Skip to main content

Dharshani Mahaulpatha

  • Biodiversity Journal, 12 (3): 0741-0754

    Praneeth Silva, Tharanga Dananjani, Dulan Jayasekara, Chamara Prabhath & Dharshani Mahaulpatha
    Butterfly species richness, diversity and temporal variation in Maduru Oya National Park, Sri Lanka
    https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.3.741.754

    ABSTRACT
    The butterflies are an extremely diverse group of enticing insects in Sri Lanka, comprising 248 known species, of which 26 are endemic species. Present study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2019 in the Maduru Oya National Park with the main objectives of estimating the butterfly diversity and its temporal variation throughout the year. The field method was based on standardized “Pollard walk” method. Line transects of about 1000 meter were applied in length in each habitat types and each transect was divided into five segments of 200 meters. Survey was carried out three days per month in the microhabitat types of Vegetated Cover, Open Grassland and Non-vegetated Area during 0700 to 1700 hours. Shannon Diversity index was used to estimate the butterfly diversity of each micro-habitat types. During the survey, 5040 butterfly count, consisting of 5 families and 33 species, including two endemics, were recorded in the park. Butterfly density was high in October 12.74% and lower in June 09.07%. Species richness was high in February (n= 31), May (n= 28), June (n= 27), November (n= 28) and December (n= 27) months. The main reasons for monthly fluctuations of both mentioned parameters were the seasonal changes with weather fluctuations and the influence of flowering and fruiting season. Papilionidae 24.25%, Pieridae 29.46%, Nymphalidae 26.43%, Lycaenidae 18.49% and Hesperiidae 1.37% counts were recorded in each family. The highest species richness was observed in Vegetated Cover 42.86% (n=33) and the lowest was recorded in Non-Vegetated Area 25.97% (n=20). The present study discloses the fact that Maduru Oya National Park is a hidden paradise for butterflies and encourages more research studies of butterfly fauna to be conducted in national parks as this is the second study which has been carried out in a national park of Sri Lanka and first study in the Maduru Oya National Park.