Assemblages of frugivorous butterflies in two urban parks in Quezon City, Philippines

Abstract

Urban parks play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, yet limited research on urban insect diversity poses challenges for conservation. Comprehensive biodiversity records are essential for monitoring insect population trends. Despite their significance as bioindicators, many urban parks lack baseline data on butterfly populations. This study utilized bait traps to assess butterfly diversity in two Quezon City parks: La Mesa Ecopark (LME) and Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center (NAPWC). Bait trapping facilitates species identification and population trend monitoring without harming local butterfly populations. From April to August 2023, two bait traps equipped with fermented bananas and rum as lures were deployed in each park. A total of 145 individuals representing nine morphospecies of the Nymphalidae family were recorded. Differences in butterfly diversity were noted between LME and NAPWC, with LME showing greater diversity. However, sampling efforts at NAPWC may need expansion to ensure exhaustiveness, potentially affecting comparison accuracy. Notably, four species observed in both parks are endemic to the Philippines, while data on the IUCN Red lIst status of the remaining species are unavailable.