REGUA Welcomes a Group of Three Butterfly Enthusiasts for the Third Time

Foto: David Geale ©

In April, REGUA had the pleasure of welcoming, for the third time, a small group of three butterfly enthusiasts led by David Geale. The visitors explored the Reserve’s trails and the Cunha Forest fragment, located 1.5 km from REGUA, with the purpose of observing, identifying, and photographing the wide variety of butterfly species inhabiting the Atlantic Forest ecosystem.

Over the course of just three days, while surveying the wetlands and other forest fragments, the group recorded approximately 100 species, including a new record for the Reserve, originally described in Guyana: Lirra limaea (Hewitson, 1868). This brings the list of species in easily accessible areas of the Reserve to an impressive 466 — or 516, when including the local grass skippers.

Photo: David Geale ©

The visit underscores REGUA’s potential as a destination for scientific ecotourism and biodiversity observation, particularly in the field of entomology. By combining conservation, research, and nature tourism, the Reserve continues to strengthen its role in safeguarding the Atlantic Forest within the Guapiaçu River Basin.