Urban Sanctuaries of Wings: A Study on Butterfly Diversity in Metropolitan Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Butterflies serve as critical bioindicators and pollinators, yet urbanization threatens their habitats. This study assesses butterfly diversity across nine ecological niches in urban Bengaluru, India, based on secondary data collected during an internship project. Using observational surveys and published records, the study identifies 120+ butterfly species spanning six families and 18 subfamilies. The family Lycaenidae emerged as the most abundant, followed by Nymphalidae and Pieridae. Several species fall under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Notably, campus green spaces like Christ University and gardens such as Lalbagh and Cubbon Park demonstrated high species richness. Findings underscore the ecological importance of urban green corridors and recommend conservation initiatives rooted in sustainable landscape practices.