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Official publication of PhilIppine Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths Inc. (PhiLep)

“The Butterfly Fauna of the Philippines.

Volume 1: Papilionidae and Pieridae”
By Jade Aster T. Badon, Ph.D.

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Butterflies in the Philippines

The Philippines is the world's second largest archipelago country with more than 7,100 islands covering 297,179 km2 in the westernmost Pacific Ocean. The Philippine archipelago is one of the world's great reservoirs of biodiversity and endemism.

 

The patchwork of isolated islands, the tropical location of the country, and the once extensive areas of rainforest have resulted in high butterfly species diversity and a very high level of endemism.  352 butterfly species are endemic to the Philippines  and one of the largest butterflies in the world , the Magellan birdwing can be found here!

 

REFERENCES: 

 

Badon, J.A.T. (2014): Butterflies of the Philippines Field Guide. Mariposa Press. FL, U.S.A.

 

Treadaway, Colin G. & Schrőder, Heinz G. (2012): Revised checklist of the butterflies of the Philippine Islands (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera). Nachrichten des Entomologischen Vereins Apollo, Supplementum 20.

 

Hardy, Peter B. (2011): Classified List of Philippine Butterflies.

 

Takanami, Yusuke & Seki, Yasuo (Revised 2001): A Synonymic List of Lycaenidae (Lepidoptera) from the Philippines.

 

De Jong, R. & Treadaway, C. G. (1993): The Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) of the Philippines. The Zoologische Verhandelingen.

 

Why Butterflies Matter

  • Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems.

  • They indicate a wide range of other invertebrates, which comprise over two-thirds of all species.

  • Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other invertebrates. These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control.

  • Moths and butterflies are an important element of the food chain and are prey for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals.

  • Butterflies and moths support a range of other predators and parasites, many of which are specific to individual species, or groups of species.

  • Butterflies have been widely used by ecologists as model organisms to study the impact of habitat loss and fragmentation, and climate change.

http://butterfly-conservation.org/44/butterflies-and-moths.html

Moths are beautiful too! Get acquainted with them at:

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