Taxonomy and distribution of butterfly fauna of family pieridae (lepidoptera) in district abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Pierid butterflies belong to family Pieridae of Order Lepidoptera. They are serious pest of many valuable plants in larval stage but adult forms play major role in pollination. In present study surveys were carried out in order to explore Pierid butterfly fauna of district Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan during March 2017 to February 2018. A total of 110 specimens were collected which were identified into 8 species pertaining 5 genera of family Pieridae; Catopsila ponoma (Fabricius 1775), Catopsila pyranthe (Linnaeus, 1758), Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1857), Eurema hecabe (Linnaeus 1758), Pontia daplidace (Linnaeus, 1758), Pieris canidia (Sparrman, 1768), Colias electo (Linnaeus, 1763) and Colias erate (Esper, 1805). Among collected species Pieris canidia was found most abundant followed by Pieris brasiscae whereas Colias electo was recorded in lowest number from study area. It is concluded that district Abbottabad has diverse butterfly fauna. Present research will be helpful in identification of butterfly fauna for future researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]