Butterfly Diversity Under Three Types of Land Use in the Valley Part of Dulongjiang, Yunnan, China

Butterflies are important biological indicators for assessing the environment and habitat quality. Dulongjiang in Yunnan, China, a global biodiversity hotspot, has undergone recent socioeconomic development, yet the impact of resultant land-use changes on its butterfly fauna remains poorly understood. This study conducted a systematic survey across three land-use types (forest, cropland, and construction land) over four months in 2024, employing area-time counts at 12 observatory sites. A total of 4805 individual specimens from 142 species, 88 genera, and 6 families were recorded. Nymphalidae dominated in species richness, while Pieridae was most abundant. Species rarefication curves indicated well-represented sampling. Diversity was significantly different between the four months, with a peak in June, when environment conditions are favourable. The forest harboured the least butterfly richness but higher evenness, while construction land showed the highest richness and lower evenness. Butterfly communities in three land-use types showed no significant differences, attributed to the fragmented topography in the area, which facilitates butterfly dispersal. Our findings reveal that butterfly diversity in Dulongjiang is influenced by a combination of seasonal climatic variations and land use.