Abstract
This study aimed at conducting the first species inventory of butterflies in a location in the slopes of the Chapada do Araripe, in Ceara's Cariri region, in the Riacho do Meio Ecological Park. Specimens were collected from June 2009 to July 2010. We collected butterflies actively using insect nets, totaling 96 sampling hours. We collected a total of 236 individuals of 28 species and 5 families [Hesperiidae (N= 3), Lycaenidae (N= 1), Nymphalidae (N= 15), Pieridae (N= 7) and Riodinidae (N= 1)]. Nymphalidae was the most diverse family with 16 species and Heliconius erato phyllis (Fabricius) was the most abundant species.
Highlights
Butterflies represent 13% of described species in the order Lepidoptera, approximately 19,000. They are divided into two superfamilies: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea (HEPPNER 1991; BROWN JR.; FREITAS 1999)
In order to carry out environmental assessments the first step is to conduct species inventories, known as species lists
The Chapada do Araripe is scattered across 55,000 km2 (AUGUSTO; GÓES, 2007)
Summary
Butterflies represent 13% of described species in the order Lepidoptera, approximately 19,000 They are divided into two superfamilies: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea (HEPPNER 1991; BROWN JR.; FREITAS 1999). Brown Jr. and Freitas (2000a) have used lists of butterfly species from several locations across the Atlantic forest and Cerrado to develop methods to measure biodiversity and its preservation. They reached the conclusion that Hesperiidae diversity is a solid indicator when assessing total fauna wealth. Adult butterfly inventories have been useful tools to plan and manage nature reserves, and for genetic, ecological and taxonomic diversity studies (BROWN Jr.; FREITAS 1999; MOTTA 2002)
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