ABSTRACT
Nectar is the primary nutrient source for adult butterflies. Plant species vary in their nectar content that may influence the biological attributes of the dependent life forms. Butterflies too differ in the range of available nectar resources for exploitation. Seven flowering plant species were selected in the study area, Kisholoy, Juvenile Detention Center, Barasat, where butterflies visit the most. Data was generated from three individual plants of each of the seven plant species. Each plant individual was observed for scheduled time period in the morning to record the encounters of butterfly species. Thirty eight [38] butterfly species of five [5] families were recorded during the study period. It was found that, the encounter frequencies of butterfly species varied for different nectar plant species. It was also observed that butterflies of a particular family preferred a specific nectar plant species or even a particular plant of a selected species. None of the seven nectar plants did attract members of all the five butterfly families. Lycaenids were found to be the most frequent visitors in different nectar plants like Aerva lanata, Acmella uliginosa and Sida sp. In case of Mikania micrantha, nymphalids were frequent visitors following lycaenids.
References
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