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Diversity
Volume 17
Issue 2
10.3390/d17020095
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Lepidopteran Biodiversity in Madagascar’s Eastern Forests: Assessing Species Distribution Across Protected and Anthropized Landscapes

by
Robin Hannoteau
1,
Finaritra Antra Tia Ravalison
2,
Brayan Fenontsoa Randrianarivelo
2,
Andrianjaka Ravelomanana
2,
Naya Trolin
1,
Rudy Caparros Megido
1,
Arnaud Segers
1,
Frédéric Francis
1 and
Grégoire Noël
1,*
1
Laboratory of Functional and Evolutionary Entomology, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
2
Department of Entomology Mention E-CES, Faculty of Science, University of Antananarivo, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Diversity 2025, 17(2), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/d17020095
Submission received: 21 December 2024 / Revised: 18 January 2025 / Accepted: 21 January 2025 / Published: 28 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogeography and Diversity of Butterflies and Moths)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Madagascar, renowned for its unique biodiversity, faces significant environmental threats. Despite their vital ecosystem services, invertebrates, such as Lepidoptera, remain understudied, especially within the Malagasy Island. Indeed, butterflies and moths often serve as biodiversity indicators. This study investigates lepidopteran community structure across different habitat types: protected areas and anthropized areas, represented by forest edges and agroforestry through four expeditions to Madagascar’s moist eastern forests. Both sampling methods were employed including butterfly nets and fermented fruit-baited traps. While nets accounted for 90% of captures, highlighting operator bias, bait traps captured unique species, emphasizing the complementarity of these methods. With over 891 captured specimens, 418 macrolepidopterans were identified at the species level for a total of 50 species. Protected forests hosted 80% of endemic Lepidoptera reliant on specialized ecological niches, while anthropized zones were dominated by common generalist species which are resilient to habitat changes. While the species richness and composition of sampled microlepidoptera are similar, habitat fragmentation created diverse environmental conditions, hosting specific populations. Conservation challenges persist, particularly for endemic species vulnerable to poaching. It is crucial to continue sampling Madagascar’s lepidofauna, as this offers considerable potential for the sustainable maintenance of ecosystems and the long-term preservation of biodiversity of the Malagasy Island.
Keywords: african entomofauna; agroforestry; community analysis; endemism; lepidoptera african entomofauna; agroforestry; community analysis; endemism; lepidoptera

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MDPI and ACS Style

Hannoteau, R.; Ravalison, F.A.T.; Randrianarivelo, B.F.; Ravelomanana, A.; Trolin, N.; Caparros Megido, R.; Segers, A.; Francis, F.; Noël, G. Lepidopteran Biodiversity in Madagascar’s Eastern Forests: Assessing Species Distribution Across Protected and Anthropized Landscapes. Diversity 2025, 17, 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17020095

AMA Style

Hannoteau R, Ravalison FAT, Randrianarivelo BF, Ravelomanana A, Trolin N, Caparros Megido R, Segers A, Francis F, Noël G. Lepidopteran Biodiversity in Madagascar’s Eastern Forests: Assessing Species Distribution Across Protected and Anthropized Landscapes. Diversity. 2025; 17(2):95. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17020095

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hannoteau, Robin, Finaritra Antra Tia Ravalison, Brayan Fenontsoa Randrianarivelo, Andrianjaka Ravelomanana, Naya Trolin, Rudy Caparros Megido, Arnaud Segers, Frédéric Francis, and Grégoire Noël. 2025. "Lepidopteran Biodiversity in Madagascar’s Eastern Forests: Assessing Species Distribution Across Protected and Anthropized Landscapes" Diversity 17, no. 2: 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17020095

APA Style

Hannoteau, R., Ravalison, F. A. T., Randrianarivelo, B. F., Ravelomanana, A., Trolin, N., Caparros Megido, R., Segers, A., Francis, F., & Noël, G. (2025). Lepidopteran Biodiversity in Madagascar’s Eastern Forests: Assessing Species Distribution Across Protected and Anthropized Landscapes. Diversity, 17(2), 95. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17020095

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