Introduction
Resource extraction through mining, lumbering, and quarry operations contribute to the economic lifeblood of many countries in Sub-Sahara Africa. Quarry operations are a major source of livelihood in the Mowire community, with a growing demand for limestone has led to the establishment of different scales of quarry companies in the district. Quarry operations have serious environmental impact on invertebrate communities and contribute negatively to habitat destruction and the species they promote. (Lameed, 2010). One of the greatest adverse environmental effect of quarry operation is the loss of species diversity (Anand, 2006). Insect biodiversity tends to provide clearer outcomes on ecological consequences of human-induced disturbance (Husseini, Abubakar, & Nasare, 2019). Arthropods are useful bio indicators of environmental modifications caused by anthropogenic disturbance such as pollution, habitat fragmentation, loss of habitat and early warnings of ecological change. Butterflies provide information on the health of ecosystem through species presence-absence and abundance data, hence they are used as bio indicator to monitor changes in habitat condition in the environment (Weisser & Siemann, 2008). The level of land degradation caused by stone quarry in Ghana has put forth questions as to whether or not the activity should be allowed to continue (Nartey, Nanor, & Klake, 2012). Changes in landscape affect invertebrates more significantly and rapidly compared to other taxa. One of the greatest adverse environmental effect of quarry operations is the harm to biodiversity (Eta, Idiku, & Dan, 2019). Diversity and abundance of butterfly species can be used to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on landscape changes, rapid biodiversity assessment, monitoring degraded land and managed ecosystem (Gandhi, Patel, & Padate, 2017). This study provides a baseline survey of butterfly abundance, diversity and species richness between three zones on the Mowire quarry site. Specifically the study sought to: i) to use butterflies as indicator species to assess the relationship between quarry operations and insect diversity in the quarry operational area. : ii) to assess the relationship between quarry operations and butterfly diversity and abundance between three zones of the quarry site. The Mowire Quarry site is perfect for carrying out this study due to the continuous quarry operations in the area and the large concession it holds.