The richness of butterfly species and the discovery of a new record species (Mycalesis valeria) in Ayapokiar Village, Tambrauw, Southwest Papua

¹ Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Papua, Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia
² Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Papua, Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia
³ Agriculture Department, Agriculture Faculty Universitas Papua, Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia
⁴ Kelompok Serangga Papua Jayapura

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Ayapokiar is village in a protected forest area with an altitude of 925 m above sea level. This area is rich in biodiversity, including that of butterflies. Although this area is a protected forest, there are no data on butterfly species in the area. Thus, this study aimed to examine the richness and abundance of butterfly species in protected forest areas, especially in Ayapokiar Village. Scanning sampling on a predetermined line transect was used. A total of 135 butterflies and 1540 individuals were successfully identified in six families (Papilionidae, Hesperidae, Pieridae, Riodinidae, Lycaenidae, and Nymphalidae). The results of the Shannon Wiener diversity index analysis showed high diversity, with a value of H '= 4.02. The study was conducted in primary forests, secondary forests, gardens, and residential habitat types. The highest diversity index of the four habitats was found in the primary forest habitat type, H'=3.87, and the lowest in the garden, H'=3.45. This study also identified Mycalesis Valeria, as a new species record. Previously, this species was found only in the Central and Cyclops Mountains. This indicates that there are similarities in plate formation between the Tambrauw, Central Mountains and Cyclops Mountains.