Species Diversity of Lepidoptera in Western Mindanao State University – Experimental Forest Area, Zamboanga City, Philippines

Moths and butterflies belonging to Lepidoptera are considered biological indicators of human disturbances in tropical forests. This study aimed to determine the species diversity of Lepidoptera in Western Mindanao State University – Experimental Forest Area, Zamboanga City. Six sites were sampled for 126 person-hours. An opportunistic sampling method using sweep nets was employed. PAST software version 3.0 was used to determine biodiversity indices. Thirty-nine species consisting of 23 species of butterflies and 16 species of moth from eight families were recorded. The family Nymphalidae was dominant, most abundant, and had the highest species richness mainly due to its polyphagous nature. Eurema hecabe tamiathis was the most distributed and most abundant species (13.57%) which means that it can thrive in different types of habitats. Idea electra was the only Lepidoptera species categorized as vulnerable. Sampling site 4, a secondary dipterocarp forest, was the most diverse (H’=2.993), most abundant (30.00%), and with the highest species richness (S=23). The results showed that WMSU-EFA had a relatively moderate diversity (H’=2.2625) attributed to its diverse vegetation. There was no dominant species since the distribution in all sampling sites was even. Threat observed that can affect the Lepidoptera diversity of the sampling area was severe anthropogenic clearing.

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