Insect diversity at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest (14°45' - 14°72' N & 79°07' - 78°80' E), Kadapa in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh was studied during the period from June 2013 to September 2014. Nearly 75 species of butterflies, 12 moth species from Lepidoptera; 4 ant species, one wasp, 6 bee species from Hymenoptera; 7 cricket species of Orthoptera; 5 bug species from Hemiptera; 3 mosquito species, 4 housefly species, 2 species of flies from Diptera; 8 species of dragon flies, 2 species of damselflies from Odonata; 3 beetles from Coleopteran; one species each from Thysanura; and Mantodea and 2 species from Phasmatodea; one species each from class Arachnida and Diploda were identified. The seasonality, relative abundance and diversity of some insect groups was also recorded. Majority of the insects are very much required for pollination. Some insects produce useful substances such as honey, wax, lacquer and silk.

1. ~ 198 ~
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2014; 2 (6): 198-212
ISSN 2320-7078
JEZS 2014; 2 (6): 198-212
© 2014 JEZS
Received: 18-10-2014
Accepted: 29-11-2014
P. Harinath
Research Scholar, Department of
Zoology - School of life Sciences -
Yogi Vemana University Kadapa
– 516 003 - Andhra Pradesh,
India.
K. Suryanarayana
Research Scholar, Department of
Zoology - School of life Sciences -
Yogi Vemana University Kadapa
– 516 003 - Andhra Pradesh,
India.
S. P. Venkata Ramana
Assistant Professor &
Corresponding author, Department
of Zoology - School of life Sciences
- Yogi Vemana University
Kadapa – 516 003 - Andhra
Pradesh, India.
Correspondence:
S. P. Venkata Ramana
Assistant Professor,
Department of Zoology - School
of life Sciences - Yogi Vemana
University Kadapa – 516 003 -
Andhra Pradesh, India.
Insect diversity of Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve
forest in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra
Pradesh
P. Harinath, K. Suryanarayana and S. P. Venkata Ramana
Abstract
Insect diversity at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest (14°45' - 14°72' N & 79°07' - 78°80' E), Kadapa in
the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh was studied during the period from June 2013 to
September 2014. Nearly 75 species of butterflies, 12 moth species from Lepidoptera; 4 ant species, one
wasp, 6 bee species from Hymenoptera; 7 cricket species of Orthoptera; 5 bug species from Hemiptera;
3 mosquito species, 4 housefly species, 2 species of flies from Diptera; 8 species of dragon flies, 2
species of damselflies from Odonata; 3 beetles from Coleopteran; one species each from Thysanura; and
Mantodea and 2 species from Phasmatodea; one species each from class Arachnida and Diploda were
identified. The seasonality, relative abundance and diversity of some insect groups was also recorded.
Majority of the insects are very much required for pollination. Some insects produce useful substances
such as honey, wax, lacquer and silk.
Keywords: Insects, Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest, Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh.
1. Introduction
Insects are important because of their diversity, ecological role, and influence on agriculture,
human health, and natural resources. They have been used in landmark studies in
biomechanics, climate change, developmental biology, ecology, evolution, genetics,
paleolimnology, and physiology [1]
. Insects are major group of Arthropods and the most
diverse group of animals on the earth, with over a million described species – more than half
of all known living organisms with estimates of un-described species as high as 30 million,
thus potentially representing over 90% of the different life forms on the planet [2]
. Insects are
extremely important components of the bio-indicators of the world [3, 4]
. Insects may be found
in nearly all environments on the planet, although only a small number of species occurs in the
oceans. Even in Antarctica we will find some insects alive and active during warmer months
[5].
Approximately vast number of insect species including 2000 praying mantis, 5000 dragon
flies, 20,000 grasshoppers, 82,000 true bugs, 1,20,000 flies, 1,10,000 bees, wasps and ants,
1,70,000 butterflies and moths and 3,60,000 beetles are available all over the world [5]
. Many
insects are beneficial to the environment and to humans. A serious environmental problem
today is the decline of population of insects. Some insects produce useful substances such as
honey, wax, lacquer and silk. Adult insects as crickets and insect larvae of various kinds are
also commonly used for fishing bait. Beetles are scavengers and help in recycling the
biological materials into forms [6].
Insect diversity conservation has received an enormous
upsurge in recent years. Now we are presenting insect diversity collected in and around Sri
Lankamalleswara reserve forest in the Eastern Ghats of Southern Andhra Pradesh.
2. Materials and Methodology
Periodical survey of insects in Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest in the Eastern Ghats of
Southern Andhra Pradesh was studied during the period from June 2013 to September 2014.
The insects encountered were identified (using the standard keys and standard references [7])
