author(s)
Santhosh S and S Basavarajappa

abstract
Field study was conducted to assess quantitatively the impact of pesticides application on native butterfly fauna in agriculture ecosystems at Chamarajanagar District, Karnataka during 2014-2015. Five hundred meter length, 15 permanent line transects (LTs) were randomly selected at paddy growing area (PGA), commercial crops growing area (CCGA) and vegetables growing area (VGA). Around 45 species which belong to the family Hesperiidae (Five species), Lycaenidae (10 species), Nymphalidae (16 species), Papilionidae (Five species) and Pieridae (Nine species) showed considerable variation in their relative density and abundance at areas with pesticides spray compared to control. In general, there was a decline of butterfly fauna at pesticides sprayed areas. The Shannon diversity index varied considerably. Further, the Simpson and Equitability index was more 97 to 98 before application and it was decreased from 95 to 96 after the spray of pesticides. Present study help understand the status of butterfly species survivorship due to pesticides impact amidst intensive agriculture ecosystems.