Butterfly diversity and composition at Chemerong Amenity Forest, Terengganu, Malaysia

A study of butterfly species diversity was conducted in Chemerong Amenity Forest, Terengganu, Malaysia. total 939 individuals from 198 were obtained using fruit-baited sweep nets and modified VanSomeren-Rydon cylinder traps. The biodiversity butterflies the area considered high, with a Shannon index (H’) 4.1, Simpson’s (DSimpson) 0.042, Margalef (IMargalef) 28.78. Individuals within community not evenly distributed among (EShannon= 0776). Nymphalidae found to be most dominant family (48.5%), Lexias dirtea merguia abundant recorded 114 (12%). From eight protected under Malaysia legislation, one Trogonoptera brookiana also listed CITES Appendix II, while only Agatasa calydonia (the brush-footed or four-footed) rare. Other rare this included Arhopala lucida, Curetis saronis sumatrana, Miletus nymphis fictus Lycaenidae blues, coppers, & hairstreaks), Amathusia perakana perakana, Bassarona teuta goodrichi, Elymnias saueri saueri, nesaea, Mycalesis horsfieldi hermana, distanti, Ypthima pandocus tahanensis four-footed), Celaenorrhinus ladana, Erionota sybirita, Matapa aria, cresta, druna, Pseudokerana fulger, Taractrocera ardonia, luzonensis, Telicota linna, Unkana mytheca Hesperiidae skippers). dominance may due several factors, including high diversity, widespread distribution occurrence, as well type bait used study. Besides Genting Highlands Taman Negara Johor Endau Rompin, at Forest are more diverse than other sites such Gunung Serambu, Ulu Gombak Reserve, Setiu Wetlands, Kuala Lompat, Bukit Hampuan Sungai Imbak Tabin Wildlife Senagang Substation. Further investigation aspects stratification patterns, host plants forest dwelling recommended for better understanding communities Forest.