Abstract

ALVAREZ GARCIA, Hugo; IBARRA VAZQUEZ, Adolfo  and  ESCALANTE, Patricia. Butterflies richness and altitudinal distribution in the Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea). Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2016, vol.32, n.3, pp.323-347. ISSN 2448-8445.

A thorough study on the taxonomic composition and altitudinal distribution of butterflies (superfamily Papilionoidea) in the Sierra Mazateca, Oaxaca is presented. Systematic field collecting was conducted in 12 localities between 90 and 2200 meters above sea level, representing all the climate and vegetation types and subtypes. Field work inlcuded two approaches: searches with entomological nets in different microhabitats, and placement of 5-7 Van Someren-Rydon traps baited with fermented banana. This work yielded 3,108 specimens, with their taxonomic identification, and the review of 89 specimens and 302 database records of the MARIPOSA database, at the Museo de Zoología de la Facultad de Ciencias de la UNAM, and data from other Mexican collections, generated an integrated list of 460 taxones included in 6 families, 19 subfamilies and 246 genera. Of these, 353 taxones are new records for the Sierra Mazateca, and 4 are new to the state of Oaxaca. The most diverse family was Nymphalidae (168 taxones), followed by Hesperiidae (141 taxones), Lycaenidae (57 taxones), Pieridae (42 taxones), Riodinidae (33 taxones) and Papilionidae (19 taxones). The better represented genera were: Urbanus Hübner, Calephelis Grote & Robinson, Adelpha Hübner, Anthanassa Scudder, 1875, Hamadryas Hübner, Eurema Hübner, Autochton Hübner, Chlosyne A. Butler, Parides Hübner, Heliconius Kluk, Memphis Hübner, Emesis Fabricius, Catasticta A. Butler, and Astraptes Hübner y Phoebis Hübner. Based on the species accumulation curve, using the Clench model, 71.3% (380 taxones) of the total estimated for the area was collected, and 87.2% of the total estimate considering additional collections. Regarding altitudinal distribution, 77% (360 taxones) occurred between 90-500 masl, making this interval the most diverse in the Sierra.

Keywords : Rhopalocera; cloud forest; tropical rain forest; wildlife.