BUTTERFLIES
OF DISTRICT BATTAGRAM KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN
1Fawad Khan, 2Samina Yasmin, 3Faryal Syed
1Department of Entomology, Abdul Wali Khan University, Mardan
2Hazara University Mansehra
3University: university of Peshawar, Pakistan
Received: 27-11-2024, Accepted: 3-12-2024, Published
online: 20-01-2025
Abstract
A feasibility study of studying butterfly fauna of Battagram district was conducted from March to October of
the year 2018 and found 29 species that belong to 19 Genera and six families. All
the study sites located at the varied ecological zones including Battagram City, Thakot, Shamlai, and Allai Tehsil
including Allai Valley pointed the authors towards
the biological richness of an area. The families that have been recognized by
the parents are Nymphalidae (Eleven species), Pieridae (nine species), Papilionidae
(Four species), Satyridae ( Three species),
Libytheidae ( One species), and Danaidae ( One
species).
In the field, aerial nets,
ethyl acetate jars, and entomological boards were employed in the collection
made. The taxonomic position of the collected specimens was determined by
consulting taxonomic literature and museum-lent purposes for specimen
identification The identified specimens were donated to the Insect Museum of
the Health Service Academy Islamabad. Supporting photographic data are
presented to identify the species.
This work also affirms the
possibilities of the butterfly to act as a pollinator and as an indicators for
environmental health referencing threats such as loss of habitat and the
application of pesticides. These results enable further research and
conservation of biologically diverse sites of the studied area of Battagram.
Introduction
The Battagram
butterflies survey was conducted from March to October of the year 2018. During
the field work during this period about fourteen sites will be identified which
produced a Worth about three hundred specimens some of the important sites are:
Battagram City the administrative headquarters of Thakot Shalmali Ajmera Banian and
the picturesque Allai Valley which embodies the
natural and cultural capital of Battagram area. Some
of the other sectors are Rashang, Paimal
Sharif, Kuzabanda, and Peshora
sectors – it is a great place of natural and social powerhouse. Almost all
these important village tracts possess the rural-like look of the district such
as Kot Gala, Ajmera Banda, Shingli
Payeen and Shingli Bala
Other such village tracts contribute to the geographical and natural variations
of terrain of Battagram include Battal,
Chapra, Salazai, Jigai, Kas Pul and Dheri. All
these areas are within the ecological-culture-historical geography of the
district. When taken to the species level these specimens were identified and
thereby added documentation of twenty-nine species of 19 genus and 6 families.
Nymphalidae: 7 genera, 11 species.
Pieridae: 6 genera, 9 species.
1. Papilionidae: 1 genus, 4 species.
2. Satyridae: 3 genera, 3 species.
3. Libytheidae: 1 genus, 1 species.
4. Danaidae: 1 genus, 1 species.
Highlights
Most diverse families: Nymphalidae and Pieridae.
Rare families: Only two
families have only one species each – Libytheidae, and Danaidae.
Significance: Butterflies are
pollinators and bioindicators or measures of the health status of ecosystems
associated with them.
Materials and Methods
Study Areas
This study was conducted in the
summer of (2018) in the District Battagram of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
(Fig. A) Sampling was performed in one square kilometer
area at each site.
Collection
Methods
The
collected butterfly specimens belong to the Battagram
region of Pakistan and to give the details of capturing each butterfly specimen
standard process has been followed step-wise. Here is the detailed procedure:
Tools
Used
Aerial
Nets: Aerial samples were collected using aerial nylons with long handles of
between 3 to 4 feet long. Among the nets used were revolving wire rings with a
diameter of 25 cms which were chosen in a manner not
to harm the butterflies and part of their body and wings.
Sampling
Timing
Session
Duration: Mean time taken per sample from each center ranged from 30-60 minutes
for surveys.
Frequency:
The frequency of multiple sessions was chosen as 10-15 days to capture samples
of different species,
Daylight
Hours: All the collections were done in the daylight because it was realized
that butterflies were most active during that period.
Killing
and Preservation
Killing:
Sites
were followed by euthanasia or by killing in killing jars which had vessels
containing cotton soaked in ethyl acetate at the base to eliminate any tissue
deterioration.
Stretching:
The last
of the surviving mosquitoes was dissected only a few days after the anis diapsis of other mosquitoes on the entomologic boards.
Their bodies had been put in entomological pins and their antennae lay – had
been arranged in midline to facilitate their identification later.
Relaxation:
Incompliant
materials were placed in the calorific for mini weeks to submerge the body for
INR; PAGE stretching to be made.