while they are in flight or in resting in the study area (Fig: Map showing study area). In case
of any doubt, such insects are captured by means soft insect catching nets and then by studying
characters and they are identified by consulting standard publications and consulting with
Zoological Survey of India. Majority of the insects are day active and some are nocturnal.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Hence walks are made during entire day to record the
abundance.
Fig: Map showing study area
2.1 Sample Collection and Curation
Only dead insects are collected and pinned or mounted and
stored dry, although the adults of some orders and all soft
bodied immature insects were preserved in vials of 70 – 80%
ethanol or mounted onto microscope slides. Pupal cases,
cocoons, waxy coverings and exuviate were kept dry and they
were pinned mounted on cards and delicate ones are stored in
gelatin capsules or in preserving fluid.
2.2 Pinning, Staging, Pointing, Carding, Spreading and
Setting
Collected dead Specimens should be mounted by using
entomological macro pins. Direct pinning and micro pinning
methods [7]
were implemented for dry pinning.
2.3 Spreading and Setting
For display of the wings, legs and antennae of many insects
were very much required for identification, for this purpose
spreading technology was applied.
3. Results and Discussion
Insect diversity was measured by scoring the species
throughout the day in all the recognized study areas. Such a
monitoring was conducted twice in a month. Sri Lanka
Malleswara reserve forest consists of scrub jungle with wild
vegetation and also finds some medicinal plants, herbs and
shrubs. In the study area we have identified nearly 75 species
of butterflies, 12 moth species from Lepidoptera; 4 ant species,
one wasp, 6 bee species from Hymenoptera; 7 cricket species
of Orthoptera; 5 bug species from Hemiptera; 3 mosquito
species, 4 housefly species, 2 species of flies from Diptera; 8
species of dragon flies, 2 species of damselflies from Odonata;
3 beetles from Coleopteran; one species each from Thysanura;
and Mantodea and 2 species from Phasmatodea; one species
each from class Arachnida and Diploda were identified. List of
these species were given in the Table.1, 2 & Plates – 1 to 14
Table 1: Survey of the insect fauna during June 2013 – Sep. 2014 at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest (Fig: 12)
Class Order Species
Insecta
Hymenoptera :
Bees:
Apis cerana indica, Apis melifera, Apis dorsata, Apis florae, Amegilla,
Ceratina, Trigona pseudapis
Ants :
Camponotus compressus, Formica rufa, Lasius
niger, Monomorium indicum
Wasps: Vespa orientalis
Orthoptera:
Cricket: Hierodula coarctata
Hemiptera:
Bugs:
Palomena prasina, Nezara viridula, Coreus marginatus, Nepa cinerea,
Velia caprai.
Diptera:
Mosquitoes: Anopheles sp, Culex sp, Aedes sp.
House flies:
Chrysomya megacephala, Eristalinus, Sarcophaga, Rhyncomya, Musa
domestica.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Flies: Scathophaga stercoraria, Tipula paludosa
Odonata:
Dragon flies:
Ophiogomphus susbehcha, Pachydiplax longipennis, Libellula eponina.
Pulchella Ascalaphidae (Owl fly), Chauliodes pectinicornis, Palpares sp.,
Myrmeleontidae.
Damselflies: Pyrrhosoma nymphula, Argia apicalis.
Lepidoptera:
Butterflies: Rhopalocera:
1 Nymphalidae : 27
2 Lycaenidae : 14
3 Papilionidae: 12
4 Pieridae : 13
5 Hesperiidae : 9
Moths:
Chiasmia cymatodes, Cephonodes hylas, Creatonotos transiens,
Chiasmia eleonora, Scopulla pulchella, Aloa lactinea, Hyperythra lutea,
Spodoptera litura Male, Mangina astrea, Scopula subpunctaria,
Spilarctia mona, Acontia crocata, Mimas tiliae, Sphinx ligustri
Coleopteran:
Beetles: Coccinella septempunctata, Mylabris pustulata, Gastrophysa viridula
Thysanura: Lepisma saccharina
Mantodea:
Mantis religiosa, Gongylus gongylodes, Hellinsia monodactyla, Mantis
religiosa
Phasmatodea: Stick insects, Leaf insects
Arachnida Scorpionidea: Palamneus
Diplopoda Polydesmoidea: Polydesmes
Table 2: Relative abundance and seasonality of Butterflies at Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest during June 2013 – Sep.2014 (Fig: 11)
S.NO Scientific Name Common name
Relative
Abundance
Family: Nymphalidae
1. Danaus chrysippus chrysippus Plain tiger * * * * *
2. D. limniace leopardus Blue tiger * * * *
3 D. plexippus Common tiger * *****
4 Eyuploea core core Common crow * * * *
5 Elymnias hypermnestra Common palm fly ***
6 Erites falcipennis Common Cyclops ***
7 Melanitis leda ismene Common evening * * * *
8 Mycalesis visala subdita Tamil brush brown **
9 Ariadne merione merione Common castor * * *
10 Euthalia garuda The baron *
11 E. nais The baronet * * *
12 Hypolimnas bolina Great egg fly * * * *
13 H. misippus Danaid egg fly * * * *
14 Junonia almanac Peacock pansy * * * *
15 J. hierta Yellow pansy * * *
16 J. lemonias Lemon pansy * * * * *
17 J. orithyia Blue pansy * * *
18 J. iphita Chocolate pansy * * *
19 Neptis hylas Common sailer * * *
20 Phalanta phalantha Common leopard * * * *
21 Byblia ilithyia The Joker * * * *
22 Vanessa indica
The Paller
* * * *
23 Cynthia erota The Devil ***
24 Atella alcippe The Camel **
25 Acraea terpsicore Tawny coster ** *
26 Charaxes solon Black Rajah *

