Butterfly diversity in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, South-west Nigeria

Abstract

Butterfly diversity on Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, was investigated by the use of sweep nets along transects in different sites. The sites include; Parks and Gardens, Zoological Garden, Oxidation Pond, Botanical Garden, Teaching and Research Farm, New Bukkateria and open fields. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics (%), Shannon-weiner’s species richness index and Margalef’s species diversity index. A total of 317 butterflies belonging to 41 species in 12 sub- families and five families were identified in this study. Nymphalidae was the highest in terms of abundance and species richness. This family accounted for 47 % of the total butterfly collection represented by 22 species while the least family, Papilionidae was represented by two species and accounted for 7.9 % of the total collection. The most abundant butterfly species recorded in this study was Papilio demodocus (Papilionidae) with 18 individuals, while Borbo bevani (Hesperidae) occurred with the least number (2). Generally, three genera from two families; Junonia, Acraea (Nymphalidae) and Nepheroni (Pieridae) were abundant than the others. Two sites (Parks and Gardens, Teaching and Research Farm) with larger water resources, heterogenous vegetation and grassland, had greater abundance of butterflies than the other sites.

Keywords: butterfly, diversity, abundance, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria.