Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Iguaçu National Park and surrounding areas in southern Brazil: a long-term survey, with six new records for the Brazilian fauna

A comprehensive survey of butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in Iguaçu National Park, the second-largest protected area in Brazil's Atlantic Forest domain, reveals 795 subspecies and 787 species, including six new records for the Brazilian fauna. This long-term study, spanning 15 years and ten months, utilized diverse non-standardized sampling methods along with data from literature, entomological collections, and citizen science platforms. Among the findings, six butterfly taxa are documented for the first time in Brazil: Emesis orichalceus, Theope p. pakitza, Elbella v. viriditas, Apaustus gracilis ssp. n., Deltaya sp. n., and Symbiopsis sp. n. Additionally, six species are listed as endangered, with some records significantly expanding their known distributions. This study underscores the rich biodiversity of Iguaçu National Park while highlighting the importance of long-term surveys in documenting new species and conservation priorities.

Greve, R. R., Carneiro, E., Mielke, O. H. H., Robbins, R. K., Callaghan, C. J., & Freitas, A. V. L. (2023). Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of Iguaçu National Park and surrounding areas in southern Brazil: a long-term survey, with six new records for the Brazilian fauna. Biota Neotropica, 23(3). https://doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2023-1487