J. Appl. Res Plant Sci. Vol. 4(1), 378-384, 2023, https://doi.org/10.38211/joarps.2023.04.01.46 378 Research Article Biodiversity of Butterflies (Lepidoptera): a Regional Study of Larkana, Sindh Pakistan Ambreen Mangi 1 , Waheed Ali Panhwar 1* , Abdul Manan Shaikh 2 , Muzafar Hussain Sirohi 3 , Shah Rukh Soomro 1 , Asim Ali Mirbhar 1 , Shehr Bano Mustafa 1 1 Department of Zoology, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs Sindh Pakistan 2 Department of Zoology, Government College University Hyderabad, Sindh Pakistan 3 Department of Botany, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur Mirs Sindh Pakistan *Corresponding Author: waheed.panhwar@salu.edu.pk Article Received 29-10-2022, Article Revised 18-11-2022, Article Accepted 25-11-2022 Abstract Butterflies are elegant, beautiful, and charming insects due to their colourful squamate. They are a great source of economic and beautification and indicators for biodiversity of agroecsystem. In addition to this, they are more important pollinators of flora than the flies and moths. An investigation of several locations in Taluka Larkana with the goal of collecting as many specimens of butterflies was carried out from March to July 2022. About 288 samples of butterflies were captured from different sites. The collected specimens were sorted out into 03 families: Pieridae, Papilionidae and Nymphalidae with 06 genera and 06 species: Danaus chrysippus (Linnaeus,1758), Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus,1758), Junonia almana (Linnaeus,1758), Papilio demoleus Linnaeus,1758, Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus,1758) and Pieris canidia (Sparrman, 1768). Description of the collected species, detailed genitalia, digital images and habitat of species are provided first time from the studied area. Hopefully, this study will be fruitful for the future researchers concerned with this group. Keywords. Butterflies, Pieridae, Papilionidae, Nymphalidae, Fauna Introduction Butterflies belong to order Lepidoptera. They are very elegant, beautiful, and charming due to their colourful squamate and long wings, considered as the symbol of beauty and grace (Rafi et al., 2000; Khan et al., 2007). They are diurnal into habits and easily recognized by their attractive colour, shape and stylish flight that give happiness to everyone. Butterflies are a great source of economic and beautification (Parveen and Ahmad, 2012). Besides bees and moths, butterflies are more important pollinators of flora than either of the other two. They contribute to the massive production in agricultural area, which is necessary for the survival of both humans and animals (Maheshwari, 2003; Echude et al., 2020). Worldwide, more than 20,000 species of butterflies have been found from which eighty percent are present in tropical areas. Butterflies require food in a fluidic form. Their mouth is called proboscis (Lyytinen et al., 2003; Stork et al.,2003). More than 400 species of butterflies have been identified from Pakistan. But terflies are present in every part of six continents excluding Antarctica because there is no fitness for the survival of butterflies (Khan et al., 2015). Most of the distribution of butterflies is dependent on the presence of the host flora. Significant butterfly populations can be found in areas with undisturbed flora and a great deal of plant diversity, among other aspects. Specified host plants provide butterflies and their larval stage (caterpillars) with food, including vegetation, nectar, and pollen. Butterflies and their larval stage are reliant on certain host plants for food, including vegetation, nectar, and pollen. Butterflies, particularly their larval stage, are a serious pest. They have a negative impact on the crops. Butterflies are often referred to as opportunistic hijackers since they visit a broad variety of flowers at the same time. Consequently, plant diversity represents the overall diversity of butterfly species. The butterflies are found in the areas where the plants are present (Bobo et al., 2006; Ojianwuna and Enwemiwe, 2021). Different researchers have focused on various elements of entomology, including the distribution of butterflies, the biology of butterflies, the taxonomy of butterflies, the kinds of butterflies, and so on. For example, Doherty was the first person to work on the diversity of butterflies from Kashmir, and he was the first person to do so (Doherty 1986). Following that, Swinhow (1987) from Pakistan investigated the taxonomy of butterfly species from Karachi and its surrounding areas, as well as from other parts of the world (Swinhow 1987). Robert (2001) conducted research on the Taxonomy of Butterflies from various places of Pakistan, Butterflies are crucial pollinators for many plant species because they can travel vast distances (3000 miles), but they may also be a significant pest for many crops and fruits since some of them are quite destructive. Several varieties of mustards (Family