Butterfly Fauna Research Articles

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of northwestern and western Crete (Greece) in early July, with the finding of new larval host plant for Lampides boeticus

During the summer of 2021 northwestern and western areas of the Greek island of Crete were surveyed, in order to confirm certain observations of the diurnal butterfly fauna of the island. Research was focused especially on the unsurveyed north-western parts of the island, as well as surveying the species that are extending their areal (Cacyreus marshalli (Butler), Lampides boeticus (L.)). From 47 species reported from the island, 23 were observed. The surveys were all carried out during an especially hot and dry weather period (30-37 °C), between 30th of June and 6th of July. Additionally, a new larval host plant for L. boeticus was confirmed, as oviposition of females on Campsis radicans (Seem.) was observed on several occasions.

A PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST OF BUTTERFLY DIVERSITY IN THE WESTERN GHATS AT POINGUINIM, CANACONA, GOA

Butterflies are the most beautiful insects. They are well adapted to the landscape and react quickly to any alteration in their habitat as a result of anthropogenic activities. Thus they act as bio- indicators. Presence of rich butterfly diversity in and around Poinguinim reflects the health of its environment; however, variations in butterfly population in different areas indicate impact of human activities. Documentation of butterfly composition should be updated regularly by researchers or NGOs as it help in estimating impact of anthropogenic activities on the habitat and also crucial to fill up any voids in the process of conservation of butterfly fauna. In the present investigation , the highest number of butterfly species was recorded from Dharwatem Forest Area (DFA) Sub site -3 ( 35 species , 160 individuals) and this might be due to presence of sufficient host plants and favorable climatic conditions like humidity and temperature for the growth and development, followed by Parshuram Temple (PT) Sub site-1 (27 species,132 individuals ), Shradhanand High School (SHS) Sub site-2 (24 species, 117 individuals) with moderate human interference and least was in Tirwan Forest Area (TFA) Sub site - 4 (17 species and 45 individuals) with maximum human activities as the survey site was adjacent to the National highway.

An updated list of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) of two Guatemalan seasonally dry forests.

Guatemala has a great diversity of butterflies, although there have been few intensive surveys on Lepidoptera in the country so far. We present an updated list of 218 species in 149 genera, 19 subfamilies, and six families of butterflies sampled at two seasonally dry forests in the Salamá and Motagua valleys in central and eastern Guatemala, by integrating new data from field surveys conducted in 2014-2021 into our previously published data (Yoshimoto et al. 2018, 2019), with Amblyscirteselissaelissa Godman, 1900, Repensflorus (Godman, 1900), and Niconiadesnikko Hayward, 1948 (Hesperiidae: Hesperiinae) as new country records. We collected a hairstreak species, Chalybshassan (Stoll, 1790) (Lycaenidae: Theclinae), at the Motagua Valley site, representing the second record for Guatemala since the early 20th century, after we rediscovered it at the Salamá Valley site in 2011 and 2012 (Yoshimoto and Salinas-Gutiérrez 2015). Nymphalidae and Hesperiidae had larger numbers of species than the other four families at both sites. In Pieridae and Nymphalidae, species composition was similar between the sites, whereas in Lycaenidae, Riodinidae, and Papilionidae it differed more greatly between the sites. These results confirm the relatively high lepidopteran diversity of Guatemalan dry forests, noteworthy for the small areas that comprise the study sites, and represent marked similarities and differences in butterfly fauna and phenology within these forests.

A new high-altitude species of Penaincisalia Johnson, 1990 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) from the Peruvian Andes.

A new Penelfin species, Penaincisalia jadwigae sp. nov. is described from very high elevations, 45104620 m, in the Department of Huancavelica, Peru. Superficially it is somewhat similar to P. perezi Blint, 2001, but can easily be recognized by wing colour and pattern. A key for the identification of species in the Penaincisalia s. str. group with orange dorsal wing surface colouration is provided. A list of the local butterfly fauna is given, and spatial distribution, thermal regulation and discoloration are briefly discussed. The taxon Shapiroana matusikorum Johnson, 1992 is reinstated from synonymy with Penaincisalia aurulenta Johnson, 1990, as Rhamma matusikorum (Johnson, 1992), stat. rev., comb. n. 17 figures are provided.

