Distribution and habitat characteristics of the Troidine butterfly community in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in India

Abstract

Investigation on the distribution patterns and habitat requirements of the butterfly tribe, Troidini was carried out in undisturbed forest habitats and disturbed, human-modiûed habitats in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot in south India. Compared various ecological and biological traits of the four species of this group which included a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) listed species, Troides minos Cramer, an endemic species Pachliopta pandiyana Moore, a protected species, Pachliopta hector Fabricius and Pachilopta aristolochiae Linnaeus. Comparisons were based on transect counts conducted at 66 transects in 22 locations covering six types of habitat systems with a gradient of disturbance and management regimes during 2009 and 2010. Results indicated that P. aristolochiae was the most widely distributed species occurring in 90% of the transects sampled and P. pandiyana had a restricted distribution (36 %), while both P. hector and T. minos were observed in 73% of the transects. Sampling of the juveniles on the six species of host plants in the various habitats provided insights into host plant partitioning between these species in the different habitats. Life history traits and morphological characteristics of adult troidines, larval host plant characteristics and habitat characteristics were evaluated and characterized.