Butterflies of Nagpur City, Central India

The present study reveals the butterfly species diversity, habitats and seasonal distribution in Nagpur city. In the study area, 145 species of butterflies are documented, belonging to 5 families. Out of which 62 species are new records for the Nagpur city. Adult butterfly feeding-nectar flower interrelationships are investigated for 108 butterfly species with 20 nectar plants.These butterfly species are significantly smaller, lighter, with lower wing loading and shorter proboscis indices than species which easily access the same flowering plants.The larval host plants of 120 butterfly species are identified and their host specificity, biotope, abundance and perennation recorded; of the 126 larval host plants, most are trees (49), herbs (43), shrubs (22), climbers (7), stem parasites (2). Morphological & colour pattern associations of male mate location behaviour of 70 butterfly species are recorded. Polyommatine wing pattern elements, population dynamics and seasonal polyphenism of the Chilades pandava butterfly has been studied. Genetic relationships among some Lycaenidae butterflies by RAPD analysis of 5 morphologically identical species are carried out using 7 decamer primers.