Grassland type and presence of management shape butterfly functional diversity in agricultural and forested landscapes

Alteration of agricultural land use has led to a widespread loss of biodiversity in human-dominated landscapes. Degradation and gradual disappearance of natural and semi-natural habitats has become a global conservation problem. Together, intensive agriculture and the abandonment of extensively farmed areas endanger the wildlife of European landscapes. Our study aims to explore the complex processes that affect butterfly functional diversity and functional community composition in low-productive and threatened grasslands. We examined the functional characteristics of butterfly communities in response to three factors: habitat type (calcareous grassland vs. orchard meadow), management (managed vs. abandoned), and landscape context (forested vs. agricultural landscape). We surveyed butterflies of 20 calcareous grasslands and 20 orchard meadows in Central Germany. Both habitats are characterised by high structural diversity and extensive cultivation. To test the effects of our investigated variables, we selected six functional traits (overwintering, voltinism, wing length, diet, flight period, territoriality) for each butterfly species, and assigned values to them based on the literature. For our statistical analyses, we used single trait and multi-trait approaches. Our results showed that habitat type had the strongest filtering effect on butterfly functional traits of the three design variables. Functional diversity indices, such as functional richness and divergence values, were higher in calcareous grasslands than in orchard meadows. We found that calcareous grasslands are characterised by butterflies having more specialist traits (e.g., fewer food plants, fewer generations), which are favoured by grassland management and the vicinity of forests. Therefore, to maintain the threatened butterfly fauna of calcareous grasslands, extensive management should focus on these grasslands in forested landscapes. • Extensive management maintains higher butterfly diversity. • Both orchard meadows and calcareous grasslands harbour a valuable butterfly fauna. • Habitat type had the strongest filtering effect on butterfly functional traits. • Orchard meadows are characterised by butterflies with more generalist traits. • Calcareous grasslands are characterised by butterflies with more specialist traits.

Additional distribution records of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) with seven species new to Nepal

Abstract. Sajan KC, Sapkota A. 2022. Additional distribution records of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) with seven species new to Nepal. Biodiversitas 23: 2711-2743. New distribution records of some butterflies of Nepal are given in terms of geographical area, season and elevation based on our observations since early 2017 to late 2021. Seven new species: Hasora taminatus (Hübner, 1818), Hasora vitta (Butler, 1870), Celaenorrhinus pyrrha de Nicéville, 1889, Seseria sambara (Moore, [1866]), Coladenia agni (de Nicéville, [1884]), Erionota thrax (Linnaeus, 1767) and Tarucus balkanicus (Freyer, 1844), one new subspecies: Pelopidas conjuncta narooa (Moore, 1878) are added to the known butterfly fauna of Nepal along with two other species which need further confirmation: Rohana tonkiniana Fruhstorfer, 1906 and Neptis capnodes Fruhstorfer, 1908. Six species: Gerosis sinica (C. & R. Felder, 1862), Aeromachus kali (de Nicéville, 1885), Aeromachus pygmaeus (Fabricius, 1775), Niphanda cymbia de Nicéville, [1884], Tarucus nara (Kollar, 1848) and Discophora timora Westwood, [1850] have been reported for the second time in Nepal. This paper provides an updated distribution record of close to 200 species of butterflies in Nepal while discussing the possible causes of change in their distribution.

Faunistic study of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) of Sulaymaniyah Province, Kurdistan-Iraq.

BackgroundThis study investigates the butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea) of Sulaymaniyah Province, in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Investigations were carried out between April 2016 and April 2021, during which butterfly specimens were collected from 34 different localities throughout Sulaymaniyah Province. The collected butterflies belonged to 103 species within five families: five species of Papilionidae, 19 species of Hesperiidae, 18 species of Pieridae, 25 species of Lycaenidae and 36 species of Nymphalidae.New informationEight species, Carcharodusstauderi Reverdin, 1913, Thymelicushyrax Lederer, 1861, Gonepteryxrhamni (Linnaeus, 1758) Pieriskrueperi Staudinger, 1860, Coliaserate Esper, 1803, Polyommatusthersites (Cantener, 1835), Brenthismofidii Wyatt, 1968 and Pseudochazaramamurra Herrich-Schäffer, 1852 have been added as new records to the fauna of Iraqi butterflies.

