India Publishes Landmark Catalogue of Butterflies and Moths Diversity
Why in the News ?
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has published the first comprehensive Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India, documenting 13,703 species. The landmark work strengthens biodiversity conservation, taxonomy, and ecological research while highlighting India’s status as a megadiverse country.
Key Findings of the Lepidoptera Catalogue:
● Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have published a comprehensive Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
● The catalogue documents 13,703 species of Lepidoptera, representing nearly 8.25% of the world’s known butterfly and moth diversity.
● Of the total species recorded:
○ 1,417 species are butterflies.
○ 12,286 species are moths.
● The study classifies these species into 3,705 genera, 240 subfamilies, 102 families, and 31 superfamilies, filling taxonomic gaps that persisted for over a century.
● Researchers spent nearly 12 years conducting field surveys, museum curation, and scientific verification to prepare the catalogue.
Ecological and Conservation Significance
● Butterflies and moths play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance by functioning as:
○ Pollinators
○ Herbivores
○ Detritivores
○ A major food source for birds, bats, reptiles, and other insectivorous animals.
● The catalogue provides an authoritative national database that will support:
○ Biodiversity monitoring
○ Ecological research
○ Species conservation
○ Climate change studies
● The study recorded 2,205 species belonging to the Geometroidea superfamily, accounting for nearly 8.8% of the world’s known Geometroidea species.
● The publication strengthens India’s position among the world’s megadiverse countries with a scientifically validated inventory of insect diversity.
● The database will assist policymakers in implementing evidence-based wildlife conservation and habitat management strategies.
| About Lepidoptera and Zoological Survey of India: ● Order Lepidoptera: ○ One of the largest insect orders comprising butterflies and moths. ○ Characterized by scaled wings (Lepidoptera = “scale-winged”). ● Ecological Importance: ○ Major pollinators of flowering plants. ○ Important bioindicators of ecosystem health and environmental change. ○ Integral components of food chains and nutrient cycling. ● Zoological Survey of India (ZSI): ○ Established in 1916. ○ Headquarters: Kolkata. ○ Functions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). ○ Responsible for faunal surveys, taxonomic research, species documentation, and biodiversity conservation in India. |