Insects of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site

Abstract

A variety of collection methods were used to inventory the insect diversity of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site along the Ghana coastline. A total of 75 butterfly species in five families were collected and identified. Twenty-six percent of the butterfly species were open country species. The butterflies were all typical of the coastal zone and no endangered or narrowly endemic species were recorded. The Muni-Pomadze site was also rich in other insect species (67 insect species belonging to 15 orders) as a result of the diverse terrestrial habitats surrounding the lagoon. Butterfly species composition changed with habitat indicating a fine-grained response by the butterfly communities to habitat changes. Data from long-term monitoring of butterfly communities at Muni-Pomadze could prove useful as indicators of habitat quality.