Butterfly species richness and diversity in different habitats of M’sila region, Algeria

Abstract

Investigations of the Rhopalocera fauna in M’sila region were carried out in four different type of habitats (agricultural, steppe , forest, and ruderal areas) . Surveys were allowed to collect a total of 1139 mature butterflies rounded up in nineteen species. These species were belonging to five families from which the most represented was those of Pieridae 714 (62.7% ) .While the Nymphalidae family was the most diversified family 28.6 % of the observed species .The forest habitat was the richest biotope in butterflies species (S = 16 ). Agricultural and forest habitats showed the highest degree of similarity in species 0.72 between habitats. Butterfly species richness was correlated with habitat selection. A first list of the butterflies of M'sila is given based on this study.