Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) from the campos rupestres of Serra de São José, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Borboletas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) dos campos rupestres da Serra de São José, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

We provide the first inventory of butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Serra de São José, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Serra de São José has elevations ranging from 800 m to 1,400 m above sea level; the butterflies were sampled using traps and entomological nets in seven plots along the altitudinal gradient. We recorded 647 butterflies belonging to 112 species and six families. We also recorded one threatened species and three endemic species for the Cerrado domain, which suggests that Serra de São José is an important refuge for butterfly conservation.

Keywords:
Cerrado; Conservation; Diversity; Inventory; Species richness; Threatened species