An updated checklist of the butterfly fauna of Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India along with new distribution records

To understand and update the account of the butterfly diversity in Ajodhya Hills, Purulia, West Bengal, India a study was carried out in two consecutive years from January ۲۰۲۰ to December ۲۰۲۱ with photographic documentation. A total of ۱۴۳ butterflies from ۶ families, ۱۹ subfamilies and ۹۵ genera were recorded. The highest richness was found in the families Nymphalidae with ۴۵ species and Lycaenidae with ۴۴ species, whereas Riodinidae had the lowest richness with only ۱ species recorded. This study also reports the addition of one species, Black Angle Tapena thwaitesi (Moore), to the state butterfly fauna of West Bengal, as well as the addition of one species, Common Orange Awlet Burara jaina (Moore), to the butterfly fauna of southern West Bengal. In addition, three species, Plain Banded Awl Hasora vitta (Butler), Malabar Spotted Flat Celaenorrhinus ambareesa (Moore) and Common Acacia Blue Surendra quercetorum (Moore), were recorded with the first photographic documentation from southern West Bengal representing the rediscovery of Malabar Spotted Flat after ۱۲۴ years from the Chotanagpur Plateau of West Bengal. The present study updates knowledge of the butterfly diversity of Ajodhya Hills and discusses the threats and conservation of the area, which may help in threat prevention, developing effective conservation strategies and to build awareness among the local people and government authorities to save the wildlife of Ajodhya Hills and its habitats.

Keywords:

Biodiversity , Chotanagpur Plateau , Eastern India , lepidoptera , pollinator , rediscovery