Further data on the butterfly fauna (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mpanga Forest, Uganda, and the role of this forest in biodiversity conservation

We present records of further 87 butterfly species to the checklist of Mpanga Forest, Mpigi, Uganda, increasing the number of known species to 401. Over half of all newly recorded butterflies are skippers (Hesperiidae), also, a significant proportion of the new records pertain to species which tend to occur in more open habitats and forest-edges, also swampy areas or wetlands. Our records represent the easternmost occurrences of Procampta admiratio(Hesperiidae), Bicyclus rhacotis (Nymphalidae), Pentila alba and Iolaus schultzei (Lycaenidae) with significant range extensions. The still increasing number of species further emphasizes the conservation importance of the remaining small fragments of the once extensive Lake Victoria outlier forest, which almost disappeared from shores of the lake between the Kenyan and Tanzanian border. The pressure from the steeply increasing human population and apparent lack of actual protection measures threatens the Mpanga forest ecosystem and its butterfly fauna, despite its educational and unique eco-tourism potential.

Butterfly diversity (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in the Ziama Massif in Guinea and the adjacent Wonegizi and Wologizi Mountains in Liberia (West Africa): A transboundary conservation approach

Five field surveys targeting the butterfly fauna across the transboundary landscape that encompasses the Ziama Massif in Guinea and the Wologizi and Wonegizi Mountains in Liberia (collectively called as the Ziama-Wonegizi-Wologizi Transboundary Forest Landscape) were conducted between November 2017 and April 2019. Altogether 564 species of butterfly were recorded from the research area, with 450 species from the Wologizi Mountains, 254 from the Wonegizi Mountains and 429 from the Ziama Massif. An additional five species recorded in Ziama were added to the list as literature data. The surveys revealed several taxa new to science as well as a high number of restricted-range species, endemic either to the Guinea Highlands or to the broader forest area of the Liberian subregion. The results of the ecological classification of the butterfly fauna in Ziama and Wologizi show intact forest fauna with 90% and 92% of the recorded species associated with forest habitats, respectively. These results, along with the high species richness and the outstanding number of restricted-range species, make this landscape one of the most important conservation areas for butterflies in the Liberian biogeographical subregion including the Nimba Mountains and the Greater Gola Landscape on the Liberia-Sierra Leone border.

High Species Richness and Endemism Characterize the Butterfly Fauna of Vietnam's Central Highlands (Lepidoptera, Papilionoidea)

The temperature and habitat gradients of tropical mountains contribute to their high species diversity and endemism. Recent fieldwork in the Central Highlands of Vietnam has found many taxa new to science, but the area remains poorly explored. We surveyed the butterflies of Kon Ka Kinh National Park between 1999 to 2019 and noted the habitat, seasons, and freshwater availability for each transect in 2018–2019. We found a total of 368 butterfly species including 80 documented in that region for the first time in 2018–2019. Nymphalidae (41.8%) was the most abundant butterfly family, and Riodinidae was the least common. We recorded higher species richness in disturbed forests, but many of the species we document are endemic or have restricted ranges. The diverse fauna is at a biogeographic crossroads of mostly Indo-Malayan species from the south and some high elevation specialists from the north meeting along an elevational and climatic gradient. Correspondence analysis demonstrates that season and forest type are the most important environment covariates influencing butterfly abundance in this unique tropical forest. These results demonstrate that the Central Highlands of Vietnam are not only species rich, but also home to many rare and endemic species found nowhere else, making the area a conservation priority.

Contribution to the knowledge of the butterfly diversity (Hesperoidea i Papilionoidea) of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The paper deals with the fauna of butterflies in the Banja Luka area, located in the northwest part of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina). The paper presents data from the field research and literature. The total number of registered species for the area of Banja Luka is 93, which is quite well considering the size of the researched area. However, the number of species registered in the last survey is about 16% less than the total registered number for this area, which could indicate certain negative trends.

