An Untapped and Undocumented Butterfly Diversity in a Rapidly Urbanizing and Fragmenting Forest Habitat in Pokhara, Nepal: First Checklist and Implications for Conservation and Ecotourism

Abstract

Butterflies serve as sensitive bioindicators of ecological health, with their diversity affected by anthropogenic disturbances such as urbanization and habitat alteration. Lakeside, located in Pokhara, Nepal, is one of the most urbanized areas in the country, with its eastern boundary abutting the Methlang Forest area. Despite its rich biodiversity, the forest remains under-documented. Between 2017 and 2021, the author conducted modified Pollard Walk surveys on an opportunistic basis to assess the species composition, richness, and seasonal distribution of adult butterflies across the forest. A total of 225 butterfly species, representing six families across 122 genera, were recorded within a 2.1 km2 area. Species richness exhibited an annual bimodal pattern, with the highest diversity observed in May (n = 107) and April (n = 102) followed by October (n = 90) and the lowest in December (n = 33) and January (n = 61). Notable findings included the first record of Burara anadi anadi (de Nicéville, 1884) in Nepal, along with sightings of Pithauria murdava (Moore, 1866), Prosotas bhutea (de Nicéville, [1884]), and Liphyra brassolis brassolis (Westwood, 1864), all of which were documented after at least three decades in Nepal. This study represents the first checklist of butterflies in this highly urbanized and ecologically fragmenting tourism hub, underscoring the urgent need for conservation initiatives. The prospects of butterfly tourism, alongside other forms of wildlife tourism, are discussed as a solution to balance habitat conservation with economic development, potentially extending across the broader Himalayan region.