Preliminary checklist and field observations of the butterflies of the Maquipucuna Field Station (Pichincha Province, Ecuador)

Abstract

The Maquipucuna Tropical Reserve (MTR) contains one of the few remaining fragments of rainforest in western Ecuador. A survey of butterfly species richness was performed by walking an altitudinal transect (1270 to 1900m) through MTR forest habitats from late August to Octo- ber, 1989, and late November to early December, 1992. In 350 collector hours, 220 butterfly species were observed; some are characteristic of lowland tropical forests, others of Andean cloud forests and bamboo thickets. Habitat affinities, altitudinal distributions, feeding and perching behaviors were noted and discussed for many species. Cylindrical net traps baited with rotting fruit were used to collect 21 butterfly species, mostly charaxine and satyrine nymphalids. We observed apparent zonation by elevation or habitat among three species of Taygetis (Satyrinae) and vertical zonation in perch height among three species of Adelpha (Liminitinae). Future surveys performed from January to July and extend- ing to the southern limits of the MTR (above 1900m) should identify many more butterfly species.