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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2015; 3(3): 258-264 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 JEZS 2015; 3(3): 258-264 © 2015 JEZS Received: 12-04-2015 Accepted: 17-05-2015 Tahsinur Rahman Shihan Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring and Conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh Project. Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Nasima Kabir Department of Zoology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh. Correspondence: Tahsinur Rahman Shihan Junior Wildlife Researcher, Monitoring and Conservation of Wildlife in Kaptai National Park of Bangladesh Project. Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Butterfly diversity in relation to Chromolaena odorata (L.) King and H.E. Robins as a nectar plant from two selected regions of Bangladesh

Tahsinur Rahman Shihan, Nasima Kabir Abstract Butterflies use Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) flower as an important source of nectar. A survey was conducted to investigate the diversity of butterflies in relation to C. odorata (L.) in two selected geographically different areas namely Kaptai National Park and Jahangirnagar University Campus during the period of December 2011 to January 2015. A total of 55 species of butterflies belonging to 06 families were recorded during this survey period of which 35 species of 28 genera were recorded from Kaptai National Park and 26 species of 23 genera were recorded from Jahangirnagar University Campus. Six different species which include Acraea violae, Catopsilia pomona, Papilio demoleus, Eurema hecabe, Cethosia cyane and Tagiades japetus were identified in the both areas. Keywords: Chromolaena odorata, Butterflies, Nymphalidae, Nectar plant 1. Introduction Although a significant majority of butterflies have strong interactions with flowers, plants and other biotic components of any ecosystem but the information about butterfly species and their nectar-host plant relationships in Bangladesh are scanty [1, 2]. Floral attributes are well known to influence nectar-feeding butterflies. The diversity of butterflies for particular habitats is associated with the availability of larval host plants and adult nectar plants. Many of the flowering plants are used by butterflies as nectar plants and support a rich diversity of butterflies. Butterflies have been found to differ in the range of available nectar sources used [3, 4]. The Chromolaena odorata (L.) (Asteraceae) florets attract butterflies and an important nectar source for adult butterflies [5]. However, C. odorata (L.) is a scrambling perennial shrub, with straight, pithy, brittle stems which branch readily, bear three-veined, ovate-triangular leaves placed oppositely, and with a shallow, fibrous root system invasive plant found in the humid tropics and sub-tropics worldwide [6, 7, 8]. Capitula are borne in panicles at the ends of the branches and are devoid of ray florets. The corollas of the florets vary between plants from white to pale blue or lilac. Achenes are black with a pale pappus [7, 9]. In open-land situations, C. odorata grows to 2–3 m in height, but it can reach up to 5–10 m when supported by other vegetation. It shows marked morphological variability in terms of flower color, leaf shape and hairiness, smell of the crushed leaves and plant architecture. In some regions, several forms and their intermediates co-occur, while in others, the population appears homogeneous; the basis for this variability presently remains unexplained [10]. It flowers during October-February. The inflorescences consist of corymbs of cylindrical heads and the floral characteristics such as white to purple colour of florets, short-tubed narrow corolla with deep seated nectar, the morning anthesis and the flat-topped head inflorescence providing a standing platform are important attractants for visitation by butterflies [5]. However, this paper presents the diversity of butterflies in relation to C. odorata (L.) in two selected geographically different areas namely Kaptai National Park and Jahangirnagar University Campus 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study area 2.1.1 Kaptai National Park: Kaptai National Park (KNP) is a mixed evergreen forest with some areas of planted Tecktona grandis. It was declared as a National Park by the Government of Bangladesh in 1999. It is situated in the Kaptai sub district under Rangamati district in southeast Bangladesh (22030.08´ N latitude and 92016.02´ E longitude). It consists of 5464.8

 

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hectares area and it is 1600 ft. high from sea level. This mixed evergreen forest and plantation areas has diverse habitat for butterflies such as grassland, bushes, marshy areas and cultivation fields [11]. The main study area was the forest near the new Rangamati road, where the plants grow enormously. 2.1.2 Jahangirnagar University Campus: Jahangirnagar University campus (JU C) is situated at the central region of Bangladesh. Geographically the campus is at 30016´N latitude and 90052´E longitude, which is about 33 km north-west from

Dhaka city and elevation 39 ft. from sea level. It consists of 280 hectares of area. JU campus has diverse ecological habitats and vegetation types. It consists of woodlands, jungles, grasslands, rice fields and vegetables gardens. Some of the water bodies reside in the campus. All of these features make the present study area as an ideal habitat for various kinds of wildlife and incalculable number of insects [12, 13, 14]. In and around the botanical garden of this university was the main habitat for this plant.

