Butterfly diversity may act as an important indicator of habitat quality and overall ecosystem health as butterflies have coevolved with their nectaring and larval host plants. Butterflies also need a range of weather conditions for their survival and reproduction. Data on butterfly diversity might advocate appropriate conservation measures needed for management of a natural habitat and its biodiversity. In the present study an effort has been made to document butterfly species diversity and seasonal variance of Baramura Eco Park and adjoining area, Tripura, North East India (23.8158° N, 91.5799° E) which is part of Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot. The study area comes under the Baramura hill range where no dedicated study has been conducted so far to assess the butterfly diversity and ecosystem health of the region. Therefore the present study might provide crucial data on butterfly diversity of this region as well as help to design conservation and management plans of this important eco region as a whole.

The study conducted from January 2017 to December 2019 documented 5,418 individuals of butterflies belonging 181 species, 115 genus and 6 families among which 45 species are protected under different schedules of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Family Nymphalidae represented maximum richness (62 species, 34%) followed by Lycaenidae (45 species, 25%), Hesperiidae (42 species, 23%), Pieridae (19 species, 11%), Papilionidae (12 species, 7%), and Riodinidae (1 species, 0.01%). Shannon-Weiner diversity index (H’) was highest in post monsoon (1.775) followed by winter (1.769) and summer (1.744) while it was lowest in monsoon (1.67). Maximum evenness in butterfly community was also recorded during post monsoon season as indicated by Shannon evenness index (J=0.849) followed by monsoon (J=0.84) and winter (J=0.839). Evenness was lowest in summer (J=0.806).