Diversity of Butterflies (Rhopalocera) inBulusukan (San Ildelfonso, Bulacan, Philippines)

Abstract

There are 1,615 species and sub species of butterflies in the entire Philippines (C.R Baltazar, 1991), LUBG San Fernando La Union has 104 species recorded they belong to 6 families and 66 genera(Nacua et al2015).In Manila,Nacua (2016) 22 species of butterflies belong to 6 families 17 genera were also recorded. Thisstudyseeks to determine the species composition, conservation status, richness and abundance of butterflies in the town of Bulusukan, a community in San Ildefonso, Bulacan province (Luzon Island, Philippines). The opportunistic transect sampling method was used to collect butterflies. Collection was done at daytime on August 6, 2016 from 8 am up to 5 pm in areas with GPS of 15°04'26.0652"northand 121°02'39.9588"east near the vicinity of Bulusukan Cave.Species richness and butterfly diversity in all areas sampled was calculated. A dendogram showing 75% species abundance was accounted and comes mostly from the secondary dipterocarp forest. Graphium antiphates Cramer, Ypthima semperaand Ptychandra lorquini-lorquini were found to be endemic to Bulusukan. Butterflies were observed to be attracted to shady forest areas consisting of mosses clinging on metamorphic rocks along a river and includes species from the families Nymphalidae and Papilionidae. This study was able to identify 21 butterfly species with 19 genera 2 of them are rare and 2 endemic species of butterflies in Bulusukan. It is recommended to continue further study for wet and dry season