Abstract:Comprising a natural reserve with 359 ha of "montane forest" inserted on the Brazilian semi-arid, the Parque Ecológico João Vasconcelos Sobrinho (PEJVS), locally known as "Brejo dos Cavalos" is currently under high anthropogenic pressure. A list of 197 species of butterflies belonging to six families is presented, being 59 species of Hesperiidae, 4 of Papilionidae, 18 of Pieridae, 17 of Lycaenidae, 12 of Riodinidae and 87 of Nymphalidae. The butterfly community was composed mainly by widespread species commonly found in open habitats. There were also many species typical of forested areas such as Scada karschina delicata Talbot, 1932 (Danainae: Ithomiini), which is an endangered butterfly.

A survey of 6,000 trap/hours using fruit-bait traps was conducted, in order to characterize the community of fruit-feeding butterflies and their seasonal variation in a semiarid area of NE Brazil, which exhibits a highly seasonal rainfall regime. The community was composed of 15 species, the four most abundant comprising more than 80% of the total individuals. In the first sampling month, 80% of the species had already been recorded. A strong positive correlation was found between butterfly abundance and precipitation of the sampled year. The highly seasonal pattern of the studied community may be related to the availability of both larvae and adult food resources. The endemic Fountainea halice moretta presented the highest positive correlations with other butterfly species and with total butterfly abundance and illustrates well the seasonal variation of the whole community. Hamadryas februa was the only species trapped in all sampling months, probably due to the ability of adults to aestivate during the dryer months. The open and more disturbed sample area showed higher abundance of butterflies in the rainy season and lower abundance in the dry season. Both abundance and richness were affected by season in a manner that the rainy period had significantly more individuals and species.

The first butterfly checklist for the Caatinga region and information about the taxonomic composition and seasonal structure of these butterflies is presented here. This study was conducted in the Catimbau National Park, located in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. The butterflies were collected from September, 2005, to August, 2006; 5 days per month, on trails exhibiting flowering plants and also by using fruit-bait traps. A total of 121 butterfly species was recorded; half of them exclusively in the rainy season, 7% exclusively in the dry season and 42% in both seasons. The species richness was low when compared to neotropical rainforest habitats, due to strong seasonality and the structurally simple vegetation. The butterfly fauna is dominated by species typical for open areas and of wide geographical distribution. No endemism was discovered.

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The present study provides the first odonate survey for the Brazilian Caatinga, including species habitat information. Specimens were collected during five days in both dry and rainy seasons of 2011 in the municipality of Itatira, state of Ceará, located in the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Adult individuals of 37 species were documented, the highest richness value thus far recorded for the region. Individuals of the majority of the species were recovered from small, temporary water bodies. In general, the local odonate community is composed of species with wide continental distributions, with the exception of Macrothemis lutea, M. griseofrons and Erythrodiplax leticia, which are restricted to northeastern Brazil. New occurrences and expanded distribution ranges of species are discussed.

The female of Erythrodiplax leticia Machado is described and illustrated. The geographic distribution of the species is updated, and notes on its natural history are provided.

A new species of Riodinidae, Pheles caatingensis Callaghan & Nobre, sp. nov. from Ceará and Pernambuco State in Brazil is described, along with its habitat, behavior and taxonomic differences with other members of the genus Pheles. Notes are included on distribution and mimetic relationships with other sympatric insects.