Butterfly (Lepidoptera) Diversity and Community Structure in Kohka, Adjacent to Turia Gate, Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India

Butterflies are an important model group in understanding ecology particularly biodiversity status and habitat health of a particular region. A scientific exercise was undertaken to explore butterfly diversity and abundance in Kohka, an adjoining area of Turia gate, Pench National Park, Madhya Pradesh, India, in December, 2025. A total of 69 butterfly species belonging to 48 genera and five families (Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae) were recorded during this study, of which eight species are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972. Of the total, 38.14% were very common, 24.78% were common, 33.92% were not rare, and 3.16% were rare. Nymphalidae was dominant with 54.66% of total butterflies, 43.48% of total recorded species and 39.58% of total recorded genera. The high values of Shannon-Weiner index (H'=3.86), Simpson's index of diversity (D=0.97), Pielou’s evenness index (J′=0.91) and Margalef's Richness index (d=10.72) indicates high butterfly diversity with, high abundance and evenness in the study area. The butterflies found with high occurrence frequency were Euploea core, Parantica aglea, Junonia iphita, Symphaedra nais, Melanitis leda, Ypthima baldus, Pareronia hippia, Eurema hecabe, Catopsilia Pomona, Pieris canidia, Papilio polytes, and Pachliopta aristolochiae. The information from this survey-based study will facilitate the assessment of the habitat quality or ecosystem health of the area surrounding the National Park, thus aiding in the development of necessary conservation strategies for butterflies and their habitat, if necessary.