KERISBIOKON conducted a butterfly diversity study at Pancur Resort, Alas Purwo National Park, in 2022. Located on the eastern tip of Java Island, Alas Purwo National Park is well known for its rich tropical ecosystems and remarkable biodiversity, making it an important habitat for many butterfly species.
Butterflies are not only admired for their beauty, but also play a vital ecological role as pollinators and environmental bioindicators. Their presence is strongly influenced by habitat quality, availability of host plants, food resources, temperature, humidity, wind speed, and light intensity.
This research was carried out in the Parangireng Beach area using the road sampling method across three observation sites. The study documented 13 butterfly species belonging to 4 families: Papilionidae, Nymphalidae, Pieridae, and Lycaenidae.
The species recorded include:
🦋 Amathusia phidippus
🦋 Cyrestis themire
🦋 Euploea eunice
🦋 Ideopsis juventa
🦋 Appias albina
🦋 Appias lyncida
🦋 Appias nero
🦋 Appias paulina
🦋 Eurema hecabe
🦋 Eurema tilaha
🦋 Leptosia nina
🦋 Jamides celeno
🦋 Troides helena
The family Pieridae was among the most frequently observed groups during the survey, especially species from the genus Appias and Eurema, which are commonly associated with open and semi-open tropical habitats.
Fun Fact:
Troides helena, commonly known as the Common Birdwing, is one of the largest and most spectacular butterflies in Southeast Asia. Its striking black-and-yellow wings make it highly recognizable in tropical forests.
Conservation Insight:
Troides helena is protected under international trade regulations (CITES Appendix II) because of habitat loss and illegal butterfly trade pressures in several regions. The presence of this species in Alas Purwo National Park highlights the ecological importance of conserving natural forest habitats.
Another Interesting Fact:
Butterflies from the genus Euploea are known for storing toxic compounds from their larval host plants, making them less attractive to predators. Their warning coloration serves as a natural defense mechanism in the wild.
The diversity of butterflies found at Pancur Resort reflects the ecological value of Alas Purwo National Park as a habitat supporting tropical insect diversity. Through this research, KERISBIOKON continues to support biodiversity documentation and conservation awareness for Indonesia’s natural ecosystems.