Diversity of pollinating butterflies of native plants in the biological corridor of La María campus, Mocache, Ecuador

The conservation of pollinators is essential to maintain ecological stability and the reproduction of native plants, especially in tropical regions where habitat fragmentation compromises key ecological interactions. Among these organisms, butterflies stand out for their functional diversity and adaptability in disturbed environments. This study evaluated the diversity of pollinating butterflies in the biological corridor of the La María campus (Mocache, Ecuador), through systematic transect sampling during the dry season of 2024. Direct observation and capture using an entomological net were employed, recording nine taxa belonging to different families of Lepidoptera. Morphological characterization revealed adaptations for flight and defensive mechanisms such as mimicry, camouflage, and aposematism. The analysis of relative incidence showed that Heliconius sp. was the dominant species (25.00 ± 0.87%), followed by Phoebis philea and other taxa with lower incidences. The community structure exhibited a specific richness of S = 9, a Shannon index (H′) of 2.08, and a Pielou’s evenness (J) of 0.9825, indicating high alpha diversity with an equitable species distribution. Additionally, six plant species were identified as associated with butterfly pollination activity, among them Lantana camara and Silphium asteriscus being the most incident. The plant community showed intermediate diversity (H′ = 1.57; 1 − D = 0.78). The results reinforce the ecological value of biological corridors as reservoirs of biodiversity and promoters of functional interactions in fragmented tropical ecosystems