author(s)
Madhav Nagarajan Vikas

abstract
A preliminary study on the diversity of butterflies from Adukkam Forest, Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu (10°15'45.0"N 77°32'46.7"E), was conducted over a span of nine years. The study recorded 72 species of butterflies, encompassing 17 species of Hesperiidae, 23 species of Lycaenidae, 19 species of Nymphalidae, six species of Papilionidae, six species of Pieridae and one species of Riodinidae. Four species of butterflies reported in this study were endemics to the Western Ghats, while five were protected under various schedules provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The threats faced by this forest from road expansion projects has been discussed in this work, and a possible solution to a common way forward for humans and butterflies was also described.