EFFECT OF LAND USE ON BUTTERFLY (LEPIDOPTERA, RHOPALOCERA) DIVERSITY IN THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

Abstract

A total of 3072 individuals with 99 species belonging to 6 families were identified in 43 sampling sites from the Republic of Moldova. The rates of individuals of three families (Pieridae, Hesperidae and Papilionidae) differed in the others when all habitat types: forest, meadow, moor and urban. The dominant group included Colias hyale, Issoria lathonia, Maniola jurtina, Melitaea aurelia, Plebejus argus, Pieris napi, P. rapae, Pontia edusa and Pyrgus malvae. The relative number of these species is more than 1.70 % and the totally 22.56 %. The forest habitats had the higher species richness than others. At the same time, they are more common in the areas within the Eurasian and Palearctic zones. Since the southern moors of Moldova were actually located on the western extension of the Eurasian's. The fauna in the Scythian zone was represented by only three species. The species, Polyommatus thersites from the family Lycaenidae was first identified for the Moldova with this study.