A preliminary study of the butterfly diversity in Arusha region, northern Tanzania: Part 1

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Tanzania is one of the most butterfly-diverse countries in Africa, hosting numerous endemic species due to its diverse habitats and climatic conditions. Despite the presence of high biomass within key national parks, such as Kilimanjaro, Ngorongoro, and Manyara, studies on butterfly diversity in northern Tanzania remain fragmented and insufficient. To address this gap, we conducted a butterfly diversity survey in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania in 2024, collecting various butterfly species through field sampling. Additionally, specimens from northern Tanzania, housed at the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), were cataloged and photographed. As a result, we identified and recorded 82 species, belonging to 49 genera, 14 subfamilies, and five families in Arusha region. This study is the first in a series of publications specifically summarizing butterfly diversity in northern Tanzania, providing structured baseline data on the previously unorganized butterfly diversity in the Arusha region. Furthermore, it includes ecological information and photographic data for all examined species, along with detailed collection site information from the surveyed regions.