Diversity of butterfly in western himalayan region, Uttarakhand

Butterflies are one of the most conspicuous, attractive and colour full insect of earth’s biodiversity. Butterflies play various important contributions in maintenance of healthy ecosystem. Many others insects and small animals relay on butterflies as food source. Himalayan region are rich in flora and fauna. Himalayan regions are an eco-friendly region of Terai Arc landscape of India. It supports species of diversity by providing them verities of food source and habitat. The present research work conducted in Himalayan region of Uttarakhand to study diversity of butterfly. Uttarakhand Himalayan region are rich in fauna as well as flora probably due to their climatic conditions such as humidity, temperature, habitat and ecosystem, which supported diversity of butterflies. Uttarakhand is flourished by natural rivers namely Gola and Sharda rivers which also support diversity during summer seasons. Himalayan regions are an eco-friendly region of Terai Arc landscape of India. To study the diversity of butterflies two different elevation has been selected to study the diversity of butterflies; 01. Lower elevation of Western Himalayan (400-500) and 02.Moderate elevation (1000-1100) of Western Himalayan Uttarakhand (1000-1100). Three season have been selected monsoon (July- October), winter (November - march), summer (April-june) to study diversity of butterfly. Random survey has been done during the one and half year (March 2023- August 2024), a total 5 families have been recorded namely Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae, Papilionidae, Riodinidae, Hesperiidae from the study area. Maximum abundance of species was observed of Nymphalidae family and least abundance of species was observed in Hesperiidae.