Indonesia

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze butterfly (Suborder: Rhopalocera) diversity in the campus environment of Universitas Sulawesi Barat and its relationship with vegetation types. The research employed a line transect method spanning 300 meters across three sampling locations: around the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Integrated Laboratory, and Library, conducted from August to September 2024. The findings identified 11 butterfly species from 3 families, with a total of 201 specimens. The Nymphalidae family dominated with 7 species (59%), followed by Pieridae with 3 species (36%), and Papilionidae with 1 species (4%). The most abundant species were Eurema hecabe (19%) and Junonia atlites (18%). Shannon-Wiener diversity index analysis revealed values ranging from 2.04-2.012, categorized as moderate diversity. Low dominance index (0.19) and high evenness index (E>0.8) indicated a relatively stable ecosystem supporting various butterfly species. The study concluded that the Universitas Sulawesi Barat campus environment has the potential to be a good habitat for butterflies, with diverse vegetation composition supporting species diversity.