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ABSTRACT: The species diversity a group of insects say the butterflies on the reclaimed land along the Mithi river estuary in Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in Mumbai (Latitude 19° 02’N; Longitude 72° 48’E) was studied. The site in question is situated on the southern bank of Mithi river this part of the river is also known as Mahim creek as it is here where the Mithi river falls into the Arabian sea. The MNP is developed on erstwhile municipal dumping ground and is spread over an area of 15 hectares. This is an introduced habitat. After being used as Municipal landfill site the development (Restoration by plantation) work was started in 1982-83. Many trees were planted and the park was opened for visitors on 22 April 1994. Today this park has more than 16,500 plants, 112 species of birds have sighted, 72 species of butterflies are recorded here and many more. This is first successful trial of making man made habitat in Mumbai. Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae families are in abundance. Some beautiful species like Blue Oak Leaf (Kallima horsfieldi) and Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) are seen here regularly at this site. The present study comprises of a survey of butterflies of Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in Mumbai, which would provide base line data, for planning effective management study of insect diversity with respect to development of Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP).

Key Words: Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP), Butterfly Biodiversity, Mithi River, Mahim Creek.

INTRODUCTION

Biodiversity is a neologism and portmanteau word, from biology and diversity. (Anathakrishnan 2002) Biodiversity is the variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. Biodiversity is often used as a measure of the health of biological systems.

The area under study was garbage dumping land of Mumbai Municipal Corporation. In 1980 it was India’s biggest dumping ground. The garbage dumping is then stopped and the area is being developed as “Nature Park” known as “Maharashtra Nature Park”. At present there are more than 16,500 plants of different species. Now it have became a good example of man made forest. By this time MNP have developed insect fauna very special for region, as the park is surrounded by Dharavi slum from east, west and south side, whereas north side is blocked with Mithi river. So very less chances are there for migration of land fauna from other forested areas to MNP.

Insects are one of the good indicators of environmental quality of any ecosystem.
Butterflies have specific habitat requirement depending upon their feeding and reproduction requirements, loss of which may cause local extinction. Thus the conservation value of a habitat could be assessed by the presence of various species of Butterflies in an area.

SELECTION OF STUDY AREA

With its geomorphic head in the city of Mumbai, the Maharashtra Nature Park is geographically located at Latitude 19° 02’N; Longitude 72° 48’E. It covers 37 acres of area with length 1km and maximum width 200 meter. The municipal corporation previously used it as garbage dumping ground. The total land fill area is more than 40 acres.

Out of 37 acres of area only 30 acres of land was selected for observation. Major observations were carried out near afforested area. The denseness of bushes was less in this area. This made the observation clear and easier. As trail areas for visitors are selected and marked by building pavement, overall anthropological activities were less in the most part of area of study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The aim of the study was to produce report of species of butterflies observed over short period and hence random observations were conducted. April 2008 to October 2008. The time of observation was throughout day from morning 8:30 am to evening 5:00 pm.

Observations were made by direct visual methods. For much specification Digital cameras of 3X and 4X optical zoom were used. Cameras used were, Samsung 6.0 mega pixels with 3X optical zoom and digital control; another camera Canon 8.0 mega pixel with 4X optical zoom and digital control. Macro mode of camera was used to get fine pictures. Flash was mostly kept off to capture natural colours.

Standard guides and references which are available such as Isaac Kehimkar (2008), Krushnamegh Kunte(2000), aided identification, classification and nomenclature of butterflies.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

