Ecological Insights into Butterfly Diversity and Habitat Preference: A Study from Acharya Prafulla Chandra College Campus

Butterflies are well known for their ecological services as good pollinators and bioindicators of ecosystem health. The current study examined the diversity and abundance of butterflies on the Acharya Prafulla Chandra College campus between November and March. A total of 36 species from 5 families were identified. The family Lycaenidae contributed the most species (13), while Hesperiidae only had two. The family Pieridae (34%) displayed the highest abundance count, indicating its dominance within the assemblage, followed by Lycaenidae (24.7%), Nymphalidae (20.7%), Papilionidae (18.7%), and Hesperiidae (1.8%). Species were categorized as rare, regular, or abundant, with community structure reflecting the coexistence of a few dominant taxa alongside several rare ones. Diversity peaked in November (H? = 3.355, Simpson 1–D = 0.9602), which corresponded with favorable floral resources, demonstrating seasonal variation. Rank abundance curves showed a log-normal distribution of species, indicating ecological stability, and rarefaction analysis validated sufficient sampling effort. NMDS showed distinct clustering and separation of butterfly assemblages across habitat types, reflecting habitat heterogeneity. Pieridae and Nymphalidae occupied multiple habitats, whereas Lycaenidae and Papilionidae were associated with specific vegetation, particularly nectar-rich ornamental gardens. Overall, the results provide baseline data for long-term monitoring and conservation plans, highlighting the significance of the college campus's semi-urban landscape as a butterfly habitat.