author(s)
Sonali Zamre, Vrunda S Thakare and Pradnya Kadam

abstract
The beautiful creature of nature, butterflies (Lepidoptera) have great aesthetic and commercial values as they are beneficial as pollinator and environmental indicator. The present survey was conducted to determine the characteristics of lepidopteran fauna collected from Akola vicinity during March-June 2015-2016. A total of 350 specimens were collected belonging to twelve different families viz; Noctuidae, Nymphallidae, Pieridae, Papillionidae, Sphingidae, Arctiidae, Lycaenidae, Hesperidae, Geometridae, Notondidae, Pyrallidae and Pterophoridae. Familywise recorded data showed that family Noctuidae observed rich fauna during the course of study and contributing about 26.57 per cent, followed by Nymphallidae 24.28 per cent, Pieridae 19.71 per cent, Papillionidae 9.7 per cent. Family Notondidae and Pyrallidae observed the minimum fauna in Akola vicinity. The characteristics of butterfly fauna collected from Akola are helpful in awareness, education and further research. A detail study is required for further exploration of lepidopteran fauna of Akola vicinity.