A Survey Of Butterfly Fauna In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

A survey of the butterfly fauna was carried out in the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia .tate, Nigeria. The habitat vas divided into five major categories namely relic forest, mini Arboretum, riparian Forest, rubber plantation and open field. A total of 278 individuals were counted in all the habitats surveyed. 102 individuals were recorded in the relic forest, while 62 individuals were recorded in mini arboretum. Rubber plantation, Riparian forest and open field had 47, 49, and 1 8 individuals respectively. The result of the this study suggested a high number of butterfly species supported by relic forest owing to the relatively large number of flowering plants within the habitat. Conservation of butterfly fauna in a small landscape particularly in human dominated area is essential for maintaining optimal habitat within fragments and in that case academic institutional campus with high plant diversity might be a very good option for the conservation of butterfly species.