Species composition and status of butterflies in the sunny and shady habitats of Cadaclan, San Fernando, La Union Botanical Garden of North Luzon, Philippines

• Main Authors: Nacua, Alma E., Mohagan, Alma B., Alejandro, Grecebio Jonathan D.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/11657
• Institution: De La Salle University

A sampling of butterfly species composition and status is carried out in the sunny and shaded habitats of Cadaclan, San Fernando, La Union Botanical Gardens (LUBG) utilizing transection and standard collection practices. This study is the first comprehensive account of butterflies in the area. Times for the collection were from 09:00 to 15:00 hours from 2012-2014 and yielded a total of 104 species during the sampling period. Data on the species composition revealedsix families out of 104 species under 66 genera and a new distribution record and several respective ecological preferences. Percentage distribution by family indicate the following: Papilionidae, 24 (22.85%), Pieridae, 47 (47.70%), Nymphalidae, one (0.95%), Hesperiidae, 15 (14.29%), Riodinidae one (0.95%) and Lycaenidae, 16 (15.24%). Local status reveals 80 common, 23 very common, and one rare species. The National Assessment indicates 65 (62.5%) common, 2 (1.92%) rare, 1 (0.95) very rare, 12 (11.59 %) common endemic, 4 (3:85%) very rare endemic, 1 (0.95%) Luzon endemic, and 1 (0.95%) no experience and 1 (0.95%) new record Jamides cyta koenigswateri with only known distribution in Mindoro. Similarity of species composition showed Si=71% which suggests two separate and diverse habitat types. Additionally, variables such as temperature, vegetation types and elevation affect species composition and abundance. It is to be noted that collection times do not allow for crepuscular species and as such will skew the data but not significantly due to few species being categorized under this heading.