Lepidopteran inventory and diversity of at two sites at cotton tree, Mahaica-Berbice, Guyana

Abstract

This study compares the Lepidoptera diversity at two sites at Cotton Tree, Mahaica-Berbice, Guyana. This research was conducted in three phases. Phase one included the collection of Lepidopteran specimens from the sites. Phase two consisted of data identifying the sampled lepidopteran specimens and phase three included the data analysis to compare the results and determine which of the two sites had the highest Lepidopteran diversity. Sampling plots of 1000-meter squares were taken at each of the two sites. During this field investigation, one thousand four hundred fourteen (1,449) lepidopteran specimens composing of seventeen (17) families, forty-one (41) genera, and forty-four (44) species were recorded from the two (2) study sites. In addition, of the overall results of this study, eighteen (18) species of butterflies from sixteen (16) genera and five (5) families were sampled and recorded, whereas, twenty-six (26) species of moths from twenty-five (25) genera and twelve (12) families were documented and reported on. Site No. #1 and Site No. #2 both recorded thirty-six (36) lepidopteran species. The communities were compared using Simpson's Diversity Index. Results showed that Site No. 2 lepidopteran community had a higher species richness, species evenness, species diversity, and abundance than Site No. 1.