FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR SHAPING THE DISTRIBUTION AND BIODIVERSITY OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF LEPIDOPTERA IN DISTRICT FAISALABAD
Keywords:
Climatic factors, diverse assemblage, temperature, precipitation, humidityAbstract
The analysis examines butterfly distribution and diversity in District Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan, and the impacts of ecological (climate variables and land cover) and anthropogenic (population density and urbanization) factors. A diverse assemblage including Pieris rapae, Danaus chrysippus, and Euploea core was recorded. PCA and K-means clustering revealed three major climatic zones in Faisalabad. Species like Eurema hecabe and Pieris rapae were common in agro-ecosystems due to human activity adaptation and host plant presence. Correlation matrix showed strong positive correlations between butterfly richness and moderate climates (stable temperatures, adequate precipitation), while extreme weather or stress led to negative correlations. Butterflies, as pollinators and bioindicators, are affected by urbanization, habitat fragmentation, and pesticide use. Results emphasize targeted conservation through nectar-rich vegetation and reduced chemical use to sustain butterfly diversity.
References
Here are the references formatted with each on a new line for easy extraction:
[1] Abbas, M., Ramzan, M., Hussain, N., Ghaffar, A., Hussain, K., Abbas, S., & Raza, A. (2019). Role of light traps in attracting, killing and biodiversity studies of insect pests in Thal. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research, 32(4), 684-690.
[2] Abbas, W., Javed, N., Haq, I. U., & Ahmed, S. (2021). Pathogenicity of entomopathogenic nematodes against cabbage butterfly (Pieris brassicae) Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in laboratory conditions. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science, 41(1), 525-531.
[3] Aguirre‐Gutiérrez, J., WallisDeVries, M. F., Marshall, L., van't Zelfde, M., Villalobos‐Arámbula, A. R., Boekelo, B., ... & Biesmeijer, J. C. (2017). Butterflies show different functional and species diversity in relationship to vegetation structure and land use. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 26(10), 1126-1137.
[4] Alarape, A. A., Omifolaji, J. K., & Mwansat, G. S. (2015). Butterfly species diversity and abundance in University of Ibadan Botanical Garden, Nigeria. Open Journal of Ecology, 5(08), 352.
[5] Ali, M., Saeed, S., Sajjad, A., & Whittington, A. (2011). In search of the best pollinators for canola (Brassica napus L.) production in Pakistan. Applied Entomology and Zoology, 46(2), 353-361.
[6] Altermatt, F. (2010). Climatic warming increases voltinism in European butterflies and moths. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277(1685), 1281-1287.
[7] ASGHAR, A., QADEER, O., MUSHTAQ, S., MAALIK, S., MAJEED, W., BANO, N., & NARGIS, S. (2022). Assessment of insect's diversity with the influence of industrial pollutants in agricultural zones of District Sialkot, Pakistan. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 23(4),232-240.
[8] Atkins, J., & Atkins, B. (2018). Around the world in 80 species: What is mass extinction and can we stop it? In Around the World in 80 Species (pp. 3-51). Routledge.
[9] Baral, C., Baral, H. S., Inskipp, C., & Maharjan, R. (2025). Lepidoptera Diversity, Richness, and Distribution in Semi-Urban Farmland and other Habitats around Lumbini, Rupandehi. bioRxiv, 2025-01.
[10] Bukhari, M., Naeem, M. M., REHMAN, K., & Andleeb, S. (2012). Occurrence and distribution of araneid fauna trapped from cotton fields of district Faisalabad, Pakistan. World Appl. Sci. J, 19(1), 714-718.
[11] Chen, X., & Feng, T. (2016). Patterns of Butterfly distribution in Alabama, USA (Lepidoptera). Biodiversity Journal, 7(1), 25-32.
[12] Chidawanyika, F. (2010). Thermal tolerance of Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) under ecologically relevant conditions (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch).
[13] Dar, A. A., Jamal, K., Shah, M. S., Ali, M., Sayed, S., Gaber, A., ... & Salah, M. (2022). Species richness, abundance, distributional pattern and trait composition of butterfly assemblage change along an altitudinal gradient in the Gulmarg region of Jammu & Kashmir, India. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 29(4), 2262-226
[14] Dardona, Z. W., Dardona, A. W., & Albayoumi, M. A. (2015). Diversity and ecology of butterflies and Moths in Wadi Gaza, Gaza strip, Palestine. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, 5(11), 707-725.
