Occurrence of Butterfly species recorded in Western and Brong Ahafo Regions of Ghana

Study Extent

The study was carried out in the Ankasa-Bia-Krokosua ecological landscape. The area falls within the high forest zone of Ghana and is characterized by high diversity and richness of species. All data were 2011-2016. The data points were taken between latitudes 7.906669 North and 5.317087 South and longitudes-3.006151 West and -1.854438 East. The Bounding Coordinates were South West [5.31, -3.021], North East [7.994, -1.187].

Sampling

All species were randomly recorded through human observation with GPS readings.

Quality Control

All data cleaning protocols were observed. Template for Darwin core occurrence was used.

Method steps

1. All data points were entered in excel worksheet using the Darwin Core standard template for occurrence data and cleaned from errors using the filter on the excel worksheet. All names were resolved and verified or validated using the Taxonomic Name Resolution Service V.40 and Global Name Resolver. Google map and Georeference calculator were used in verifying the location and calculating the coordinate uncertainty in metres. The Canadensys coordinate conversion was used in changing the geographic coordinates from DDMMSS to decimal coordinates. Dates were parsed using the Canadensys date parsing. InfoXY version 2.0 was used in validation all the geographic data associated with the species. Geographic data associated with the datasets were further validated with Geolocate software. The OccurrenceID was created as RMSC:FIP:LEP:00001 for all data records. RMSC is the ownerInstitutionCode with FIP the name of the project and LEP representing butterflies in the Lepidoptera family and 000001 the first species in the sequence of records of the plant species. The occurrences datasets were then uploaded into the OpenRefine software for further cleaning and the cleaned dataset was then downloaded as CSV file and uploaded into the IPT for publishing by filling and completing all required metadata associated with the dataset. Quality checks such as the following were followed during the cleaning of the data and writing of the metadata associated with the dataset. The required template for occurrence dataset was used. The required and recommended fields were duly filled. The recommended data cleaning softwares and reference books were used. Data cleaning procedure and methods were meticulously followed to produce as far as practically possible to produce data files that are fit for use and publishing

All butterfly species were identified to the species taxon rank

1. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1908
2. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
3. Bicyclus istaris Plotz, 1880
4. Bicyclus istaris Plotz, 1880
5. Bicyclus zinebi Butler, 1869i
6. Bicyclus zinebi Butler, 1869i
7. Charaxes anticlea Drury, 1782
8. Charaxes cynthia Butler, 1865
9. Charaxes numenesHewitson, 1859
10. Charaxes petersi Van Someren, 1969
11. Charaxes zingha Stoll, 1780
12. Euphaedra eupalus Fabricius, 1782
13. Euphaedra medon Linnaeus, 1763
14. Euphaedra phaethusa Butler, 1865
15. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
16. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
17. Gnophodes chelys Fabricius, 1793
18. Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758
19. Bebearia elpinice Hewitson, 1869
20. Bebearia phantasina Staudinger, 1891
21. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
22. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
23. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
24. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
25. Bicyclus istaris Plotz, 1880
26. Bicyclus zinebi Butler, 1869
27. Bicyclus zinebi Butler, 1869
28. Charaxes petersi Van Someren, 1969
29. Charaxes protoclea Feisthamel, 1850
30. Charaxes viridis Rober, 1936
31. Euphaedra eupalus Fabricius, 1782
32. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
33. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
34. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
35. Gnophodes chelys Fabricius, 1793
36. Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758
37. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
38. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
39. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
40. Bicyclus zinebi Butler, 1869
41. Bicyclus zinebi Butler, 1869
42. Charaxes protoclea Feisthamel, 1850
43. Charaxes zingha Stoll, 1780
44. Euphaedra eupalus Fabricius, 1782
45. Euphaedra medon Linnaeus, 1763
46. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
47. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
48. Gnophodes chelys Fabricius, 1793
49. Hypolimnas salmacis Drury, 1773
50. Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758
51. Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758
52. Bebearia elpinice Hewitson, 1869
53. Bebearia phantasina Staudinger, 1891
54. Bebearia tentyris Hewitson, 1866
55. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
56. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
57. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
58. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
59. Bicyclus abnormis Dudgeon, 1909
60. Bicyclus evadne Cramer, 1782
61. Bicyclus hewitsoni (Doumet, 1861)
62. Bicyclus istaris Plotz, 1880
63. Bicyclus istaris Plotz, 1880
64. Bicyclus istaris Plotz, 1880
65. Bicyclus procora Karsch, 1893
66. Bicyclus vulgaris Butler, 1868
67. Bicyclus vulgaris Butler, 1868
68. Charaxes anticlea Drury, 1782
69. Charaxes cynthia Butler, 1865
70. Charaxes numenesHewitson, 1859
71. Charaxes plantroui Minig, 1975
72. Charaxes viridis Rober, 1936
73. Charaxes zelica Butler, 1869
74. Euphaedra eupalus Fabricius, 1782
75. Euphaedra medon Linnaeus, 1763
76. Euphaedra medon Linnaeus, 1763
77. Euphaedra minuta Hecq, 1982
78. Euphaedra phaethusa Butler, 1865
79. Euphaedra piriformis Hecq 1982
80. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
81. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
82. Gnophodes betsimena Boisduval, 1833
83. Gnophodes chelys Fabricius, 1793
84. Hamanumida daedalus Fabricius, 1775
85. Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758
86. Melanitis leda Linnaeus, 1758

The occurrence data points found between latitudes 7.906669 North and 5.317087 South and longitudes-3.006151 West and -1.854438 East.