The butterfly (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) abundance of meadow ecosystems in the southern taiga

The article considered the structure of butterfly abundance, based on the ratio of the butterfly adults number in the meadow ecosystems in the Kirov Region southern taiga. 65 butterfly species (56% Papilionoidea species of Kirov region’s southern taiga) were recorded in the 16 meadows. The composition of the background butterfly species of the studied meadows was identified from regular transects counts over several years from May to August inclusive (Pollard walk). In the remaining meadows the background species consisted of two to four species in different combinations. Three main types topical groups were identified on the results of analysing background species combinations, percentages, and estimates of their relative abundance on a logarithmic scale. They were conventionally designated according to the main background species: type idas/argus, type lineola, and type hyperantus. In additon two “intermediate” groups were established. The first one is jointly dominated by Aphantopus hyperantus and Thymelicus lineola, while the second one presents three subdominants – Plebeius idas/argus, Pieris napi, and Th. lineola – without a clear leader in abundance. A stable relationship between the butterfly abundance structure and vegetation cover was noted. We also identified external factors affecting this dependence. This paper shows the role of ant nests in the formation of the butterfly abundance structure in meadow habitats, that determines the Papilionoidea topical groups’ existence in the studied area. A high number of ant nests in the sites increases the P. idas/ argus relative abundance. This relationship is confirmed by one-way ANOVA and correlation analysis.