Faunistic Composition And Ecological Distribution of Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae: Lepidoptera) In Western Sarawak

Nur Azizuhamizah, Idris and Fatimah, Abang and Ratnawati, Hazali and Nuha Loling, Othman (2018) Faunistic Composition And Ecological Distribution of Swallowtail Butterflies (Papilionidae: Lepidoptera) In Western Sarawak. Malaysian Applied Biology Journal, 47 (1). pp. 115-120. ISSN 0126-8643

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Abstract

The faunistic composition and ecological distribution of the swallowtail butterflies in western Sarawak were studied using both voucher specimens deposited in the UNIMAS Insect Reference Collection (UIRC) and the Research Development and Innovation Division (RDID) of the Forest Department Sarawak, and specimens obtained from field sampling in western Sarawak. A total of 649 specimens were examined, representing three tribes, namely Troidini, Papilionini and Leptocircini. These specimens represent thirty-one species documented in western Sarawak and their most favourable ecological habitat is the lowland mixed-dipterocarp forest. The most abundant species is Menelaides memnon followed by Papilio demoleus. The least abundant species is Chilasa slateri, which is represented by a singleton, followed by Papilio karna and Graphium procles, each represented by a doubleton. The lowland mixed-dipterocarp forest supports the highest number of the Papilionidae species and individuals in Sarawak, probably due to the favourable habitats and high abundance of larval host plants and food sources.

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