Distribution of butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in the protected area “Mirusha waterfalls” in Kosovo

Abstract

In this paper we present the results of a study on the distribution of butterfly species in the protected area Mirusha Waterfalls in Kosovo, conducted in the period from April to the end of September 2016. No studies on butterfly fauna in this area had been conducted previously. The survey was organized in 13 sites with different types of habitats, mostly dominated by grassland, natural forest and shrubs. During our study 83 species of butterflies were recorded. The highest diversity (Shannon-Wiener diversity index H) was registered at the site Dush i Sverkes which hosted 68 out of 83 recorded species. The highest number of species was Euro-Siberian (ES) followed by Euro-Oriental (EO), Euro-Meridional (EM) and Holarctic species (Hol). Our results confirm a rich diversity of butterfly fauna influenced by the climate characteristics, geology and plant composition of the studied area. Out of 83 recorded species in our survey, 7 have Near Threatened status in Europe: Carcharodus floccifera (Zeller, 1847);

Diversity and composition of butterflies in three habitats around Rayow Waterfall, Minahasa District, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…Previously, studies on butterflies around waterfalls and their relationship with ecotourism have been reported across the world. These include the diversity of butterflies in the waterfalls sector in the Barra Honda National Park, Nicoya, Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Vásquez et al 2021), distribution of butterfly species in the protected area of Mirusha Waterfalls in Kosovo (Zhushi-Etemi et al 2018), butterflies diversity in Endau-Rompin Johor National Park, Malaysia and prioritizing the potential groups for nature tourism product (Ismail et al 2018), and assessment on butterfly and its diversity in Tegheria Waterfall, Assam District, India (Medhi et al 2018).…”