Drying:
Thereafter,
the specimens were stretched and mounted on the stretching boards for not less
than 4 days later within the process. This step maintained their shape and were
less likely to be subjected to physical abuse during storage at that time.
Storage:
Subsequently,
slides were washed away from the vial with noted media and after allowing the
slide to dry, the specimens were transferred to wooden boxes. To avoid the buildup
of pests, the boxes used lay on naphthaline balls
& these boxes were therefore sprinkled with copex
powder.
Photographs
Full-Body
Images: The entire specimens were taken photographing the total morphological
outlook with digitalized high-resolution digital cameras.
Detailed
Taxonomic Features: For instance, on some occasions that involved the analysis
of species using the networks of the veins in the leaves, the scales, or the
genitalia of the male samples, photographs were taken using the micro-cameras.
Identification
Literature
Comparison: Certain of these specimens were identified by general taxonomic
materials while others were identified by special literature on butterflies as
well as guides.
Reference
Collection: Recapture was again easier said with the specimens collected
earlier with the samples deposited in the National Insect Museum (NIM Pak)
available at the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC Islamabad).
Taxonomic
Keys: The above modifications have been made to increase the maneuverability of
designing the family, of a generic and of the specific identification keys...
irrespective of any future researcher’s needs.
Depository
Final
Storage: Subsequently the specimens were collected and kept in the Insect
Museum of the Department of Entomology of Health Services Academy Islamabad.
This was of immense benefit to retain them for future uses of references by
skilled scholars, university students, taxonomists, conservationists, and biologists.
Results
A
summary of species and family-wise distribution is provided below:
The
Fauna of the Battagram Butterfly described in the
current study in terms of families is quite normal and is represented in almost
all the families. There are 7 genera and 11 species of this family: E
associated with aconthea Ar
hyperbius Ar kamala Ju almana Ju orithya Ju hierta Va cardui Va indica Ar merione Holo
bolina and N hylas. The
second is the family Pieridae with 6 varieties of genera
and 9 special kinds which are Pieridae: Such species
as Pontia daplidace, Colias
erate, Colias electo,
Colias eurytheme, Eurema hecabe, Pieris brassicae, Catopsilia pyranthe, Catopsilia crocale, and Gonepteryx rhamni. Family Papilionidae includes 1 genus and 4 species: Some of these
butterflies are very familiar with Papilio polytes, Papilio machaon, Papilio demoleus, and Papilio polyctor and can be classified as common butterflies. The
family Satyridae is represented by 3 genera and 3
species: The butterflies: genus Lethe rohria, Aph بهران-bar, Hipparchia parasitas, Yepthima asterope. Family
Libytheidae includes Libythea lepita
and Family Danaidae has genus Danaus and the only
species is Danaus chrysippus As a brief description
of the rich butterfly fauna of India and familiarizes the reader with emergency
butterflies, this work confirms that there are 19 genera and 29 species of
butterfly with 6 families.
Family Nymphalidae: 7 genera, 11 species
Euthalia acantha,
Argynnis hyperbius, Argynnis kamala, Junonia almana, Junonia orithya, Junonia hierta, Vanessa cardui, Vanessa
indica, Ariadne merione, Hypolimnas
bolina, Neptis hylas.
Family Pieridae: 6 genera, 9 species
Pontia daplidace, Colias erate, Colias electo, Colias eurytheme, Eurema hecabe, Pieris brassicae, Catopsilia pyranthe, Catopsilia crocale, Gonepteryx rhamni.
Family Papilionidae: 1 genus, 4 species
Papilio polytes, Papilio machaon, Papilio demoleus, Papilio polyctor.
Family Satyridae: 3 genera, 3 species
: This
species of butterflies includes Lethe rohria, Hipparchia parasitas, Yepthima asterope.
Family Danaidae: 1 genus, 1 species
Danaus chrysippus.
The Nymphalidae
family emerged as the most diverse, contributing 11 species.
The Pieridae
family followed with 9 species.
Families Danaidae
and Libytheidae
were the least diverse, with one species each.
The study identified 30 butterfly species
across 19 genera and 6 families in District Swabi. Nymphalidae
and Pieridae families were the most diverse,
highlighting the richness of the region’s butterfly fauna. Comprehensive data,
including photographs, taxonomic keys, and detailed descriptions, were compiled
to aid further research and conservation. These findings emphasize the
ecological importance of butterflies and the urgent need for conservation
efforts to protect them from environmental threats such as deforestation,
industrialization, and pesticide use.
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