BUTTERFLIES OF MAHARASHTRA NATURE PARK
Sr. No.	COMMON NAME	SCIENTIFIC NAME
FAMILY - Hesperiidae
1	Chestnut bob	Iambrix salsa
2	Common Banded Awl	Hasora chromus
3	Common Redeye	Matapa aria
4	Conjoined Swift	Pelopidas conjuncta
5	Grass Demon	Udaspes folus
6	Great Swift	Pelopidas assamensis
7	Malabar Spotted Flat	Celaenorrhinus ambareesa
8	Paint Brush Swift	Baoris farri.
9	Pale Palm dart	Telicota colon
10	Small Branded Swift	Pelopidas mathias
11	Straight Swift	Parnara guttatus
12	Common Small Flat	Sarangesa dasahara
FAMILY - Lycaenidae
13	African Babul Blue	Azanus jesous
14	Bright babul Blue	Azanus ubaldus
15	Common Cerulean	Jamides celeno
16	Common Line Blue	Prosotas nora
17	Common pierrot	Castlius rosimon
18	Dark Cerulean	Jamides bochus
19	Dark Grass Blue	Zizeeria karsandra
20	Dingy Lineblue	Petrelaea dana
21	Forget Me Not	Catochrysops strabo
22	Gram blue	Euchrysops cnejus
23	Indian Cupid	Everes lacturnus
24	Indian Sunbeam	Curetis thetis
25	Lime Blue	Chilades lajus
26	Malayan	Megisba malaya thwaitesi
27	Pea Blue	Lampides boeticus
28	Pointed Ciliated Blue	Anthene lycaenina
29	Red Pierrot	Talicada nyseus
30	Six Line Blue	Nacaduba kurava
31	Zebra Blue	Leptotes plinius
FAMILY - Pieridae
32	Common Albatross	Appias albina
33	Common Emigrant	Catopsilia pomona
34	Common Grass Yelow	Eurema hecabe
35	Common Gull	Cepora nerissa
36	Common Jezebel	Delias eucharis
37	Common Wanderer	Pareronia valeria
38	Mottled Emigrant	Catopsilia pyranthe
39	Pioneer	Belenois aurota
40	Psyche	Leptosia nina
41	Small Grass Yelow	Eurema brigata
42	Small Salmon Arab	Colotis amata
43	One spot grass yellow	Eurema andersoni
44	Three Spot Grass Yellow	Eurema blanda
45	Yellow Orange Tip	Ixias pyrene
FAMILY - Papilionidae
46	Blue Mormon	Papilio polymnestor
47	Common Mormon	Papilio polytes
48	Lime butterfly	Papilio demoleus
49	Tailed Jay	Graphium agamemnon
FAMILY - Danaidae
50	Blue Tiger	Tirumala limniace
51	Glassy Tiger	Parantica aglea
52	Plain Tiger	Danaus chrysipus
53	Stripped Tiger	Danaus genutia
FAMILY - Nymphalidae
54	Angled Castor	Ariadne ariadne
55	Baronet	Euthalia nais
56	Black Rajah	Charaxes solon
57	Blue Oak leaf	Kallima horsfieldi
58	Brown king Crow	Euploea klugii
59	Common Crow	Euploea core
60	Commander	Moduza procris
61	Common Baron	Euthalia aconthea
62	Common Castor	Ariadne merione
63	Common Evening Brown	Melanitis leda
64	Common Leopard	Phalanta phalantha
65	Common Nawab	Polyura athamas
66	Common Sailor	Neptis hylas
67	Danaid Eggfly	Hypolimnas misippus
68	Great eggfly	Hypolimnas bolina
69	Grey pansy	Junonia atlites
70	Lemon Pansy	Junonia lemonias
71	Painted lady	Vanessa cardui
72	Tawny Coster	Acrea violea

*Data publication and copyrights reserved by Research team and Maharashtra Nature Park, Dharavi, Mumbai.

Thus the observation made on butterfly species inhibiting the area under study indicated, that the total number of 72 butterfly species are present in Maharashtra Nature Park. Number of species recorded is more than previous record of 39 butterflies.

The Maharashtra Nature Park region has became a good example of forest within city. This new record will definitely attract butterfly and nature lovers to the MNP and it will become possible to explore more data and more conservation and development strategies will be used to maintain and enhance the fauna and floral diversity of MNP.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Special thanks to Mr. Avinash Kubal, Deputy Director of Maharashtra Nature Park and Mr. Bipin Joshi, Program coordinator, Maharashtra Nature Park.


REFERENCES

Books and Papers
1. Official database of Maharashtra Nature Park, Dharavi, Mumbai.
2. Isaac Kehimkar, 2008, The Book of Indian Butterflies, Bombay Natural History Society.
3. Krushnamegh Kunte, 2000, Butterflies of Peninsular India, University press (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Web Sites and Web Pages
1. http://www.lepbarcoding.org
2. http://www.catalogueoflife.org
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