Butterfly fauna of Sherepalli and Peddagattu, Nalgonda district, Telangana, India

Abstract

The present study carried out under Biodiversity Impact Assessment survey for the proposed Uranium Mining at Nalgonda district, Telangana, India. The diversity and distribution pattern of butterflies were observed in the study region. A total of 58 species of butterflies belonging to 42 genera and 5 families were recorded. The studies were conducted from April, 2010 to December, 2013. Of the recorded 58 species recorded, Nymphalidae was recorded as the most dominant family represented by 22 species (37.9%) followed by Lycaenidae 14 species (24.1%), Pieridae 13 species (22.4%), Papilionidae 4 species (6.9%), Hesperiidae 5 species (8.6%). The role of this tiny creatures in the ecosystem is vital and an urgent attention needed to preserve and conserve the butterfly diversity for long term sustainability.