Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in a Caatinga-Atlantic Forest Ecotone in the Borborema Plateau, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil

Resumo

Abstract Ecotones or transitional zones are areas where elements of adjacent ecosystems overlap. They stand out for harboring rich biological diversity, representing priority areas for conservation. In this context, this study aimed to assess the richness and composition of butterflies (Papilionoidea) in a transitional area between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes located on the eastern edge of the Borborema Plateau, in the municipality of Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, an area currently subject to heavy human disturbance. Butterfly sampling was carried out monthly during two consecutive days along six transects pre-established to encompass different habitats, from October 2023 to August 2024. Two sampling methods were used: Van Someren-Rydon traps and entomological nets. A total of 214 species were recorded, distributed in six families, 20 subfamilies, and 156 genera. Hesperiidae was the richest family (92 spp.), followed by Nymphalidae (61 spp.), Lycaenidae (29 spp.), Pieridae (17 spp.), Riodinidae (12 spp.), and Papilionidae (3 spp.). Of these, 15 are new records for Paraíba, and three for Northeastern Brazil. Species richness varied seasonally, with 203 species being recorded during the rainy season (66 being exclusive to it) and 148 during the dry season (11 of these being exclusive to it). The butterfly richness recorded in this study exceeds that reported in all previous inventories conducted in Caatinga areas and other transitional zones in Northeastern Brazil, as well as in some studies in the Atlantic Forest biome. Overall, the high diversity and presence of previously unrecorded taxa suggest that the ecotones may function as a biodiversity refuge, highlighting the need for their formal protection.