Exploring Butterfly Diversity Across Three Selected Trails in Endau-Rompin Johor National Park, Johor, Malaysia

Abstract Endau-Rompin Johor National Park (ERJNP), one of the largest protected areas in southern Peninsular Malaysia, is a critical habitat for diverse flora and fauna, including butterflies (Lepidopteran). However, there is still limited documentation of butterfly diversity and checklist, especially in unexplored habitat patches. This study aimed to update the butterfly checklist in ERJNP, addressing gaps in recent data while investigating butterfly communities along three selected trails to gain a deeper understanding of their diversity and distribution. In line with this, a study on butterfly diversity was conducted for six days from 29 th April to 4 th May 2024 at three selected trails: Sg. Semawak, Sg. Kawal, and Pamah Meranti. The method employed was fruit-baited traps and aerial netting along three 1 km transects in the selected areas. As for statistical data, Paleontological Statistics (PAST) software was used to analyze the comparison between sampling methods, sampling sites, sampling efforts, and diversity indices. A total of 189 individuals comprising 68 species from six families were recorded. This study also discovered seven (7) new records for ERJNP namely Discophora timora perakensis, Mydosama anapita anapita, Neptis sedata, Arhopala democritus lycaenaria, A. moorei busa, Spindasis lohita senama , and Arnetta verones . Six species recorded in this study are protected under Wildlife Conservation Act [Act 716]. When the site comparison was done, Sg. Kawal recorded the highest diversity value, H’ (3.781), followed by Sg. Semawak (3.158) and Pamah Meranti (2.949). These findings expand the ERJNP butterfly checklist and underscore the importance of targeted conservation efforts to preserve butterfly diversity in this unique ecosystem.