[15] Deppe, F., Achterberg, C., Dittmar, J. M., Kunz, S., Näckel, L., Wittkamp, L., & Fischer, K. (2023). No impact of habitat fragmentation on condition and dispersal ability in the highly mobile butterfly Pieris rapae. Ecosphere, 14(10), e4679.
[16] Ellis, S., Bourn, N. A., & Bulman, C. R. (Eds.). (2012). Landscape-scale conservation for butterflies and moths: lessons from the UK (p. 2012). Wareham: Butterfly Conservation.
[17] Fazal, S. (2012). Impact of abiotic factors on insect diversity of at Lawrence Garden, Lahore. Pakistan Journal of Science, 64(2), 2-9.
[18] Forbes, R. J., Watson, S. J., O'Connor, E., Wescott, W., & Steinbauer, M. J. (2019). Diversity and abundance of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera in multiple-species reforestation plantings to offset emissions of carbon dioxide. Australian Forestry, 82(2), 89-106.
[19] Fox, R. (2013). The decline of moths in Great Britain: a review of possible causes. Insect conservation and diversity, 6(1), 5-19.
[20] García‐Berro, A., Talla, V., Vila, R., Wai, H. K., Shipilina, D., Chan, K. G., ... & Talavera, G. (2023). Migratory behaviour is positively associated with genetic diversity in butterflies. Molecular Ecology, 32(3), 560-574.
[21] Gohel, V. H., & Raval, J. V. (2019). Butterfly diversity, seasonality and status Atjunagadh, Gujarat, India. Intl J Environ Ecol Fam Urban Stud, 9(2), 15-28.
[22] Hajizadeh, G., Jalilvand, H., Kavosi, M. R., & Varandi, H. B. (2022). Relationship between vegetation characteristics and Lepidoptera diversity in the Hyrcanian forest, Iran (Insecta: Lepidoptera). SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología, 50(199), 561-574.
[23] Hällfors, M. H., Heikkinen, R. K., Kuussaari, M., Lehikoinen, A., Luoto, M., Pöyry, J., ... & Kujala, H. (2024). Recent range shifts of moths, butterflies, and birds are driven by the breadth of their climatic niche. Evolution Letters, 8(1), 89-100.
[24] Hasan, M. A. U. (2018). An inventory of butterfly species in relation to food sources and climatic factors influencing their diversity and richness in a semi evergreen forest of Bangladesh. Arthropods, 7(3), 53.
[25] Hassaan Saadat, H. S., Nawaz, C. M., Farkhanda Manzoor, F. M., & Ghazala Nasim, G. N. (2016). Effect of climate change on butterfly population of selected coniferous forests of Murree Hills and adjacent areas, Pakistan. 48(6), 1963-1969.
[26] Hassan, M. U., Bagaturov, M. F., Tariq, G., & Faiz, L. Z. (2019). Diversity of Moths in some selected areas of district Bagh, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (Pakistan). Journal of Bioresource Management, 6(1), 3.
[27] Hayat, U., Qin, H., Zhao, J., Akram, M., Shi, J., & Ya, Z. (2021). Variation in the potential distribution of Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) globally and in Pakistan under current and future climatic conditions. Plant Protection Science, 57(2),1-5.
[28] Hill, G. M., Kawahara, A. Y., Daniels, J. C., Bateman, C. C., & Scheffers, B. R. (2021). Climate change effects on animal ecology: butterflies and moths as a case study. Biological Reviews, 96(5), 2113-2126.
[29] Hussain, M., Liaqat, H., Malik, M. F., Aftab, K., Batool, M., Iqbal, R., & Liaqat, S. (2023). Distribution patterns of insect pollinator assemblages at Deva Vatala National Park, Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pak. J. Zool, 20(23), 1-7.
[30] Iqbal, W., & Malik, M. F. (2024). An Annotated Check List of Butterfly Fauna in Potohar Plateau, Punjab, Pakistan. Punjab University Journal of Zoology, 39(2), 151-162.
[31] Islam, M. A., Parven, N., Islam, M. S., & Bashar, M. A. (2013). Butterfly abundance in relation to abiotic-biotic factors of forest ecosystem of the butterfly research park, Gazipur, Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Zoology, 41(2), 247-255.
[32] Ismail, N. (2017). Spatial and temporal distribution of butterfly in highland and lowland forests of Johor (Doctoral dissertation, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia).
[33] JAAFAR, I., CHENG, S., & HURZAID, A. (2013). Development of Eggs and Larvae of the Common Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio Polytes (L.)(Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal, 65(2&3), 47-53.
