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Harjeet Singh Banyal

  • Biodiversity Journal, 5 (1): 061-068

    Vikram Singh & Harjeet Singh Banyal
    Preliminary ecological studies on the Lepidoptera from Khajjiar lake catchment, Himachal Pradesh, India

    ABSTRACT
    A study on the Lepidoptera from Khajjiar lake of District Chamba of Himachal Pradesh revealed the presence of 49 species of butterflies belonging to 41 genera and 10 families. Analysis of data revealed that family Nymphalidae and Satyridae (12 species each) dominated the Lepidoptera fauna of Khajjiar lake catchment, followed by Pieridae and Lycaenidae (6 species each), Hesperiidae (4 species), Papilionidae (3 species), Erycinidae and Danaidae (2 species each), and Acraeidae and Riodinidae (1 species each). Categorization of the species further revealed that of these 49 species, 5 were very common, 32 common, 5 uncommon and 7 were rare. Moreover, 3 species were listed in Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Lethe scanda (Moore, 1857) and Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) placed under scheduled II and Castalius rosimon (Fabricius, 1775) under scheduled IV of the Act. Our study revealed that forest area supports the highest diversity of butterflies followed by lake areas and human settlements.