Butterfly-fauna of Gulmarg, Kashmir, J&K State.

Abstract

Field surveys conducted at Gulmarg, Kashmir during the years of 2006-08 revealed presence of 31 butterfly species distributed in 8 families and 27 genera. During the present preliminary field investigations documented for the first time the dominant family was found to be Nymphalidae (36%) followed by Pieridae (23%), Satyridae (19%), Lycaenidae (10%) whereas Danaidae, Hesperiidae, Libytheidae and Papilionidae were represented by 3% each. The butterflies were active from April to November and highest distribution was in summer season. Diversity was calculated by Shannon-Weiner, Simpson and Margalaf's diversity indices and the values obtained by these indices indicated that the area is rich in butterfly diversity. However, human pressure due to tremendous flow of tourists was found a major threat to the environment of the area. 11 hostplants distributed in 8 families and 11 genera are being reported for the first time and highest number of butterflies visited the members of Asteraceae.

First photographic record of Ypthima sakra Moore, 1857 - from Jammu and Kashmir Union territory, India (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

“…After Independence not much work was done on Rhopalocera fauna of Jammu and Kashmir. Over the last decade, some local researcher and photographers have explored some parts of the UT extensively and not only added to the known distribution of the Rhopalocera (Qureshi et al 2013a(Qureshi et al , 2013b(Qureshi et al , 2014Sharma & Sharma, 2017a, 2017b, 2018a, 2018b, 2020 but also published so many new records for the UT, e.g. Sharma & Sharma (2017a, 2017b, Sheikh & Parey (2019a, 2019b, Sharma & Sharma (2020), Sheikh (2021), Singh & Sheikh (2021), , Gupta & Sheikh (2022a), Dar et al (2022aDar et al ( , 2022b, Sheikh & Gupta (2022), Sheikh & Mishra (2022), Khan & Sheikh (2022), Sheikh & Mishra (2023).…”

Two new records of Rhopalocera from Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India (Insecta: Lepidoptera)

“…From decade, some researchers have made research in some parts of the Union Territory and have added many new sightings of Rhopalocera fauna of Jammu and Kashmir, India i.e., (Qureshi et al, 2013a(Qureshi et al, , 2013b(Qureshi et al, , 2014Sharma & Sharma, 2017a, 2017b, 2018a, 2018b, 2020 and many other articles by Sharma & Sharma (2017a, 2017b…”

Confirmation of the presence of Hestina persimilis zella Butler, 1869 from Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India after 110 years (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

“…However, after Independence not much work has been done on this second largest insect order from Jammu and Kashmir. Over the last decade, only some regional researchers and photographers have explored some parts of the Union territory extensively and not only added to the known distributional records (Qureshi et al 2013a(Qureshi et al , 2013b(Qureshi et al , 2014Sharma & Sharma, 2017a, 2017b, 2018a, 2018b, 2020 but also published many new regional records for the Union Territory or new country records for India (Sharma & Sharma, 2017a, 2017b, 2018a, 2018bSheikh & Parey, 2019a, 2019bSharma & Sharma, 2020;Gupta & Sheikh, 2021;Sheikh, 2021;Singh & Sheikh, 2021;Dar et al 2022aDar et al , 2022bSheikh & Mishra, 2022;Khan & Sheikh, 2022;Sheikh & Mishra, 2023). Hestina persimilis is legally protected in India under the Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.…”