First records of the butterfly fauna of the Karagay nature reserve (the Chelyabinsk region)

First records of the butterfly fauna of the Karagay nature reserve (the Chelyabinsk region)

Butterfly diversity (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Mt. Blegoš and Mt. Koprivnik (Škofjeloško hribovje, Slovenia)

An overview of the surveys of butterfly fauna of Mt. Blegoš, Mt. Koprivnik and their surroundings is provided. In 2018, 14 surveys were performed and 80 butterfly species on eight transects recorded in the process. Additional surveys in 2019 and 2020 yielded 5 additional butterfly species. Among the butterflies observed, Parnassius mnemosyne, Lycaena hippothoe, Euphydryas maturna, Euphydryas aurinia, Melitaea britomartis, Melitaea diamina, and Pyrgus alveus are identified as vulnerable species, while both Phengaris arion and Phengaris alcon are classified as endangered species in Slovenia. The latter was found on two occasions in July 2018 and July 2020 on a single locality. Eggs of P. alcon were found on the host plant Gentiana cruciata at the same locality. Despite the fact that many species characteristic of higher altitudes were observed, like Aricia artaxerxes, Pyrgus alveus, Erebia stiria and Lasiommata petropolitana, other, which had still been present a few decades ago, were not found (Parnassius apollo and Boloria pales). In this article, the problem of loss of important butterfly habitats in the region due to overgrowing, and the negative impacts of overgrazing is also highlighted.

Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest, Paraíba State, Brazil

Restinga forests are plant formations that occur on plains of quaternary sandy deposits along the Brazilian coast. Despite historical reduction of the Restinga forests, little effort has been made to know the butterfly fauna of these areas. This paper is an important contribution to the butterfly’s knowledge, being the second inventory in the Restinga forest of northeastern Brazil. The survey was conducted in the Restinga de Cabedelo National Forest (FLONA de Cabedelo, following the Portuguese abbreviation) and aimed to provide preliminary information on the butterflies richness in this region. A total of 89 butterfly species and 1,503 individuals were recorded at FLONA de Cabedelo. Hesperiidae was the richest family (34 species), followed by Nymphalidae (33) Pieridae (eight), Lycaenidae (seven), Riodinidae (five), and Papilionidae (two). In general, the butterfly fauna of the FLONA de Cabedelo is dominated by species widely distributed and commonly found in open or forested areas in Brazil. Five species are new records in Paraíba state: Calydna sturnula (Geyer), Theope foliorum (Bates), Cogia hassan (Butler), Vehilius inca (Scudder), and Chiothion asychis (Stoll). We suggest carrying out monthly samplings which will certainly increase the list of species herein presented.

LITTLE TIGER BLUE, TARUCUS BALKANICUS (FREYER, 1845) – A NEW BUTTERFLY SPECIES IN THE FAUNA OF SERBIA (LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE)

The fauna of butterflies in Serbia is richer for another species - Tarucus balkanicus (Freyer, 1845). During the research of the Landscape of Outstanding Features of the Valley of Pcinja, on August 3rd and 4th, a total of 6 individuals of this species were recorded at the site of Civcija. The feeding plant of this species is Paliurus spina-christi, on the basis of which the popular Serbian name for T. balkanicus – “dracac” was proposed.

Hypolimnas misippus(Linnaeus, 1767) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Cyprus and other records in the Eastern Mediterranean, an overlooked record and east Mediterranean butterfly migration corridors

During preparation of the forthcoming volume,The Butterflies of the Levant Vol. III(Nymphalidae), a single maleHypolimnas misippusfrom the collection of Prof. Hanan BytinskiSalz, collected on the southern coast of Cyprus in August 1936, was found by the author among otherH. misippusspecimens in the butterfly collection of Tel Aviv University. This is the first and only known record of the Danaid Eggfly from the island and the seventh species addition to the Island's butterfly fauna since the early 1900s. The circumstances of this new record for Cyprus and other related records highlighting northern migration corridors from Africa and Arabia to the Levant and the S. Palaearctic region are elaborated on and discussed.

Butterfly Fauna in Kadamaian Area, Kota Belud, Sabah: A Survey during Borneo Geographic Expedition 2019

During the Borneo Geographic Expedition 2019 in Kadamaian area in Kota Belud, a survey on butterfly fauna was conducted for four days from 21st to 24th October, 2019. Three sites selected for the butterfly sampling were Site 1, Site 2 and Site 4. The methods applied were fruit and carrion baited traps, and aerial netting. A total of 56 individuals were sampled and belonged to 25 species from four families (Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Papilionidae). Nymphalidae was the dominant family with Ragadia makuta recorded as the most abundant species. About 60% of the butterflies sampled in the area are forest species, while 40% of the overall species have narrow geographical distribution restricted to Sundaland. The butterfly fauna in Kadamaian area is comparable to other forest types in Sabah in terms of their diversity and species richness. The findings reflected the potential of Kadamaian area as a nature tourism site, and the area could also serve as a corridor for the conservation of flora and fauna as it is located adjacent to Kinabalu Park.

