A study on butterfly diversity was carried out in and around Sakoli dist. Bhandara, Maharashtra. Some selected areas in the city and nearby villages were surveyed. A total of 86 species belongs to the family Papilionidae, Pieridae, Nymphalidae, Lycaenidae and Hesperiidae were recorded during the study period. Maximum of 33 species from Nymphalidae, followed by Lycaenidae (21), Pieridae (12), Hesperiidae (12) while minimum Papilionidae (8) contributing 59 genera. Nymphalidae with 22 followed by Lycaenidae (18), Hersperiidae (10) and Pieridae (8) are some of major genera. The minimum of genera reported from Papilionidae (3). In this study, the butterflies were categorized as very common, common, not rare, rare and very rare. The total of butterflies recorded as very common (38%), common (23%), not rare (8%), rare (19%) and found to be very rare (12%). From the present study, it reveals that the butterflies in and around Sakoli are rich in diversity.

Butterfly, Diversity, Abundance, Sakoli, Maharashtra.