Due to some reasons, if there is a huge fall in the population of species of butterflies, what could be its likely consequence/consequences? 1. Pollination of some plants could be adversely affected. 2. There could be a drastic increase in the fungal infections of some cultivated plants. 3. It could lead to a fall in the population of some species of wasps, spiders and birds. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Butterflies sit in the middle of two food-web links, so a sharp fall in their numbers ripples outward. Statement 1 is correct: many butterflies visit flowers for nectar and carry pollen between them, so fewer butterflies can weaken pollination of some wild and cultivated plants. Statement 3 is correct: butterfly eggs, larvae and adults are food for wasps, spiders and insectivorous birds, so their decline reduces the prey base for these predators.

Statement 2 is wrong. Butterflies do not regulate fungal growth on crops. Fungal infections depend on weather, host resistance, sowing practice and fungicide use, and there is no established link between butterfly decline and a drastic rise in plant fungal disease. So option C, 1 and 3 only, is the answer.

The core concept is the food web and ecosystem services, where insect groups support both pollination and predator populations. For Mains, this connects to biodiversity conservation, pesticide overuse and agro-ecology under GS-III.

Trap: Aspirants assume any insect decline must worsen plant disease and pick D by reflex. Before accepting a statement, check whether a direct, established ecological link exists.