NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY 13 (2): 337-340 ©NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2017 Article No.: e162202 http://biozoojournals.ro/nwjz/index.html Distribution and diversity of butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) in urbanization zones of the central European city (Lodz, Poland) Robert SOBCZYK1,*, Krzysztof PABIS2, Grzegorz WIECZOREK3 and Antoni SALAMACHA4 1. Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland, E-mail:
[email protected] 2. Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland, E-mail:
[email protected] 3. ul. Tomaszewicza 6 m.47, 94-048, Lodz, E-mail:
[email protected] 4. ul. Lanowa 24, 91-110, Lodz. * Corresponding author, R. Sobczyk, E-mail:
[email protected] Received: 12. August 2016 / Accepted: 21. October 2016 / Available online: 24. November 2017 / Printed: December 2017 Abstract. Fifty-two butterfly species were recorded in Lodz at 52 sites Material was collected from 2011 to 2015. Species richness declined along the urbanization gradient. Species that were most common in the whole city were Aglais io, Pieris napi and Pieris rapae. The highest number of species was recorded in ruderal sites and in parks, while species richness was low on cultivated lawns. We classify also butterflies recorded in Lodz using ecological attributes, describing all stages of their life cycle and host plants. On the basis of this analysis, we distinguished seven ecological groups of species within Lodz. Key words: Rhopalocera, urbanization gradient, ecological classification, urban ecosystems, conservation. Increasing urbanization is one of the major threats giewniki Forest (1200 ha).