THE SOUTHWESTERN NATURALIST 48(4):505–525 DECEMBER 2003 BUTTERFLIES (PAPILIONOIDEA AND HESPERIOIDEA) OF CALAKMUL, CAMPECHE, ME ´ XICO CARMEN POZO,* ARMANDO LUIS MARTI ´ NEZ,SANTIAGO UC TESCUM,NOEMI ´ SALAS SUA ´ REZ, AND AIXCHEL MAYA MARTI ´ NEZ Museo de Zoologı ´a-ECOSUR, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, A.P. 424, C.P. 77000, Chetumal, Q. Roo. Me ´xico (CP, SUT, NSS, AMM) Museo de Zoologı ´a ‘‘Alfonso L. Herrera,’’ Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Auto ´noma de Me ´xico, Ciudad Universitaria, A.P. 70-399, C.P. 04510, Me ´xico, D. F (ALM) *Correspondent: cpozo@ecosur-qroo.mx ABSTRACT We collected 423 species of diurnal butterflies (Rhopalocera) during 250 days of observations from March 1997 through January 2000 in the region of Calakmul, Campeche, Mex- ico. We present a list of 428 species recorded for Calakmul. This is the first reported list of butterflies for the state of Campeche, and it includes 290 new records for the state, 374 new records for Calakmul, and 1 new record for Mexico: Monca telata. Museum records were found for 5 additional species: Caria melino, Cissia labe, Tmolus echion, Emesis lupina lupina, and Calephelis azteca. The accumulation curve of species estimates that 457 species should be present in Calak- mul, which suggests the list presented is 93% complete. We found that medium, tropical, semi- evergreen forest is the richest (371 species); more than a quarter of the butterflies of the Calakmul region were found exclusively in this forest. We also found the southern area slightly more abun- dant in species (82%) than the northern area (79%). Additionally, a comparison was made of the list generated for Campeche to lists from previous studies for Quintana Roo, Tikal-Guatemala National Park, and Belize. The comparison shows that 70%, 58%, and 54% of the butterfly species in Calakmul also are found in Tikal, Quintana Roo, and Belize, respectively. RESUMEN Recolectamos 423 especies de mariposas diurnas (Rhopalocera) de la regio ´n de Ca- lakmul, en el estado de Campeche, Me ´xico, desde marzo de 1997 a enero del 2000 completando 250 dı ´as de muestreo. Se presenta una lista de 428 especies registradas para Calakmul. Esta es la primera lista reportada de mariposas para el estado de Campeche y en ella se presentan 290 nuevos registros para este estado, 374 nuevos registros para la regio ´n de Calakmul y un nuevo registro para Me ´xico: Monca telata. Cinco especies ma ´s fueron encontradas en ejemplares de mu- seos: Caria melino, Cissia labe, Tmolus echion, Emesis lupina lupina y Calephelis azteca. Se presenta una curva de acumulacio ´n de especies con un nu ´ mero teo ´rico de especies esperadas de 457. De acuerdo con este ca ´lculo, la lista presentada esta ´ completa en un 93%. Encontramos que la selva tropical, mediana subperennifolia es mayor en riqueza especı ´fica (371), incluso ma ´s de un cuarto de las especies reportadas aquı ´ para Calakmul se encontro ´ exclusivamente en este tipo de vege- tacio ´n. Tambie ´n encontramos que el sur es ligeramente ma ´s rico en especies (82%) que la regio ´n del norte de Calakmul (79%). Adicionalmente, se hizo una comparacio ´n con listas de especies encontradas en el estado de Quintana Roo, en el Parque Nacional Tikal-Guatemala y en Belice, donde se muestra que el 70%, 58% y 54% de las especies de Calakmul se comparten con Tikal, Quintana Roo y Belice, respectivamente. The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) was designated in 1989 to protect both biological and cultural heritage. With 723,185 ha, CBR is the largest protected tropical forest in Mexico. The area also includes extensive Mayan ar- chaeological sites. After the collapse of the Ma- yan culture, the area was sparsely occupied. It was not until 1940 that the logging of mahog- any (Swietenia macrophylla) and cedar (Cedrela odorata) led to the settlement of Zoh-Laguna, which is located in the center of the region. From 1960 to the present, the area has become accessible by road and many settlements have started as a consequence of the government