Documenting Butterflies Diversity (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera: Nymphalidae) as Potential Nature Tourism Products at Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Sukau Ecotourism Research Centre, Kinabatangan, Sabah

Sukau Rainforest Lodge (SRL) and Sukau Ecotourism Research Centre (SERC) have been recognised as two ecotourism sites in Sabah. However, there were no butterfly tourism products carried out at both sites. As a result, a 5-day survey of butterfly diversity was conducted using fruit-baited traps. Butterfly diversity, richness, and abundance were evaluated using Shannon-Weiner Diversity for both sites. SWOT analysis was also carried out at both sites throughout a 3-week observation. The results showed there were 20 species from 6 subfamilies of Nymphalidae butterflies. A total of 96 individuals of each species were also tabulated, with SRL revealing a higher diversity index compared to SERC due to its large surrounding area. The butterfly specimens were collected for educational purposes as nature tourism products. Lack of research, no butterfly signage, forest fragmentation, and mass tourism activities were identified as weaknesses and threats with their strengths and opportunities as proper guidelines based on SWOT analysis. Hence, it shows that both sites are valuable for nature tourism based on their unique butterfly fauna as butterfly tourism products. This study could also provide baseline data on butterfly diversity and its potential as butterfly tourism products at both sites. Butterfly diversity data and SWOT analysis are compulsory for the creation of butterfly tourism products. Such valuable fauna can be integrated as nature tourism products in conjunction with appropriate decision-making strategies.

Checklist of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of an urban area of Caatinga-Atlantic Forest ecotone in Bahia, Brazil

The butterfly inventories carried out in urban landscapes in Bahia are still scarce. Urban areas with remnants of native vegetation in association with ornamental plants can provide several resources that are favorable for the development and shelter of various animal species, including insects, even with the high anthropization that occurs in these environments. In this work, we aim to investigate the urban fauna of butterflies at the Campus of the Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS), an area of ​​Caatinga-Atlantic Forest ecotone located in the municipality of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. Monthly samplings were carried out with entomological net and standardized traps with different attractive baits, between May 2019 and January 2020, in addition to review of the material previously deposited at the Entomological Collection Prof. Johan Becker located at the Zoology Museum of the UEFS (MZFS). In total, 114 species of Papilionoidea were recorded, with Nymphalidae being the richest family (45 species), followed by Hesperiidae (32), Lycaenidae (21), Pieridae (10), Papilionidae (3) and Riodinidae (3). Thirteen species are new records for Bahia and eight species are new records for Northeast Brazil. The results demonstrate the extreme relevance of the conservation and preservation of urban green areas for the maintenance of butterflies species and, consequently, the associated insect fauna.

Butterfly Biodiversity on Isla Socorro, Mexico, with Comments on the Taxonomic Status of the Endemic Hairstreak Strymon istapa socorroica (Lycaenidae)

Lepidoptera biodiversity on Isla Socorro, a small volcanic island in the Islas Revillagigedo Archipelago located off the west coast of Mexico, is poorly known. The native flora of this island was severely degraded for more than 140 years of overgrazing by introduced feral sheep. Sheep were successfully eradicated in 2012, and the habitat is now beginning to recover. The few published records of the butterfly fauna (eight species), however, were obtained more than 30 years ago, well before sheep removal. Here we provide results of a recent survey of the Lepidoptera based on collecting and observation of adult butterflies during November, 2019. We confirmed that five of the eight previously recorded species are still present, and in addition show that Pyrisitia lisa centralis (Pieridae) has now become established. We also analyzed DNA barcodes from the endemic hairstreak Strymon istapa socorroica (Lycaenidae) that support maintaining its subspecies status. Whether the three previously recorded species not seen by us have been extirpated will require more exhaustive sampling.