Research conducted by Flora Fauna Nusantara (FFN) at Pancur Resort, Alas Purwo National Park, documented diverse butterfly species across coastal forest habitats, including protected species with important conservation value.
Flora Fauna Nusantara (FFN) conducted a butterfly diversity study at Pancur Resort, Alas Purwo National Park, in 2022. Located at the eastern tip of Java Island, Alas Purwo National Park is recognized for its tropical ecosystems and rich biodiversity, making it an important habitat for numerous butterfly species.
Butterflies are not only appreciated for their visual beauty, but also possess important ecological functions as pollinators and environmental bioindicators. Their presence is closely associated with habitat quality, host plant availability, food resources, humidity, temperature, wind conditions, and light intensity.
The research was conducted 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 recorded species included:
- 🦋 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
Among the observed groups, the family Pieridae was one of the most frequently encountered during the survey, especially species from the genera 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 recognized as one of the largest butterfly species in Southeast Asia. Its distinctive black-and-yellow wing coloration makes it highly recognizable within tropical forest environments.
🌿 Conservation Insight
Troides helena is protected under international trade regulations through CITES Appendix II due to habitat loss and illegal butterfly trade pressures in several regions. The presence of this species within Alas Purwo National Park highlights the importance of maintaining natural forest habitats for butterfly conservation.
💡 Another Interesting Fact
Butterflies from the genus Euploea are known for storing toxic compounds obtained from their larval host plants, making them less attractive to predators. Their warning coloration functions as a natural defense mechanism within the wild.
The diversity of butterflies documented at Pancur Resort reflects the ecological importance of Alas Purwo National Park as a habitat supporting tropical insect diversity. Through studies such as this, FFN continues supporting biodiversity documentation and conservation awareness efforts for Indonesia’s natural ecosystems.
