DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA: INSECTA) FROM THREE ROAD SIDE SITES AT DIFFERENT ALTITUDINAL ZONES OF DISTRICT NAINITAL (UTTARAKHAND) INDIA

摘要

Anthropogenic activities affect the distribution and diversity of any species in any area. The goal of this study is to study the effects of anthropogenic activities on the species diversity of Lepidoptera in three of the main sites on the entrance gate of Kumaoun hills in western Himalayas. The species composition and species diversity of insects varied In all the three study sites showing the effect of temperature and disturbances associated with other ecological and climatic parameters. In the present study a total of 484 individuals belonging to 68 species of 11 families were identified. Among which Pieridae was found to be the most dominant family with 215 individuals and constituting 44.42 % of the total abundance and the most dominant familyin terms of species richness having 45 species. Shannon wiener diversity index, abundance and species richness was found to be maximum for the undisturbed site and minimum for the disturbed site.