Faunistic study on butterflies collected in Northern Italy rural landscape

Butterflies were inventorised in nine sites of three different habitat types of the Emilia-Romagna rural landscape (Northern Italy). Sites were situated in three different landscape contexts, from high to low landscape complexity. A total of 39 butterflies species were collected, including some rare species for the region. Diversity indices and correspondence analysis showed that the butterfly fauna was influenced by the habitat type and not by the landscape complexity of the area around the site. The higher diversity was registered in an hedgerow with a grassy margin. Grassy margins of crops showed the higher mean frequency of catches, probably because of the high number of flowers available. Butterflies seem to be poorly influenced by the landscape characteristics around the sites because of the adults mobility. Field margins are suggested as suitable habitats for butterfly conservation.