[34] Jones, I. J. (2020). Human Health and Environmental Sustainability in Pathogenic Landscapes: Feedbacks and Solutions. Stanford University.
[35] Khan, F., Yasmin, S., & Pervez, M. (2025). BUTTERFLIES OF DISTRICT BATTAGRAM KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN. Ricos Biology, 3(1), 114-121.
[36] Khan, H., & Perveen, F. (2015). Distribution of butterflies' family Nymphalidae in Union Council Koaz Bahram Dheri, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Social and basic sciences research review, 31(1), 52-57.
[37] Khan, M., Khan, M., Khan, S., Haq, H. U., & Ahmad, W. (2024). Diversity of Butterflies in Maidan Valley, with New Records for Lower Dir District, Pakistan. Entomology and Applied Science Letters, 11(4), 1-8.
[38] Koneri, R., Maabuat, P. V., & Nangoy, M. J. (2020). The distribution and diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera: rhopalocera) in various urban forests in north minahasa regency, north Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Applied Ecology & Environmental Research, 18(2),2-5.
[39] Kumar, G., & Khan, M. S. (2018). Effect of anthropogenic factors on the species distribution of nymphalid and pierid butterflies in five different locations of Garhwal and Kumaun region of Uttarakhand, India. 6(5): 672-675
[40] Leather, S. R. (2018). Factors affecting fecundity, fertility, oviposition, and larviposition in insects. In Insect reproduction (pp. 143-174). CRC Press.
[41] Maalik, S., Mushtaq, S., Rana, N., Ehsan, N., Bano, N., & Hafeez, A. (2022). Estimation of diversity-relative abundance and temporal distribution of –¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬lepidopteran species from agro-ecosystem of district Faisalabad, Pakistan. Journal of Agricultural Research (JAR),60(4), 305-316.
[42] Mahmood, R., Ahmad, W., Muhamamd, K. R., Sarwar, G., & Shahzad, A. (2017). Pollination deficit in apple orchards at Murree, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 49(3)123-156.
[43] Mangrio, W. M., Sahito, H. A., Mal, B., Kousar, T., & Hussain, Z. (2020). 42. Incidence and distribution of Lemon butterfly (Papilio demoleus L.) on five alternate Citrus hosts at Sahati region, Sindh-Pakistan. Pure and Applied Biology (PAB), 9(4), 2637-2647.
[44] Massolo, A., Fric, Z. F., & Sbaraglia, C. (2022). Climate change effects on habitat suitability of a butterfly in the past, present, and future: Biotic interaction between Parnassius apollo and its host plants. University of Pisa.
[45] Maung, K. L., Mon, Y. Y., Khine, M. P., Chan, K. N., Phyoe, A., Soe, A. T., ... & Khai, A. A. (2020). Impact of butterfly (Nymphalidae, lycaenidae, hesperiidae, pieridae, papilionidae and ridodinidae) occurrence on the fine ecosystem at La Yaung taw, nay pyi taw union territory. International Journal of Fauna and Biological Studies, 7(2),23-26.
[46] Meléndez-Jaramillo, E., Cantú-Ayala, C. M., Treviño-Garza, E. J., Sánchez-Reyes, U. J., & Herrera-Fernández, B. (2021). Composition and diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) along an atmospheric pollution gradient in the Monterrey Metropolitan area, Mexico. ZooKeys, 10(3), 73.
[47] Menéndez, R., González-Megías, A., Collingham, Y., Fox, R., Roy, D. B., Ohlemüller, R., & Thomas, C. D. (2007). Direct and indirect effects of climate and habitat factors on butterfly diversity. Ecology, 88(3), 605-611.
[48] Minter, M., Dasmahapatra, K. K., Thomas, C. D., Morecroft, M. D., Tonhasca, A., Schmitt, T., ... & Hill, J. K. (2020). Past, current, and potential future distributions of unique genetic diversity in a cold‐adapted mountain butterfly. Ecology and Evolution, 10(20), 11155-11168.
[49] Nirjara, G., Suchitra, S., Sujatha, P., & Geeta, P. (2014). Insect Diversity and its co-relation with Ecological Parameters in and around Wadhwana--a Wetland in Central Gujarat.
[50] Noori, S., Hofmann, A., Rödder, D., Husemann, M., & Rajaei, H. (2024). A window to the future: effects of climate change on the distribution patterns of Iranian Zygaenidae and their host plants. Biodiversity and Conservation, 33(2), 579-602.
[51] Palash, A., Paul, S., Resha, S. K., & Khan, M. K. (2022). Body size and diet breadth drive local extinction risk in butterflies. Heliyon, 8(8), 1-9.
