Diversity of Butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera) attracted to Carrion Trap at Harau Valley Nature Reserve

Abstract

Abstract Butterflies are important insect used as bioindicator in addition to their attractiveness in nature. In the wild, butterflies actually use broad spectrum of food sources rather than just sipping nectar as commonly known. This study aimed to collect butterflies that may use substances produced by decaying carrion. It used Carrion Bite Traps baited with decaying fishes or shrimps and set at Harau Valley Nature Reserve areas from April to June 2019. The traps were checked every 24 hours for seven consecutive days at valley site, conservation site sites and plantations site. A total 35 butterfly species that belong to 24 genera and four families identified from 90 collected individuals. Nymphalidae became butterfly family with the highest species number observed (30), while three other families with few species recorded, i.e. Hesperidae with three species, Lycaenidae and Pieridae with one species each. This result might suggest specific trophic of Nymphaeidae compared to other butterfly families. Species diversity for butterflies in relation to decaying carrion was high (3.24), indicating the effectiveness of carrion as bait for butterflies in biodiversity rapid assessment.