Butterflies of Verde Sumaco, Ecuador during late December

Abstract

This thesis explores the different Lepidopteran species that were found around the community of Verde Sumaco, Ecuador, in December of 2018. The objective of this thesis was to determine if there is a difference in Lepidoptera species richness within five different site types: chakra, river edge, trail, secondary forest, and open field. Species were photographed in 30-minute intervals and various sites within the site types over five days. The most significant result was that the chakra site type did not have any Lepidopteran species while the open field site type had the most. Another significant finding was that the area around the community had some Lepidopteran species that are usually only found within old-growth forests. More work should be done to obtain a more accurate representation of the Lepidopteran species found within the community over a longer time.