Description

ABSTRACT

Butterflies are important species required to be conserved because of its ecological, economical, and scientific and ecotourism benefits. The study of butterflies’ species composition, their distribution and abundance in Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife was carried out between May to June 2016 and 2017. The study area was stratified into three locations (developed, cultivated and undeveloped). Direct methods using both butterfly bait trap and butterfly net (hand net) was adopted. Data obtained were analysed both by descriptive (tables and charts) and inferential (ANOVA) statistics. PAST Software (Version 16) was used for analysis of butterfly Diversity indices (Dominance, Shannon’s Wiener and Evenness). One way ANOVA was used to test for significant difference in the diversity indices and abundance in the three locations. A total of 65 species from 5 families were recorded during this study. Cultivated area had the highest number of 62 species; developed area had 50 species while undeveloped areas had 56 species. The result also revealed that Junonia oenone is the most abundant with the sighting frequency of 30, followed by Hamanumida daedalus with 22 and the butterfly species with least frequency of occurrence are: Cymothe coccinata, Ypthima vuattouxi, Cyrestia camillus, Eupaedra ihermis, Hypolycaena philippus with a sighting frequency of 1. The result from ANOVA and Diversity indices shows that there is no significant difference in diversity between the three locations. The study has shown that we have diverse species of butterflies at Obafemi Awolowo University. Comparison of butterfly research with other countries shows that Nigeria is far behind making most of the recorded species not yet assessed under the IUCN list. Encouraging that more research should be done on butterfly.

Keywords: Abundance, Diversity, Location, Checklist, Species