Contribution to the knowledge of diurnal butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) of the Uruki – El Manantial Community and Ecotourism Nature Reserve, Florencia (Colombia)

In the Neotropics, butterfly diversity is threatened by the loss and transformation of natural habitats, mainly due to deforestation and the expansion of human activities. Diurnal butterflies, recognized as bioindicators of habitat quality, allow for the evaluation of ecosystem conditions. The objective of this article was to determine the diversity of diurnal butterflies in the RNCE Uruki–El Manantial, located in the municipality of Florencia, Caquetá, to provide useful information for their conservation. Sampling was conducted over 15 days in December 2022, across 10 stations. At each station, a Van Someren-Rydon trap was installed, alternately baited with fermented fruit and decomposing fish, and complemented by active searching with an entomological net. A total of 1,210 specimens were collected, belonging to six families, 17 subfamilies, and 95 species. The family Nymphalidae was the most diverse (47.3%). Species richness varied with vegetation cover, being higher at forest edges and pastures, whereas conserved forests harbored a more specialized composition. A total of 54.7% of the species recorded were rare or uncommon. The most representative were Hermeuptychia hermes (28.4%), Eurema daira, and Anartia jatrophae (8.5% each), associated with habitats under anthropogenic pressure. Additionally, species indicative of well-preserved environments were recorded, including Callicore cynosura, Kolana ligurina, Bungalotis milleri, Morpho achilles, and Archaeoprepona demophon (7%). These results highlight the importance of implementing conservation strategies that integrate the biocultural and ecotourism value of butterflies in the Colombian Amazon.