Year: 2014 | Month: March | Volume 7 | Issue 1
Seasonal Flactuations of Butterfly Population: A Study in Butterfly Garden at Peechi, Kerala, India
Abstract: <div>Seasonal abundance and diversity of butterfly population in the Butterfly Garden of KFRI at Peechi was examined. A total of 11,104 individuals belonging to 50 butterfly species from five families and 37 genera were recorded. Nymphalidae was the most dominant family with 21species followed by Papilionidae (11species), Lycaenidae (7 species), Hesperiidae (6 species) and Pieridae (5 species). By pooling the generated data, the overall butterfly population showing an increasing trend from January to December</div><div>with many butterfly population had an average sightings in January, minimum in April and maximum in November. Data generated in this study shows that butterflies requires appropriate climatic conditions and they respond quickly to even subtle changes in temperature and humidity. It has been observed that the pupal period of certain Papilionids may be extended from the normal days</div><div>in November and December months. The lifecycle of butterflies is directly depends on temperature and humidity. A steady increase in the butterfly population count among all families shows the importance of such gardens in attracting and sustaining the butterfly population. Butterfly gardens help in caring wild butterfly population and to maintain the biodiversity in natural</div><div>ecosystems, which in turn, may increase the existence of human beings.</div>
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