Fig 1: Map of Jahangirnagar University Campus and Kaptai National Park.

2.1.3 Collection and identification of butterflies: The study was carried out during December 2011 to January 2015 in two selected areas. Regular observations on the butterflies, visiting the flowers for forage were made during the flowering period of the plants [5]. The observation period was at least seven days per month (October, November, December, January and February) during the course of the survey. Butterfly species were identified directly in the field by visualization and photo-documentation by Nikon Coolpix P100, Canon DSLR 1100D and 55-250 mm lens and with the help of field guides followed by photography, in difficult cases, rarely by capture. Identification, scientific names and common names of butterflies is after Evans (1927), Wynter-Blyth (1957), Marshall & de Niceville (1883), Bingham (1905), Kunte (2000), Larsen (2004), Kehimkar (2008) and Kunte et al. (2012) [15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22]. 3. Results During the course of study a total of 55 species of butterflies of 06 families belonging to 42 genera were recorded. In the present study, the most abundant family was Nymphalidae followed by Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Hesperiidae, Papilionidae and Riodinidae. Nymphalidae family represents 16 species belonging to 12 genera; Lycaenidae represents 15 species

belonging 13 genera, Pieridae represents 13 species belonging 07 genera, Hesperiidae represents 06 species belonging to 06 genera, Papilionidae represents 04 species belonging to 03 genera and while Riodinidae represents only 01 species belonging to 01genera. Among members, genera Delias and Junonia found most (both 04 members) of family Pieridae and Nymphalidae selected C. odorata as a favourite nectar plant respectively, beside genera Appias of family peiridae and genera Rapala of family Lycaenidae found 03 members. On the other hand genera Euploea of family Nymphalidae, genera Eurema of family Pieridae and genera Papilio of family Papilionidae found 02 members each. Out of 55 species, 35 species were found in the Kaptai National Park (KNP) and 26 species were found in the Jahangirnagar University Campus (JU C) area with 06 common species were found in both Kaptai National Park (KNP) and Jahangirnagar University Campus (JU C) which include Acraea violae, Catopsilia pomona, Papilio demoleus, Eurema hecabe, Cethosia cyane and Tagiades japetus. Out of 06 species family Nymphalidae and Pieridae contained two members where as Papilionidae and Hesperiidae contained only 01 member. Interestingly no member of Riodinidae was observed that taking nectar from this plant in the Jahangirnagar University Campus during study period.

 

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Table 1: List of Butterflies used Chromolaena odorata as nectar plant in Kaptai National Park (KNP) and Jahangirnagar University Campus (JU C).

