• Sunita Chahar
• Sneha Dubey
• Niketa Panchal

Abstract : A study of butterfly diversity was carried out in the Bhandup (west), Mumbai Maharashtra. The area selected for the study was N.E.S.Ratnam College campus and Kukreja residential complex. Both the complexes are situated in the highly populated suburb of Mumbai, but these two being the oldest establishments have more than 200 wild and cultivated plants. The study was carried out from October 2019 to February 2021 except for the rainy seasons. A total of 39 species of butterflies belonging to five families, Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae and Pieridae were recorded. Nymphalidae family is the dominating family with 14 species spotted in this period of study. The dominant butterflies in the area are Euploea core, Moduza procris, Pachliopta hector, Rathinda amor, Udaspes folus, Delias ecucharis, Acraea violae, Pareronia hippia and Papilio polymnestor. The area has cultivated and wild plants which serve as host plant for laying the eggs and nectar plants for nectar. The dominant plants in these two complexes are Stachytarpheta indica, Lantana camara, Mangifera indica, Citrus limonia, Achras sapota, Ixora coccinea, Vinca rosea, several species of Tagetus, Cosmos. The wild flora is dominated by species of Cleome, Phyllanthus, Alternanthera, Capparis, Vernonia, Clitoria and several species of grasses.There are trees older than 70 years like Ficus benghalensis, Ficus religiosa, Couropita guanensis, Tamarindus indica, Caesalpinia sps,etc.

Butterfly diversity, Stachytarpheta

"Butterfly Diversity in Bhandup (west), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 9, page no.e346-e352, September-2021, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2109441.pdf

"Butterfly Diversity in Bhandup (west), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.8, Issue 9, page no. ppe346-e352, September-2021, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2109441.pdf