Abstract

OROZCO, Silvia; MURIEL, Sandra B.  and  PALACIO, Jorge. DIVERSITY OF DIURNAL LEPIDOPTERA IN AN AREA OF TROPICAL DRY FOREST FROM WEST OF ANTIOQUIA. Actu Biol [online]. 2009, vol.31, n.90, pp.31-41. ISSN 0304-3584.

Rural areas host many wild species and complement the conservation strategy of protected natural environments. We asked two questions in our investigation: a) which is the diversity of diurnal butterflies in the farm of the Politécnico Colombiano JIC? b) What proportion has been referenced as forest indicator species in total sampled? The farm was divided into five zones and eleven samples were taken over the course of twelve months. The expected diversity was measured through non-parametric estimators and, the diversity was compared by zones with Chi-square analysis. 933 were collected representing 117 families: Nymphalidae (78), Pieridae (18), Hesperiidae (6), Riodinidae (6), Papilionidae (5), and Lycaenidae (4). The most abundant nectariferous species were Anartia amathea, Anartia jatrophae and Mechanitis menapsis. The only abundant fruit-feeding specie captured was Pareuptychia hesione. 23% of the total species belong to subfamilies related to little disturbed ecosystems. The expected diversity was of 158 species and in our study we found 74% of this diversity. Low species similarity was shown between zones. The highest diversity was found in zones one and two, which have great abundance of ornamental plants and wildflowers throughout the year. The presence of species typical from low disturbed areas could mean that forest patches are important by providing resources or as a migration route for these species on their way to forest patches.

Keywords : Andes; Colombia; diurnal Lepidoptera; diversity; tropical dry forest.

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