Diversity of Butterfly Species of the Suborder Rhopalocera in the Kenegerian Rumbio Customary Prohibited Forest
Fitra Suzanti1*, Resma Wahyuni1, Antyesti Arini1

1Department of Biology Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Riau- Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to determine the diversity of butterfly species Suborder Rhopalocera in the Kenegerian Rumbio Customary Prohibited Forest, Kampar Regency, Riau. The research was conducted in May-June 2025 across three different habitat types, namely riverbanks, primary forest, and forest-plantation borders. Data were collected using an exploration method along a 300 m transect with a width of 2 m on each side, during morning and afternoon sessions, using insect nets. The results recorded 42 butterfly species belonging to 5 families with a total of 293 individuals, consisting of Nymphalidae (22 species, 161 individuals), Papilionidae (11 species), Pieridae (5 species), Lycaenidae (3 species), and Hesperiidae (1 species). The most abundant species was Neptis hylas (15 individuals), while the least was Papilio demolion (3 individuals). The Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H^) ranged from 2.98 to 3.55. The highest diversity was found in the riverbank habitat (H^=3.55- high category), followed by the forest-plantation border (H^=3.23- high category), and the lowest in the primary forest (H^=2.98- medium category). Environmental physical factors, including temperature, humidity, and light intensity, influenced species distribution, with riverbank habitats providing the most balanced conditions for butterfly activity. These findings indicate that the Kenegerian Rumbio Customary Prohibited Forest harbors high butterfly diversity, highlighting its importance as a natural habitat for pollinator insects.

Keywords: Diversity, Rhopalocera, Kenegerian Rumbio Customary Prohibited Forest

Topic: Biology and Biology Education