A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON DIVERSITY AND RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF BUTTERFLY FAUNA (ORDER: LEPIDOPTERA) IN NAWAB WAJID ALI SHAH ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, LUCKNOW, U.P., INDIA

The assessment of butterflies diversity and relative abundance were conducted in the Butterfly Park, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden (Lucknow Zoo) from the month of July 2020 to December 2020. Butterflies are considered as valuable bio-indicator species for examining and detecting changes in the environment because of their diversity, broad distribution specifically to vegetation type, quick response to perturbation, statistically significant abundance, and sensitivity to environmental variations. This study revealed presence of 62 species of butterflies belonging to 45 genera which represents five families. Family Nymphalidae has been most abundant and comprising 24 species, followed by 16 species of Lycaenidae, 14 species of Pieridae, 6 species of family Papilionidae and 2 species of Hesperiidae were recorded from the study area during the study period. According to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 four species found to be protected. Species richness and abundance of butterflies has been highest during late monsoon to early winter. The relative abundance and diversity of each butterfly species depends upon the availability of food source, habitat condition and their environmental conditions. The present study will illuminate the knowledge about the diversity and abundance of butterflies in Butterfly Park of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden, (Lucknow Zoo) Lucknow.