Entomology Research Institute, Loyola College, Chennai - 600 034, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Corresponding author's: E-mail: eri_lc@hotmail.com
In a survey made in Chennai (Kodambakkam and Nungambakkam) and surrounding areas (Mangadu, Manimangalam, Padappai, Poonamallee and Sethpattu) Pieridae and Nymphalidae were found the predominant families contributing 11 species each. Maximum number of species was collected from the undisturbed areas such as Manimangalam (46 species), Padappai (45 species), Sethpattu (43 species), Mangadu (41 species) and Poonamallee (40 species) while 34 and 29 species were collected from Nungambakkam and Kodambakkam respectively. Nearly half of the total butterfly species was recorded under Pieridae (24.0%) and Nymphalidae (24.0%). The other predominant families in terms of number of species were Lycaenidae (15.2%), Hesperidae (13.04%) and Papilionidae (10.86%). Family Acraeidae was represented by only one species (2.17%).