[52] Parikh, G., Rawtani, D., & Khatri, N. (2021). Insects as an indicator for environmental pollution. Environmental Claims Journal, 33(2), 161-181.
[53] Patel, A. P., & Pandya, N. R. Received: 10th May-2014 Revised: 30th May-2014 Accepted: 1st June-2014 Research article ASSESSMENT OF TEMPORAL & SPATIAL VARIATION IN SPECIES RICHNESS AND DIVERSITY OF BUTTERFLY HOST PLANTS.
[54] Patel, U. P., & Singh, P. (2023). STUDIES ON DIVERSITY AND SPECIES RICHNESS OF BUTTERFY IN REWA DISTRICT (MP), X:(I).
[55] Prommi, T. O. (2016). Seasonal biodiversity of adult insects in relation to environmental factors at the irrigation system based on light trap collection. Engineering and Applied Science Research, 43(3), 118-120.
[56] Rija, A. A. (2022). Local habitat characteristics determine butterfly diversity and community structure in a threatened Kihansi gorge forest, Southern Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania. Ecological Processes, 11(1), 13.
[57] Saha, A., Das, S., Das, P., Raha, D., & Saha, D. (2023). Butterfly Diversity in the Campus area of University of North Bengal, West Bengal, India.: Exploring Butterfly diversity in North Bengal University. Journal of Tropical Biology & Conservation (JTBC), 20(1), 245-255.
[58] Sanaullah, S. A. M., Rafi, M. A., Ahmad, W., Hayat, J., Khan, Q. U., & Rehman, A. Faunistic of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae from District Battagram, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
[59] Schmidt, N. B. C., & Roland, J. (2006). Moth diversity in a fragmented habitat: importance of functional groups and landscape scale in the boreal forest. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 99(6), 1110-1120.
[60] Sharma, M., & Srivastava, M. (2010). Lepidopteran fauna of an agro-ecosystem in Western Rajasthan: A short-term surveillance. Journal of Entomological Research, 34(3), 249-258.
[61] Shrestha, B. R., Baral, S., Budha‐Magar, S., Thapa Magar, K., Gaudel, P., Suwal, S. P., ... & Shrestha, P. (2024). Vegetation productivity determines the response of butterflies along elevation gradients in the trans‐Himalayas, Nepal. Ecosphere, 15(10), e70019.
[62] Siewert, R. R., Iserhard, C. A., Romanowski, H. P., Callaghan, C. J., & Moser, A. (2014). Distribution patterns of riodinid butterflies (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae) from southern Brazil. Zoological Studies, 53(2), 1-10.
[63] Sultana, S., Baumgartner, J. B., Dominiak, B. C., Royer, J. E., & Beaumont, L. J. (2017). Potential impacts of climate change on habitat suitability for the Queensland fruit fly. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 13025.
[64] Tanaka, A., Inoue, M., Endo, K., Kitazawa, C., & Yamanaka, A. (2009). Presence of a cerebral factor showing summer‐morph‐producing hormone activity in the brain of the seasonal non‐polyphenic butterflies Vanessa cardui, V. indica and Nymphalis xanthomelas japonica (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Insect Science, 16(2), 125-130.
[65] Thakur, A. K., & Ghosh, N. (2014). CORRELATION BETWEEN ECOLOGICAL FACTORS AND DIVERSITY OF AGYLLA REMELANA, MOORE (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) AT BARIYATU, RANCHI, JHARKHAND, INDIA. India. Biolife, 2(2), 415.
[66] Vogel, C., Mayer, V., Mkandawire, M., Küstner, G., Kerr, R. B., Krauss, J., & Steffan‐Dewenter, I. (2023). Local and landscape scale woodland cover and diversification of agroecological practices shape butterfly communities in tropical smallholder landscapes. Journal of Applied Ecology, 60(8), 1659-1672
[67] Wagner, D. L., Fox, R., Salcido, D. M., & Dyer, L. A. (2021). A window to the world of global insect declines: Moth biodiversity trends are complex and heterogeneous. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(2), e2002549117.
[68] Wah, S. K. (2016). Patterns of Bee and Butterfly Diversity in Southeast and Southern East Asian Megacities (Doctoral dissertation, University of Malaya (Malaysia).
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
Data will be made available on request
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Muhammad Shahid, Maryam Riasat, Zubda Ashfaq, Ujala Hanif, Rida Younas, Iqra, Naureen Rana, Nawaz Haider Bashir, Muhammad Naeem, Huanhuan Chen (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
