Journal of Threatened Taxa (Aug 2010)
Butterfly diversity in tropical moist deciduous sal forests of Ankua Reserve Forest, Koina Range, Saranda Division, West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand, India
Abstract
Butterflies were sampled during February and September 2008 using pollard walk method to assess the species diversity in the tropical moist deciduous sal forest habitats of Ankua Reserve Forest, Koina Range, Saranda Division, West Singhbhum District, Jharkhand. This area, a total of 999.9ha, is being proposed for lease under an iron ore mining project. This short-term study revealed high beta diversity of butterflies in these forest tracts, with 71 species recorded. Of these, two species, Leopard Lacewing Cethosia cyane (Drury, 1773) and Restricted Demon Notocrypta curvifascia (C. & R. Felder, 1862), are new records for Jharkhand state while three other species recorded are listed in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. This study provides support for long-term conservation of these fragmented sal forest tracts to ensure biodiversity protection.