Seasonality of butterflies in Alagar Hills reserve forest, India

Abstract

Seasonal prevalence of butterflies carried out in Alagar hills reserve revealed more number of butterflies in the summer with higher density of Nymphalid butterflies followed by Papilionidae. Hesperiidae species were more in post monsoon season than in rainy or dry season. On comparing the prevalence of butterflies with environmental factors, Hesperiidae exhibited a positive correlation with rainfall, humidity and negative correlation with temperature whereas Nymphalidae and Papilionidae showed a positive correlation with temperature and negative correlation with humidity. Study showed that summer period is a suitable period for butterfly prevalence in Alagar Hills.