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
27 Melanitis phedima Dark evening brown
* * * *
Family: Lycaenidae
28 Apharitis vulcanus Common silver line ***
29 Castalius rosimon rosimon Common pierrot * * * *
30 Castalius caleta Common Comb * * * *
31 Tarucus nara The Hill Rock * * * *
32 Euchrysops cnejus Gram blue * * * *
33 Everes lacturnus syntala Indian cupid * *
34 Jamides celeno aelianus Common cerulean * * * *
35 Spindasis vulcanus vulcanus Indian red flash * **
36 Talicada nyseus The silver line * *
37 Lycaenesthes emolus Red pierrot **
38 Curetis thetis The wind mill ***
39 Rathinda omor Indian Red glass * * * *
40 Deudorix perse Oak blue *
41 Spindasis ictis Common cool * * * *
Family: Papilionidae
42 Graphium agamemnon Tailed jay * * * *
43 G. doson Common jay ***
44 Pathysa nomius nomius Spot sword tail * *
45 Pachliopta aristolochiae Common rose * * * *
46 P. hector Cromson rose * * * *
47 Papilio polymnestor Blue Mormon * *
48 P. polytes polytes Common mormon * * *
49 P. memnon Common merun *
50 P. liomedon The black tail * * * *
51 P. crino Common banded peacock * **
52 Princeps demoleus Lime butterfly ***
53 Graphium sarpedon Common blue bottle **
Family: Pieridae
54 Anaphaeis aurota The pioneer * * * *
55 Appias pandione Spot puffin * *
56 A. albina darada Common albatross * *
57 Catopsilia crocale crocale Common emigrant * * *
58 C. c. Pomona Lemon emigrant * * * *
59 C. pyranthe Molted emigrant * * * * *
60 Colotis danae danae Crimson tip * * * *
61 C. eucharis eucharis Plain orange tip * * * * *
62 C. fausta Large salmon arab * * * *
63 C. amata The Rose tip * * * *
64 Cepora nerissa nerissa Common gull **** *
65 Delias eucharis Common jezebel * * * *
66 Eurema hecabe simulate Common grass yellow **** *
Family: Hesperiidae
67 Borbo cinnara Rice swift * * *
68 Pelopidas mathias mathias Small branded swift * * * *
69 Hasora alexis Common banded Awl * ****
70 H. nexis The Red dot *
71 Spialia galba Indian skipper * * * *
72 Sarangesa dasahara Common small flat * * *
73 Caprona agama Spotted angle * * *
74 Tara ctrocera maevius Comm0n grass dart * * *
75 Gegenes Nostradamus Dingy Swift * *
*very rare **rare ***less common ****common *****very common
(Based on the abundance data recorded by tentative field observations twice in a week yearlong in the study area)

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Diversity of butterfly species in Sri Lankamalleswara reserve forest
Plate 1:
Plate 2:

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Plate 3:
Plate 4:

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Plate 5:
Plate 6:

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Plate 7:

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Plate 8: Moth species of Sri Lanka Malleswara Reserve forest
Plate 9: Jewel bugs
Plate 10: Flies

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Plate 11: Scorpions
Plate 12: Beetles

