Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 15, № 2,2017 101 Trakia Journal of Sciences, No2, pp101-105, 2017 Copyright © 2017Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7050 (print) ISSN 1313-3551 (online) doi:10.15547/tjs.2017.02.001 Original Contribution CONTRIBUTION TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF NYMPHALIDAE FAUNA (LEPIDOPTERA: RHOPALOCERA) IN KOSOVO F. N. Zhushi 1 *, P. S. Bytyci 2 , M. A. Ismail 2 , M. Q. Musliu 2 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University "Hasan Prishtina", Prishtina, Kosovo 2 Southeast European University (SEEU), Tetovo, FYR Macedonia ABSTRACT Insects of the order Lepidoptera are among the most explored in Europe. This order is presented with a rich variety, especially in the Balkan Peninsula, which includes also the state of Kosovo. In this paper the results of the research of Nymphalidae family in the region of Llapusha in Kosovo, specifically in the southern part of the mountain ranges of Shkoza, for the period April to July 2016 are presented. As a result of this research 35 species of Nymphalidae butterflies have been recorded, among them Melanargia russiae (Esper 1783) as a new species for Kosovo.This research is conducted five years after a first study of butterflies in this region took place and four years after the wildfire occurred in the area, which destroyed a large part of the vegetation. After this period, as a result of secondary succession, there is a renewal of vegetation, and a significant number of Nymphalidae butterflies. Key words: Butterflies, mountain range Shkoza, biodiversity, fire INTRODUCTION The existing data on the Lepidoptera fauna in Kosovo include mainly those from Rebel and Zerny (1, 2) and Jakšić (3-5) that were conducted in national parks Sharri and Bjeshkët e Nemuna (Accursed Mountain) and the mountain of Pashtriku. The mountain range of Shkoza is located in the central part of Kosovo and they divide the region of Llapusha from the Anadrini region. Its terrain configuration is hilly mountainous with an altitude of 640m up to 893m. The initial part of the mountain range is characterized by low mountains in the North and North West, while in the Northeastern part begins a narrow valley. The climate of this region is continental, with some different elements of Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by cold winters and long, hot and dry summers. Because of the limestone composition of rocks, the soil composition is “terra rossa” (red soil). The geologic structure, altitude and weather conditions have contributed that this area has a pretty rich diversity of flora and fauna. ___________________________________ *Correspondence to: Ferdije Zhushi Etemi, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University "Hasan Prishtina"- Pristina“Mother Theresa” street nr.5 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo; Fax:+38138244187 ferdijezhushi2010@gmail.com; tel:+37744249636 The massif area of Shkoza is very rich in plant species starting from those low up to vascular one. In this region appears the plant association Quercetum pubescentis–cerris (6). Due to the large presence of wood hornbeam – Carpinus betullus (White hornbeam) and Carpinus orinetalis (black hornbeam), these ridges were named Shkoza - Hornbeam. Characteristic of this region is the drought during the summer due to the insufficiency of water resources. MATERIAL AND METHOD The research was conducted during the months April to July 2016 in 11 localities in the massif of Shkoza (Figure 1). The butterflies were collected by entomological net; they were observed, photographed and identified in the field, only a number of samples were preserved for further studies. The determination is performed in Zoology lab at the Department of Biology of the University of Prishtina "Hasan Prishtina". Identification is based according to Tolman and Lewington (7) and Misja (8). In addition to these sources, the website www.lepiforum.de (11) was consulted. Data calculation Species richness, number of specimens- abundance, Shannon-Wiener diversity index H' (diversity of species in a sample), Evenness index E (quantitative representation of specimens among species in a sample) and