An assessment of diversity patterns of butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) from subalpine zone of Western Himalaya

ABSTRACT The subalpine zone of the Himalaya epitomises a transition (ecotone) between alpine grassland and temperate forest ecosystems. This research was conducted in seven sites Chanshal, Marhi, Chotabanghal, Hattu, Shipkila, Jot, and Pangi Valley of Himachal Pradesh. A total of 61 species of butterflies belonging to 45 genera, 5 families, and 16 subfamilies were documented. The members of the family Papilionidae and Hesperiidae have been least recorded. We have carried out butterfly sampling along an elevational gradient (2300–3899 m). A Kruskal Wallis test for diversity indices for seven different sites from the year 2013 to 2015 (H = 1.024, df = 6 p = 0.984, H = 0.642 df = 6 p = 0.995, H = 0.690 df = 6 p = 0.994 p > 0.05) revealed no significant difference. Three species legally protected under Wildlife Protection Act, India, 1972, have been detected. They are Lampides boeticus, Maniola devendra devendra Schedule II Part II and Euploea mulciber Schedule IV.