Endemic butterfly Parides gundlachianus.

Cuban biodiversity including mammals, amphibians, reptiles, hymenopterans and spiders. Few research articles recorded Lepidoptera from AHNP, most of them including only butterflies from the western half of Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa Mountains. Previous visits, the review of entomological collections and literature showed that many Lepidoptera species are present there, but most records are very old, and nothing is known about their conservation status today. Monte Iberia is an 80 km2 plateau situated at the eastern extreme of AHNP, with a poorly studied Lepidoptera fauna.

This project will increase knowledge on AHNP Lepidoptera by recording its inventory and getting information on the biology of endemic butterflies. Moths will be documented by attracting them to lights and take few individuals per species as well as photographs that will help on their identification. Endemics butterflies will be sampled performing transects to record information on their populations size and biology (e.g., habitat preferences, host plants use, and adult nectar sources). These data are usually critical for species conservation and would be useful to reassess management plans of park in the nearest future. Our work will be also oriented to capacitate park personnel by talks and deliver graphic materials (booklets, photographic guides) on AHNP Lepidoptera and its natural history. After project, park personnel would be able to develop a monitoring scheme of endemic butterflies and continue recording data on species biology to improve management plans in a long-lasting period. Capacitating of personnel will also provide an additional way to develop existing park ecotourism by including butterfly observation on designed paths.