Habitat Specific Assessment of Butterflies from Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India

Butterflies serve as vital indicators of ecosystem health, and their diversity is crucial for maintaining ecological balance. The current study was conducted in the Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, from October 27 to 29, 2024, and recorded 70 butterfly species across six families, highlighting distinct microhabitat preferences among Lepidoptera. The findings revealed that the forest microhabitat harbour the highest species richness, with 53 recorded species. Result also showed that the riverside microhabitat was more diverse than streamside microhabitat. Notably, approximately 11% of the documented species are legally protected under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) of India, emphasizing the ecological significance and conservation value of the reserve. Diversity indices, including Simpson's index, Margalef's index, and the Shannon-Wiener index, were used to calculate diversity. This study underscores the importance of microhabitat conservation for maintaining butterfly diversity, emphasizing the need for targeted protection efforts to preserve these ecosystems.