author(s)
Raheleh Mehrabi, Haji Gholi Kami, Gholamreza Bagheri, Kalpana Pai, Farhad Alipour

abstract
A study on Butterflies (Lepidoptera), was carried out in the region of Semnan and Mazandaran Province, Iran, from the 1st May 2009 till the 1st October 2009. Butterfly’s sampling was done at 20 collection stations, placed at the diverse sites of the provinces with absolutely different climatic condition and also remarkable variety in flowering variation in the herb layer. The study resulted in record of 6222 butterfly specimen representing five different families and 96 species. In addition α-diversity in spatial and temporal dimensions, and β-diversity of butterflies in this survey were utilized to study the biodiversity of butterflies. In spatial dimension, Syah Khani and Nam Rud showed the highest and lowest species diversity, respectively; Firuz Kuh and Bastam showed the highest and lowest evenness, respectively, and Khosh Yeylaq and Bastam showed the highest and lowest richness index, respectively. While in temporal dimension, June and May showed the highest and lowest species diversity; July and September showed the highest and lowest richness, and September and June showed the highest and lowest species evenness index, respectively. Syah khani station in the month of June, and Behshahr station in the month of September showed the highest and lowest species richness, respectively. Syah khani station in the month of June, and Bastam station in the month of August showed the highest and lowest species diversity, respectively. As for the species evenness, the maximum and minimum values were seen in Kelateh Rudbar in the month of July and Gursefid in the month of May, respectively. In view point of β-diversity Kelateh rudbar was more widespread transect and Syah khani was the more restricted transect. Znd also Kelateh rudbar and Cheshme Ali indicated more similarity in species composition and Behshahr and Syah khani showed more dissimilarity in context of species composition.