• R.K. RATHIKA
• Dr. S. Mary Mettilda Bai
• Dr. J. Vinoliya Josephine Mary
• F. Vargila

A preliminary study on the diversity of butterflies was carried out in Holy Cross College campus, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu, India from December 2016 to April 2017using line transect method. A total of 35 species of butterflies belonging to 29 genera, five families and 29 subfamilies were recorded, of which five species having protected status under the Indian Wildlife Act and IUCN schedule. Among the five families, family Nymphalidae represented with 10 genera and 12 species was the most dominant followed by Pieridae (7 genera and 9 species), Lycaenidae (7 genera and 7 species), Papilionidae (4 genera, 7 species) and Hesperiidae (1 genera and 1 species). Plain tiger, Plain sulphur, Common albatross, Psyche, Tiny grass blue and Mottled emigrant were found to be the dominant species. The value of Margalef’s index, Simpson’s index and Shannon Weiner index of diversity was, 6.282746, 0.943559 and 3.16285 respectively which indicates high species diversity of butterflies in the campus, which may be attributed to the presence of enormous host plants that provide a suitable nectar source and serves a breeding habitat to the butterflies.

Biodiversity, Margalef’s index, Simpson’s index, Shannon Weiner index, species richness.

"DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLIES IN HOLY CROSS COLLEGE CAMPUS, NAGERCOIL, INDIA.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no.153-165, June-2018, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806629.pdf

"DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLIES IN HOLY CROSS COLLEGE CAMPUS, NAGERCOIL, INDIA.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.5, Issue 6, page no. pp153-165, June-2018, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR1806629.pdf