Abundance and Diversity of Fruit-Feeding Butterflies in Federal University of Lafia

Fruit-feeding butterflies, an ecologically significant group, play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed at comparing the abundance and diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies in two habitats in Federal University of Lafia Permanent Site, Nasarawa State from July to August, 2024. Butterflies were trapped using rotten banana fermented in palm wine which was placed in a dish and suspended in the butterfly trap and allowed to stand between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm at each survey day. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded when trap was set-up and as at the time traps were removed. A total of 35 individual fruit-feeding butterflies was recorded in this study which belong to the family of Nymphalidae spread across three species namely; Charaxes epijasius (48.6%), C.varenes vologeses (28.6%), and C. boueti boueti (22.8%). The species Charaxes epijasius accounted for the highest butterfly population in both gallery forest and savannah woodland habitats and differences between species was significant ((2 = 10.993, df = 2, P = 0.004102). There was a significant difference ((2 = 4, df = 1, P = 0.0455) in butterfly abundance between the two habitat types. Temperature and humidity had a positive influence on butterfly abundance across the two habitat types. In conclusion, this research contributes to a better understanding of the ecological dynamics of fruit-feeding butterflies in Federal University of Lafia Permanent Site in wet season period. Hence, felling of trees and cattle grazing within the premises of the University should be discouraged.