DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLIES (LEPIDOPTERA) IN MAHATMA PHULE A. S. C. COLLEGE CAMPUS AND ADJACENT AREAS OF PANVEL, RAIGAD, MAHARASHTRA

Panvel region of Raigad district harbors a great range of vegetation, estuary and mountainous hills and thus offers habitation for living organisms including butterflies. Several anthropogenic activities including the ongoing construction of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has destroyed habitat in and around Panvel region. Loss of habitat results in the decline of biodiversity of both vertebrates and invertebrates. There is not even a preliminary list of Lepidopteran species of this region. Therefore, the present study was conducted to prepare a checklist of butterflies in the region. Butterflies were observed for one year (from June 2019 to May 2020) in different localities of Mahatma Phule College of Arts, Science and Commerce (MPASC) campus and the adjacent areas in Panvel. A total of 42 species of Lepidopteran belonging to 32 genera and 6 families were recorded. Among the 6 families, Nymphalidae dominated the list with 14 genera and 21 species, Pieridae with 7 genera and 9 species, Lycaenidae with 7 genera and 7 species, Papilionidae with 2 genera and 3 species, Hesperiidae and Riodinidae with 1 genus and 1 species each. This study would provide information on the biodiversity of butterflies of the region that can be used as a baseline preliminary data for further butterfly studies.