Occasional photographic records of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) in Cambodia: 3, Pursat, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Stung Treng Provinces in western, north-western and northern Cambodia

Oleg E Kosterin

doi:10.3897/abs.6.e53770

Abstract

Abstract The butterfly (Papilionoidea) fauna of Cambodia is very rich but too insufficiently studied. Results are presented of occasional photographic records of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) made in 2016–2019 (some also in 2006) along with studies on the Odonata fauna in 67 localities of western and northern provinces of Cambodia: Pursat, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Stung Treng. This paper completes the two previous communications of this series devoted to the south-western and eastern provinces of this country. In total, 162 identified and 13 provisionally identified species are listed; 22 species (Miletus ancon, Arhopala agrata, A. alesia, A. allata, A. ammonides, A. atrax, A. aurelia, A. moolaiana, A. silhetensis, Drupadia theda, Anthene licates, Prosotas aluta, Danaus chrysippus, Cirrochroa surya, Doleschallia bisaltide, Athyma ranga, Euthalia recta, Burara oedipodea, Hasora chromus, Pseudocoladenia dan, Koruthalaios sindu, Parnara ganga) are for the first time reported in literature for Cambodia. These and some problematic species are illustrated. Some misidentifications in the two first communications of the series are made; due to reidentification Arhopala camdana and Borbo cinnara are for the first time reported for Cambodia in literature.

Highlights

Butterflies are among the most popular insects because of their spectacular wings and general beauty; they may serve as an indicator of habitat quality
The taxa for the first time reported for Cambodia in scientific literature are marked with asterisk (*)
This paper reports 162 identified and 13 provisionally identified species (175 in total), the distinction is vague

Summary

Introduction

Butterflies are among the most popular insects because of their spectacular wings and general beauty; they may serve as an indicator of habitat quality. The assessment of its biodiversity is especially important as most of the natural habitats will soon be lost irreversibly all over the country. Recent literature on the butterflies of Cambodia is scarce: a popular atlas of the butterflies of SW Cambodia by Woodfield and Murton (2006), reports of two trips by Hiraoki Onodera (2007, 2008), results of a stationary study of the Phom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary by Monastyrskii et al (2011), the first two communications of this series, based on photographic records (Kosterin 2019a, b), a paper devoted to the genus Hidari Distant, 1886 (Chartier 2019). A checklist of Cambodian butterflies at present exists in Internet only (Chartier and Kosterin 2020) and is being permanently updated

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Results

Conclusion