Butterflies and Moths of Kawa-Kawa Hill Natural Park, Ligao City, Southern Luzon, Philippines

With the scarcity of published lepidopterological studies in the Bicol Region, especially focusing on urban biodiversity, this study aimed to determine the species diversity of butterflies and moths in Kawa-Kawa Hill Natural Park, Ligao City, Albay, Philippines. A survey using visual encounter and photo documentation was conducted for nine field days in June–August 2020 in the three established sampling sites identified based on vegetation types – secondary forest, grassland, and bamboo forest. A total of 63 species of Lepidoptera comprising 50 species of butterflies and 13 species of moths were recorded. The butterfly family Nymphalidae (30%) was the most speciose taxon, while the moth family Lasiocampidae and Sphingidae (2%) both ranked the least. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded in the grassland (S = 48; D = 0.95), followed by the bamboo forest (S = 37; D = 0.94) and then the secondary forest (S = 31; D = 0.93). Despite its exposure to anthropogenic disturbance, Kawa-Kawa Hill is still diverse (D = 0.94) in Lepidopteran species – which include seven Philippine endemics, one Southern Luzon endemic, and an endangered species (Troides rhadamantus rhadamantus). These findings suggest that habitat modification in Kawa-Kawa Hill promotes butterfly and moth diversity.