SL Scientific Name Common Name Family Area

KNP JU C

1. Acraea violae Tawny Coster Nymphalidae √ √

2. Anthene lycaenina Pointed Ciliated Blue Lycaenidae √

3. Appias albina Common Albatross Pieridae √

4. Appias indra Plain Puffin Pieridae √

5. Appias lyncida Chocolate Albatross Pieridae √

6. Arthopala amantes Large Oakblue Lycaenidae √

7. Athyma perius Common Sergeant Nymphalidae √

8. Badamina exclamationis Brown Awl Hesperiidae √

9. Caleta decidia Angled Pierrot Lycaenidae √

10. Castalius rosimon Common Pierrot Lycaenidae √

11. Catopsilia pomona Lemon Emigrant Pieridae √ √

12. Cepora nerissa Common Gull Pieridae √

13. Cethosia cyane Leopard Lacewing Nymphalidae √ √

14. Cupha erymanthis Rustic Nymphalidae √

15. Danaus genutia Striped Tiger Nymphalidae √

16. Delias descombesi Red-spot Jezebel Pieridae √

17. Delias eucharis Common Jezebel Pieridae √

18. Delias hyparete Painted jezebel Pieridae √

19. Delias pasithoe Red-base Jezebel Pieridae √

20. Deudorix epijarbas Cornelian Lycaenidae √

21. Euploea core Common Crow Nymphalidae √

22. Euploea mulciber Striped Blue Crow Nymphalidae √

23. Eurema blanda Three-spot Grass Yellow Pieridae √

24. Eurema hecabe Common Grass Yellow Pieridae √ √

25. Gerosis bhagava Common Yellow-breast Flat Hesperiidae √

26. Graphium agamemnon Tailed Jay Papilionidae √

27. Hypolycaena erylus Common Tit Lycaenidae √

28. Iambrix salsala Chestnut Bob Hesperiidae √

29. Jamides bochus Dark Cerulean Lycaenidae √

30. Junonia almana Peacock Pansy Nymphalidae √

31. Junonia atlites Grey Pansy Nymphalidae √

32. Junonia iphitia Chocolate Pansy Nymphalidae √

33. Junonia lemonias Lemon Pansy Nymphalidae √

34. Leptosia nina Psyche Pieridae √

35. Leptotes plinius Zebra Blue Lycaenidae √

36. Megisba malaya Malayan Lycaenidae √

37. Moduza procris Commander Nymphalidae √

38. Odontoptilum angulata Chestnut Angle Hesperiidae √

39. Pachliopta aristolochiae Common Rose Papilionidae √

40. Papilio demoleus Citrus Butterfly Papilionidae √ √

41. Papilio memnon Great Mormon Papilionidae √

42. Parantica aglea Glassy Tiger Nymphalidae √

43. Parthenos sylvia Clipper Nymphalidae √

44. Pelopidas agna Bengal Swift Hesperiidae √

45. Peroronia hippia Common Wanderer Pieridae √

46. Phalanta phalanta Common Leopard Nymphalidae √

47. Prosotas nora Common Lineblue Lycaenidae √

48. Rapala dieneces Scarlet Flash Lycaenidae √

49. Rapala manea Slate Flash Lycaenidae √

50. Rapala pheretima Copper Flash Lycaenidae √

51. Remelana jangala Chocolate Royal Lycaenidae √

52. Tagiades japetus Common Snow flat Hesperiidae √ √

53. Tarucus ananda Dark Pierrot Lycaenidae √

54. Vagrans sinha Vagrant Nymphalidae √

55. Zemeros flegyas Punchinello Riodinidae √

 

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Fig 2: Comparison of genera and species of butterflies in respective families.

Fig 3: Number of butterfly species in relation with families.

 

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Fig 4: Photographs of the butterflies on Chromolaena odorata (see Table 1 for corresponding names). Photographs 1-28, 30-38, 40-53, 55 © Tahsinur Rahman Shihan; 29, 54 © Imran Hossain; 39 © Niaj Murshed Abir.

4. Discussion In previous study Lakshmi & Raju (2011) reported Chromolaena odorata as an important source of nectar for adult butterflies in Seshachalam Hills of Southern Eastern Ghats of Andhra Prades, India and only 21 species of butterflies were recorded to use this plant as a nectar source. In the present study 55 species of butterflies were identified that use this plant as a source of nectar. In these 55 species, 09 species namely Acraea violae, Danaus genutia, Delias eucharis, Euploea core, Junonia ipthitia, Junonia lemonias, Papilio demoleus, Parantica aglea and Phalanta phalanta also reported by Lakshmi & Raju (2011). This discrepancy may be due to the geographical distribution and variation of both plant and species occurrences. Lakshmi & Raju (2011) also reported that the cylindrical heads equipped with a cluster of florets provide a convenient landing place for butterflies and also this arrangement enables them to probe several flowers in each

visit in succession for nectar before their departure. The flowering heads borne terminally stand out prominently and the butterflies were found to be attracted to them even from long distance. Galetto & Bernardello (2003) reported that hexose nectars are characteristic of Asteraceae. Baker & Baker (1983) also stated that hexose sugars dominate in the nectars of Asteraceae and the nectars are also relatively strong in amino acids to compensate for the low sucrose-hexose ratio in the members of this family which attract butterflies. Since C. odorata is a member of Asteraceae, hexose-rich sugars and high amino acid concentration could be expected in the nectar. The retention of florets for extended periods may enhance the attractiveness of flowering heads to visiting butterflies. C. odorata with these floral structural and functional characteristics attract butterflies. The patchy distribution of the plant with numerous flowering heads facilitates frequent movement of butterflies between different individuals.

 

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5. Conclusion Butterflies get a source of large amount of nutrition from C. odorata flowers and pollinate the flowers heavily, which is the key success of its highly invasiveness of different parts of the world. 6. Acknowledgements Authors are grateful to Professor Dr. Monirul H. Khan, Shihab Khaledin Aungkur, Mohammed Arif Hossain Prodhan, Dr. Mofizul Kabir, Dr. Kamrul Hasan, Bayezid Khan, Nimus Sadat Khan, Rahul Bashak, Imran Hossain and Niaj Murshed Abir. 7. References 1. Ehrlich PR, Raven PH. Butterflies and plants: a study in

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3. Ashish DT, Vishal PD, Roger HD. Factors influencing nectar plant resource visits by butterflies on a university campus: implications for conservation. Nota lepid 2006; 28 (3-4):213-224.

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