author(s)
Ritika Gangotia and Pawan Kumar

abstract
The present study provides information on Habitat Preferences of Butterflies of Conifer Forests of Water Catchment Sanctuary of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh for the first time. As a part of the biodiversity impact assessment, a survey was carried out to study the butterfly diversity. The aim of the study was to identify species of conservation priority, their seasonality and to know the butterfly diversity potential of the area. Surveys were carried out during three different seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon from Feb 2017 to Jan 2018. Pollard walk method was used to assess the diversity. Total 755 individuals belonging to 31 species of 5 families were recorded and maximum numbers of individuals (268) were recorded during Pre-monsoon (Feb-May). The results of present study revealed that maximum number of species belonged to family Nymphalidae (12 species), followed by Lycanidae (8 species), Pieridae (7 species), Hesperidae (2 species) and Papilionidae (2 species). Percentage composition of each family revealed that Nymphalidae constituted around (41%) of the total butterfly fauna, followed by Lycanidae (37%), Pieridae (18%) Papilionidae (2%), Hesperiidae (2% each). Species diversity, evenness and species richness was calculated by Shannon-Weiner Diversity index, Jaccard Evenness index and Margalef’s Richness index. Species diversity was found highest in Nymphalidae (1.06) and lowest in family Papilionidae (0.28); evenness was highest in family Nymphalidae (4.43) and lowest in Hesperidae (0.81). Similarly species richness was highest in family Nymphalidae (0.42) and lowest in Hesperidae (0.24). From the conservation point of view the study area is undisturbed forest, rich in flora and fauna species and the findings suggested that it holds a rich and unique diversity of butterflies. Such studies on monitoring the butterfly diversity and abundance offer valuable information on their population dynamics. Large scale study on ecologically important species is required to fully explore the area thus a detailed study of butterfly fauna in these areas is in progress to conclude comprehensive information on habitat preferences of Butterflies.