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An Observation on the Fruit Feeding Behavior of Butterflies in Some Areas of Bangladesh

Tahsinur Rahman Shihan
Founder, Butterfly Flocks, Belgachi Railgate Para, Chuadanga 7200, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Very little information has been found about the behavior of fruit feeding butterflies in Bangladesh. So this was an attempt to know about the fruit feeding behavior of butterflies from different areas of Bangladesh. The study was conducted during June 2014 to September 2015. A total of 11 species and 53 individuals of butterflies of two families feeding on 11 species on the fruits of 11 families were reported. The greatest number of species (five) fed on Averrhoa carambola, Psidium guajava and Mangifera indica followed by Ananas comosus feeding by two species and remaining fruit species feeding by one species of butterfly.

Keywords: Euthalia aconthea, Fruit feeding, Nymphalidae

Location: Different areas of Bangladesh

Start Date: 00-06-2014

End Date: 00-09-2015

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Butterfly

Objectives:

The feeding behavior of adult butterflies is an often neglected topic in the study of butterfly biology (Hall & Willmott 2000) and very little information has been found about the behavior of fruit feeding butterflies in Bangladesh. So this was an attempt to know about the fruit feeding behavior of butterflies from different areas of Bangladesh.

Methodology:

An observation of fruit feeding behavior was conducted from June 2014 to September 2015 in natural conditions such as on over-ripe fruits fallen under trees, half eaten ripe fruits left by birds, rotten fruits under trees or on trees and the remains of fruit fed upon by birds. The butterflies’ behavior was carefully observed. Identification of species, GPS location, name of place, dates, times of feeding, duration of feeding and the names of fruits were noted on the spot. Butterflies were identified using the field guide by Kehimkar (2008), and Kunte (2000), and feeding fruits were identified by the literature of Hossain et al. (2009).

The location was noted with a Garmin GPS. Photography of live specimen was taken with Canon 1100D and Canon 600D with 55–250 mm lens. The duration of feeding was measured by a stop watch.

Source of Information: Journal of Threatened Taxa 8(12): 9479–9485

Article Link (Online Journal): http://dx.doi.org/10.11609/jott.2519.8.12.9479-9485

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In conclusion the number of species (Nos) and number of individual (Noi) of fruit feeding butterflies are highest in the month of Jan–Feb (Nos=05 and Noi=32) when flowers are scarce and most of the fruits are easily available, so they take their essential nutrition or food from the over-ripe fruits and juices. In comparison with flower nectar, fruits are large in size and contain larger amounts of sugars than flowers. Single fruit easily provides food for many butterflies at a time, but flowers do not, which prevents intra species and inter species competition for their food. The present work is significant as it reports on the fruit feeding behavior of butterflies which has not been recorded earlier.

Knowledge Management: Journal