Fruit-feeding butterflies from midwestern Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Fragmentation and habitat loss caused by human activities are the main threats to biodiversity. In Rio Grande do Sul State (RS), mainly in the Pampa biome in the southern part the growing demand for production and consequent expansion of agriculture and forestry activities plus the lack of Conservation Unit, increases its vulnerability. Fruit-feeding butterflies can be sampled with bait traps and represent good tools for environmental monitoring. This study aims to provide a list of fruit-feeding butterfly species of midwestern RS. Butterflies were sampled bimonthly from January 2010 to December 2011 in the municipalities of Jaguari, Sao Francisco de Assis and Sao Vicente do Sul. After 2160 trap/days, 3288 individuals, belonging to 44 species and subspecies of Nymphalidae, were recorded. Satyrinae showed the greatest number of species (57%), followed by Biblidinae (23%), Charaxinae (18%) and Nymphalinae (2%). Narope panniculus Stichel, 1904 is a new record for Rio Grande do Sul. Manataria hercyna (Hirbner, [18211) is considered rare and an indicator of a well preserved environment. This study demonstrated that the Pampa biome harbors a rich and peculiar fauna of fruit-feeding butterflies that deserves to be preserved. It is important to create incentives for sustainable land use and public policies aiming towards biodiversity conservation to ensure the survival of species and their environments, especially in areas that are not legally protected.