REVIEW ON BUTTERFLY DIVERSITY OF KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA

The Karnataka state comprises 30 districts that are bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, Goa to the northwest, Maharashtra to the north, Andhra Pradesh to the east, Tamil Nadu to the southeast, and Kerala to the southwest. It is the eighth largest Indian state by area and the ninth largest by its population. The State of Karnataka is a part of highly biodiversity rich regions of India. The Western Ghats of Karnataka is one of the mega biodiversity of the world. The State is endowed with great diversity of climate, topography and soil. Karnataka has great diversity of species, including the human being which has co evolved since centuries Being good indicators of climatic conditions as well as seasonal and ecological changes, they can serve in formulating strategies for conservation. However, they have largely been ignored by conservation biologist and policy makers as well. It is hence encouraging that butterflies are now being included in biodiversity studies and biodiversity conservation prioritization programme (Gadgil, 1996). There were series of articles by Lepidopterists on the diversity of butterflies from Karnataka state since from 1887 and different views about this.