Preliminary checklist of Rhopalocera (Lepidoptera) in Libiki Bamboo Resort, Bau, Sarawak, Malaysia

A preliminary study was conducted on the diversity of Rhopalocera (lepidopterans) butterfly fauna present in secondary forest of Libiki Bamboo Resort (LBR), Bau, Sarawak, Malaysia, due to the anthropogenic effect of human disturbance. The objectives of this study are to establish with a preliminary checklist of Rhopalocera and their species diversity in the mentioned resort and recorded its conservation status. Furthermore, this study work was performed to narrow the gap of knowledge regarding the diversity of Rhopalocera in Bau area, as no survey had been conducted in LBR previously. Twenty baited traps (passive method) and five ariel nets (active method) were used to collect Rhopalocera. Baited traps were placed along the trail and set up 100 m from each other with pineapple as bait, where aerial nets were used during day time, once in the morning and once in the evening, with a total sampling effort of 240 hours. A total of 183 butterflies from six families (Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae and Riodinidae) belonging to 63 species under 35 genera were successfully collected and recorded. The most abundance individuals collected and identified were from the family Nymphalidae (75.4%, n = 138), whereas family Hesperiidae was the least family collected (0.5%, n = 1). Based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status, one species, Euploea mulciber was found to be a vulnerable species, while most of the species recorded were categorised as data deficient status (84.13%, 53 species). Hence, it is recommended to conduct multiple similar studies to provide more adequate information for a more accurate update on the conservation status of Rhopalocera species in Malaysia

SPECIES COMPOSITION OF NYMPHALID BUTTERFLIES IN MAINLAND (KUBAH NATIONAL PARK) AND ISLAND (SATANG BESAR ISLAND), SARAWAK

Species diversity is a good measure of habitat quality. In order to gain this knowledge, bio-indicator species such as butterflies is among the species to be observed. In this study, nymphalids were recorded in mainland (Kubah National Park) and island (Satang Besar Island), Sarawak by using 20 baited traps in 20 days of sampling period. A total of 93 individuals representing 25 species were documented. Species diversity index was higher in the mainland (H’= 2.8639) with 87 individuals comprising 24 species. This could be due to the habitat homogeneity and thus less variety of food resources in the island. Species abundance in the mainland was dominated by the Nymphalinae (13.48%) of both Bassarona dunya and Tanaecia aruna. Meanwhile, Melanitis leda was the most abundant species recorded (67%) in the island. Mainland was more speciose in terms of butterfly composition as compared to island and distribution pattern of butterflies were also observed

PRELIMINARY CHECKLIST OF RHOPALOCERA (LEPIDOPTERA) IN LIBIKI BAMBOO RESORT, BAU, SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

A preliminary study was conducted on the diversity of Rhopalocera (lepidopterans) butterfly fauna present in secondary forest of Libiki Bamboo Resort (LBR), Bau, Sarawak, Malaysia, due to the anthropogenic effect of human disturbance. The objectives of this study are to establish with a preliminary checklist of Rhopalocera and their species diversity in the mentioned resort and recorded its conservation status. Furthermore, this study work was performed to narrow the gap of knowledge regarding the diversity of Rhopalocera in Bau area, as no survey had been conducted in LBR previously. Twenty baited traps (passive method) and five ariel nets (active method) were used to collect Rhopalocera. Baited traps were placed along the trail and set up 100 m from each other with pineapple as bait, where aerial nets were used during day time, once in the morning and once in the evening, with a total sampling effort of 240 hours. A total of 183 butterflies from six families (Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Nymphalidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae and Riodinidae) belonging to 63 species under 35 genera were successfully collected and recorded. The most abundance individuals collected and identified were from the family Nymphalidae (75.4%, n = 138), whereas family Hesperiidae was the least family collected (0.5%, n = 1). Based on International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List status, one species, Euploea mulciber was found to be a vulnerable species, while most of the species recorded were categorised as data deficient status (84.13%, 53 species). Hence, it is recommended to conduct multiple similar studies to provide more adequate information for a more accurate update on the conservation status of Rhopalocera species in Malaysia