Diversity of Butterflies and Moths Based on Cytogenetics From J&K, India

Butterflies and moths belong to order Lepidoptera which is the second largest order of insects. These insects are of great importance particularly in the larval stages as the majority of species demolish the foliage and shoots of trees and crops, bore into stems, attack underground parts and several species are injurious to timber. Diversity of ten species of butterflies have been undertaken in the present research work, as the phylogeny of Lepidoptera has presented many problems which the taxonomists have faced from time to time. Along with the diversity, the cytogenetic study of some species have also been made so as to reveal the cytological basis of diversity. It was revealed that the chromosomal polymorphism, to some extent, is responsible for the biodiversity occurring in various families at various levels.