified about 45 species of butterflies belonging to five families during their study conducted between November 2016 and January 2018.
Situated in the north of the Deccan Plateau, the 120-acre Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve is a tropical dry deciduous forest receiving about 1700 mm of annual rainfall. Summers can be extremely harsh here with daytime temperatures rising up to 48 °C, while the minimum temperature drops to 10 °C in the winter months.
This wide band of temperatures allows both flora and fauna to flourish. Jamun trees and the presence of a reservoir are the most favored natural nesting sites for butterflies and birds.
Like bees, butterflies play an important role in the sustenance of ecosystems and are ecological sensors, as well as bipeds.
The study highlighted that it was during October, the post-monsoon month with abundant food available for both larvae and adults, that recorded the richest butterfly biodiversity.
“A highly seasonal pattern of abundance and richness was observed within the local nectar that feeds the butterfly community. A significant decline was observed during the dry season, when flower availability was low and during the intense autumn period.” International Journal of Entomology Research A new study published in the journal Science states that seasonality has shown a remarkable effect on butterfly populations.
Butterflies were found to leave warm and dry areas in search of cooler places. According to the study, food shortages ended the annual cycle of most butterfly species, but they chose humid areas to enter reproductive diapause.
The researchers recorded 20 butterfly species belonging to the Nymphalidae family – the most abundant – followed by Lycanidae (12 species), Pieridae (10 species), Papilionidae (6 species) and one species belonging to the Hesperidae family.
,