Borboletas (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) do Mato Grosso do Sul: Lista preliminar de espécies do estado

Abstract

Insects represent the most diverse group of organisms on the planet, yet the available knowledge about their fauna remains limited in many regions. Among them, Lepidoptera stand out for comprising more than 160,000 described species and for performing important ecological functions, such as pollination and participation in trophic networks, in addition to being frequently used as bioindicators. In the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, however, information about this group remains scarce, reinforcing the importance of regional inventories to support conservation strategies. This study aimed to produce the first preliminary list of butterfly species recorded in the state. The methodology included a review of articles without selection filters, consultations of databases, and analyses of scientific collections from USP, UFPR, Unicamp, UFRJ, UFMS, and UFGD, with specialist validation to ensure taxonomic accuracy. A total of 420 species were recorded, distributed across six families, with Nymphalidae being the most representative (193 species), followed by Hesperiidae (73), Lycaenidae (55), Riodinidae (41), Pieridae (34), and Papilionidae (24). At the genus level, Strymon, Eunica, Heraclides, and Hamadryas were the most notable (12 each), in addition to Phoebis, Heliopetes, Adelpha, and Pyrisitia. These results reveal a pattern typical of Neotropical communities, with the predominance of Nymphalidae and lower richness of Papilionidae. The preliminary list presented here highlights the butterfly diversity in the state and underscores the need to expand regional studies to fill knowledge gaps and support conservation efforts in Mato Grosso do Sul.