During years 2008 and 2009 we investigated butterflies of superfamily Papilionoidea in the area of the Ipeľ downs, district of Levice, Slovakia. Selected sites do represent a mosaic of extensively used habitats and can provide a realistic information on butterflies occurring around the river Sikenica in the area of Ž emberovce. We analysed the impact of traditional farming on the butterfly communities. Results based on values of diversity and equitability indices do support the claim, that if landscape management is carried out extensively, in the sustainable way, it has not essential (positive or negative) impact on the community structure of butterfly communities. We identified 60 butterfly species of 7 families (2245 individuals). Among rare species included into the Species directive of Natura 2000 we found Lyceana dispar (Haworth, 1803) , Zerynthia polyxena (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775) and Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758). We found also species which are relative rare in Slovakia, e.g. Scoliantides orion (Pallas, 1771), Lycaena alciphron (Rottemburg, 1775), Brenthis ino (Rottemburg, 1775) , Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1777) and M. phoebe (Dennis et Schiffermüller, 1775).