author(s)
Kumar P, Ramarajan S and Murugesan AG

abstract
The diversity and seasonal changes of butterflies were recorded in university campus of Sri Paramakalyani Centre of Excellence in Environmental Science, Alwarkurichi, Tamil Nadu. A total of 1182 individuals were observed during the study period of 2012- 2013. A total of 57 species of butterflies, the Nymphalidae was most dominant family followed by Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae. A total of six species of butterflies are observed in endemic and Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The Nymphalidae showed highest dominant index (35.08%), the value of other groups are relatively low in Lycaenidae, Pieridae, Papilionidae and Hesperiidae with 22.80%, 21.05%, 12.28% and 8.77% respectively. Whereas, the individual abundance and the dominant index showed highest Lycaenidae 445 (37.65%) and low dominant index observed in Papilionidae and Hesperiidae showed 57 (4.82%) and 30 (2.54%). Among the total species of butterflies 20 species were present throughout the year. Species abundance was increasing trend from the beginning of earlier winter season, mid-October to February and decent the species abundance from late March- September. Correlation co-efficient analysis showed that positive correction with (0.218) temperature and negative correlation with precipitation (-0.573). The species profile of the butterfly communities associated with climatic factors was analysed to further development of butterfly garden in university campus.