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Plate 13: Damselflies
Plate 14: Praying mantis
In the entire study we have recorded the seasonality, relative
abundance and diversity of some insects like bees, ants, bugs,
dragonflies and butterflies. For bees 35% Apis mellifera, 20%
Apis cerana indica, Apis florae 10%, 15% Apis dorsata, 10%
Trigona pseudapis were recorded year long and 5% each
Amegilla and Ceratina species recorded during March to July.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
(Fig 1 & 2). We could observe the maximum number of
different species increased gradually from October to April
and decreased from May to September. In the month of April
we were able to registered maximum number of the species of
A. cerana, Trigona species, A. florae, whereas September
registered least number of species.
Population Index of Bees
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
A.ceranaA.meliferaA.dorsattaA.floraeAm
egillaCeratinaTrigona
Name of the Species
%ofPopulation
Bees
Seasonaltiy of Honey Bees
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
jan
feb
mar
apr
may
jun
jul
aug
sep
oct
nov
dec
Months
No.ofSpecies
A.cerana
A.dorsatta
Trigona
A.florae
Amegilla
Ceratina
A.melifera
Fig. 1 Fig. 2
Regarding ants, most of the species were observed during
March to June. During these months maximum number of
species have been reported among them Formica rufa are
40%, Lasius niger 40% available throughout the year with
high frequency during January to July and Camponatus
compressus 15%, Monomorium indicum 5% available during
January to March and October to November. (Fig 3 & 4).
Formica rufa and Lasius niger registered the common species
that can been seen in the study area where as the Monomorium
indicum was the least.
Poplation Index of Ants
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
Cam
ponatus
Form
ica
Lasius
M
onom
orium
Name of the species
%ofthepopulation
Ants
Seasonality of the Ants
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Months
No.ofspecies
Componatus
Formica
Lasius
Monomorium
Fig. 3 Fig. 4
The abundance of dragon flies species differently with the
species during different months. We have observed the
increase in the population of dragon flies after rainy seasons.
Species like 34% Ophiogophus susbehcha 35%, Libellula
forensis 20%, Libullela eponina 20%, Aeshna cyanea 20%
were dominant in the study area, Sympetrum striolatum 2%
and Clithemis eponina with 3% were recorded. (Fig 5 & 6)

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Populaion Index of Dragon Flies
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
OphiogophusL.forensisL.eponina
AeshnaSym
petrum
Clithem
is
Name of the Dragon Fly
%ofthePopulation
Dragon Flies
Seasonality of Dragon Flies
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Months
No.ofSpecies
Ophiogophus
L.forensis
L.eponina
Aeshna
Sympetrum
Clithenis
Fig. 5 Fig. 6
During our searches bugs including Palomena prasina 50%,
Nazera viridula and Nepa cinerea 20% each Coreus
marginalius and Velia caprai 5% each were recorded. These
bugs inhabit different habitats with more abundant in the
aquatic media after the rainy season. The shielding insect is the
common bug in the study sites. (Fig 7 & 8).
Population Indexof Bugs
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Palomena Nazera Nepa Coreus Velia
Name of the Species
%ofthePopulation
Bugs
Seasonality of Bugs
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Months
No.OfSpecies
Palomena
Nazera
Nepa
Coreus
Velia
Fig. 7 Fig. 8
Butterflies are the other dominant insects in the study area;
earlier 150 species are available all over the Eastern Ghats [8, 9].
In which nearly 75 species were observed and recorded their
abundance and seasonality in our study area (Based on the
abundance data recorded by tentative field observations twice
in a week yearlong in the study area) (Table 2 & Fig 9).
Among them Nymphalidae, and Lycaenidae are reported at
greater number (Fig 11) whereas Papilionidae, Pieridae
Hesperiidae, and Satyridae reported the least number. In
which 14 species were reported as rare when compared with
the others. The butterflies were categorized as very rare (VR)
6.60% (5 species); Rare (R) 14.7% (11 species), Less common
(LC) 29.3% (22 species), common (C) 38.7% (29 species),
Very common (VC) 10.7% (8species) (Fig 10).The
distribution of butterflies depends upon not only the
availability of food plants but also on the climate and
topographic features of the study area.

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
Fig 9: Butterfly species family wise recorded in the study area
Fig 10: Butterfly species abundance status were recorded in the study area
Fig 11: Dominant butterfly species at Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest

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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies
(Species abundance)
Fig 12: Insect fauna collected during June 2013 – Sep. 2014 at Sri Lankamalleswara Reserve forest
4. Acknowledgement
The corresponding author Dr. S.P. Venkata Ramana Asst.
Professor, Dept. of Zoology, Yogi Vemana University, Kadapa
greatly acknowledge to UGC, New Delhi for financial support
through a major research project and also sincere thanks to the
Forest Department, Andhra Pradesh for providing permission
and support in all the forest study areas for better insect
survey.
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4. Jana S, Pahari PR, Dutta TK, Bhattacharya T. Diversity
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5. Gullan PJ, Cranston PS. The insects: An Outline of
Entomology, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, UK, 2005.
6. Gottsberger G. Flowers and beetles in the South American
tropics Bot. Acta 1990; 103:360-365.
7. Upton MS. Methods of collecting, preserving, and
studying Insects and Allied forms, Edn 4, Australian
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8. Gunathilagaraj K, Perumal TNA, Jayaram K, Kumar MG.
Some South Indian butterflies. Nilgiri Wild life and
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9. Ramana SPV. Biodiversity and conservation of Butterflies
in the Eastern Ghats. The Ecoscan 2010, 4:59-67.