Isabel Vargas-Fernández

Seasonality and phenology of the butterflies (Lepidoptera : Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) of Mexico's Calakmul Region

Abstract The phenology of butterflies was analyzed in the Calakmul Region (CR) in the state of Campeche, México, over the course of 3 years. Altogether, 60,662 individuals were recorded, consisting of 359 species in 207 genera, 18 subfamilies, 5 families, and 2 superfamilies. Greatest species diversity was recorded during Oct and Nov. Monthly fluctuation in diversity was defined by rare species. Hesperiidae (135 species) and Nymphalidae (111 species) were the most diverse families, and showed the greatest variation with respect to distribution of species richness throughout the year. Papilionidae showed the greatest species richness during the dry season. Pieridae, Nymphalidae, and Lycaenidae showed peaks of greatest species richness and relative abundance during the rainy season. Results were compared to faunal studies of the Sierra de Atoyac de Álvarez, in the state of Guerrero, and of the Sierra de Manantlán, in Jalisco and Colima. Important similarities were observed among phenological patterns in the butterfly fauna of the 3 regions, especially between CR and Manantlán. The phenology of species with greater relative abundance was analyzed in relation to wingspan as a parameter of adult size. The small and medium-sized groups, taken together, showed variations in species richness. An analysis of species seasonality was conducted with NMDS, ANOSIM and SIMPER, in the program PRIMER 4.0. Differences among the composition of butterfly communities with respect to the seasons were found.

Avances Faunísticos en los Papilionoidea (Lepidoptera) sensu lato de Oaxaca, México

Resumen. Se presenta una lista de 1331 taxones a nivel específico, pertenecientes a 462 géneros, 24 subfamilias, y seis familias de Papilionoidea (sensu lato) del estado de Oaxaca; que constituyen 68% de tales taxones registrados para México. Con esto se actualiza la lista de mariposas diurnas del estado con 165 registros nuevos a nivel específico, de los cuales 17 también son registros nuevos para este país. De las especies y subespecies oaxaqueñas, hasta ahora se han registrado 259 endémicas de México, que representan 19.45% del total en el estado y 57.5% de los endémicos que ocurren en el país. Estas cifras y porcentajes indican que Oaxaca es el estado con mayor riqueza y endemismo de México. La alta riqueza de Papilionoidea de Oaxaca y su endemismo, se debe principalmente a tres factores: 1. la asociación estrecha que existe entre las mariposas diurnas y el bosque tropical perennifolio; 2. el alto porcentaje de fauna endémica asociada a comunidades xéricas del noroeste del estado, los valles centrales, los bosques húmedos de montaña y la planicie costera del Pacífico, y 3. la ubicación del estado en la región Mesoamericana, que se caracteriza por su alta riqueza y proporción de endemismos, generados por su extensión geográfica y confluencia de muchas provincias biogeográficas.

Diversity of Diurnal Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) of Laguna Potosí and Surrounding Area, Guerrero, Mexico

Abstract. The Mexican state of Guerrero is fourth in butterfly diversity in Mexico. However, little is known about the superfamily Hesperioidea and communities of butterflies that live in coastal ecosystems. Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea of Laguna Potosí and surrounding area were surveyed monthly for 1 year (December 2009-November 2010) in pre-established transects in tropical dry forest; xerophytic shrubland; mangrove; coconut palm crop; secondary vegetation of tropical dry forest; and mixed environment of acacia forest, coconut palm, and mango crops. In total, 188 species in two superfamilies, six families, 18 subfamilies, and 127 genera were identified; seven species were endemic to Mexico, three to the tropical dry forest, and 32 were new records for Guerrero. Most species of butterflies were found in the family Hesperiidae (73), followed by Nymphalidae (52), Pieridae (20), Lycaenidae (19), Riodinidae (15), and Papilionidae (nine species). Most species were found in xerophytic shrubland (114) and tropical dry forest (103) that also had the greatest number of species exclusive to one habitat. Environmental heterogeneity increased the butterfly diversity of the area, including human-altered environments. Tropical dry forest and xerophytic shrubland seemed the vegetation types where butterfly diversity was greatest in the region. Preserving biological diversity, which is affected by both urbanization and the possibility of developing megaprojects for tourism, is necessary.