A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF BUTTERFLIES (INSECTA: LEPIDOPTERA) IN SULAIPAT, ODISHA, INDIA

The butterfly diversity of Sulaipat, Odisha, India was studied between September 2020 to December 2020 using direct search techniques and opportunistic sighting methods. A period of 29 days was spent for data collection from morning 09.30 to 11.30 and evening 15.30 to 17.30. A total of 46 butterfly species were recorded representing 32 genera belonging to five families with Nymphalidae as the richest with 24 species. The butterfly assemblage of the area was most abundant and diverse in September (n=37 species) whereas comparatively lesser in December (n=27 species). Among the recorded 46 species of butterflies, five species are legally protected under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Results of this short-term survey report the baseline data on the butterfly diversity in remote and unexplored eco-pockets like Sulaipat village, suggesting further comprehensive investigations to fully document the butterfly diversity of this area.