A study of the butterfly diversity in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest, Kenya

Abstract

In this study the diversity of butterfly fauna in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest is examined by looking into their population abundance and seasonality. Investigation of these were by means of systematic collecting and trapping, and by use of weekly walking transects in which 60 butterfly species encountered were counted. From the general collection and trapping a total of 134 species of butterflies were caught. These were representative of 5 families, 14 subfamilies and 58 genera. Also recorded were the habitats in which the butterflies were caught and their periods of flight. Butterfly abundance fluctuated with change in weather conditions: the change in monthly abundance correlated positively with both change in temperature and rainfall. The different vegetation zones within the study area were observed to have significantly different diversities. These differences were present even amongst transects belonging to the same zone. The change in species richness and species diversity were, however, not significantly different amongst the transects within the different vegetation zones.