Preliminary studies on butterfly diversity at some sites of Gaya District, Bihar, India.

The present study reveals the diversity of butterflies at different sampling sites in theGaya districtfrom June 2022 to July 2024. Sixty-eight speciesof butterflies belonging to five families were recorded from the study area.Maximum species diversity and richness were observed during the winter season. The minimum is reported in the summer season. Common crow, common castor, common jezebel, grey pansy, chocolate pansy, plain tiger, blue tiger, tawny castor, common emigrant, peacock pansy, yellow pansy, blue pansy, great egg fly, common grass yellow, common pierrot, lime blue, common sailor, common evening brown, molted emigrant and small branded-swift were dominant species in this area. In contrast, monkey puzzle, ape fly,Indian sunbeam, common silverline, margined hedge blue, asian comma, and painted lady were rare. Pollution due to vehicles, dust particles, and many activities damage nectar and larval host plants during the breeding season in and around the habitats.The presence of larval host plants which help toenhance the habitat of butterflies and other insectsis also reported from the site. Vegetation varies from trees, shrubs, scrub jungles, and some herb plants.. KEYWORDS :Butterfly, Species diversity, Host plants, Gaya