Butterfly Diversity and Seasonality at Hathnikund Barrage: Insights from a Natural Ecotone in Haryana, India.

This study, spanning from March 2022 to February 2024, aimed to document the diversity, abundance, and seasonal variability of butterflies of the Hathnikund Barrage (30°18′50″ N, 77°35′04″ E) adopting the Pollard Walk method. A total of 3,869 individuals were observed, representing 66 butterfly species across 53 genera, 16 subfamilies and six families. Nymphalidae emerged as the most diverse family with 30 species. Biannual peaks in species richness and population abundance were evident, with one peak occurring in the summer season and a second peak during the post-monsoon season. Significant differences in species richness, abundance, and diversity were observed in different seasons of a year, these metrices also showed significant differences between the two years of the study period. Among the recorded species, five species were listed in Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, (2022) highlighting the conservation significance of the Hathnikund Barrage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]