Diversity of Lepidoptera in SCS College of Agriculture and It Surrounding Areas, Assam, India

Abstract

A preliminary study was conducted in and around the Sarat Chandra Sinha College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Rangamati, Chapar, Dhubri campus, Assam, India during 2024-25 to record and study the diversity of lepidopteran insects. The college campus and the surrounding locations harbour a wide variety of butterflies and moths showing the richness of biodiversity of lepidopteran insects. The study revealed an impressive total of 44butterfly and moth species that belonged to 44 genera and 10 families. It was also noted from the study that with 10 species Nymphalidae emerged as the most dominant family followed by Pieridae and Erebidae (8 species each), Papilionidae (5 species), Geometridae, CrambidaeandHesperidae (3 species each) and Zygaenidae and Notodontidae (1 species each).The highest percentage of 22.72 species was recorded from the family Nymphalidae which was followed by 18.18 per cent in the family Peiridae, and Erebidae followed by Papilionidae  with 11.36 per cent, Geometridae, Hesperidae and Crambidae with 6.81 per cent, Sphingidae with 4.54 per cent and the lowest percentage of  2.27 was recorded  in the family Zygaenidae and Notodontidae. Given the widespread distribution of such a large number (44) of butterflies and moths species, the college campus and the surrounding area may be considered as an ideal spot for good diversity of lepidopteran insects. Adjacent forests offer an ideal breeding habitat lepidopteran insect. At the same time, various wild and cultivated plant species in and around the campus ensure sufficient food materials round the year to support such a robust population of butterflies and moths. Such an ecosystem provides a baseline information on the lepidopteran diversity in the SCS College campus for future research prospective.