THE DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLIES IN SOUTHERN PART OF THE WESTERN GHATS (PALANI HILLS)

The present study has been done in the southern part of Western Ghats of Palani Hills in Tamilnadu. It was conferred as a global biodiversity hotspot that includes Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary is to be proposed. We have studied the Diversity, Dominance and Evenness of butterflies in different habitats (forest area, crop area and river bank,) during the period of December 2018 to March 2019. A total number of 92 species, from 65 genera and 5 families were recorded. The diversity of species and abundance have recorded maximum in March-May and dropped it to the minimum in December 2018 - January 2019. Forest area habitats had greater species diversity, while the riverbank habitat had a greater number of butterflies; crop area had the least diversity of individuals and abundance present in the studied habitats. We have also been recorded the endemism and the flight period of some of the butterflies and their distribution range within the habitats with their nectar source plants. Analyses were also done to emphasize the importance of butterfly individuals and their need for conservation.