Studies on Moth Distribution (Insecta: Lepdioptera: Heterocera) in Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary Mandsaur and Neemach Districts of Madhya Pradesh, Central India

Author: Sanjay Paunikar and Akhil Nair

Journal Name:

Download PDF

Abstract

Moths are lepidopteron insect primarily nocturnal, potentially bio-indicators, decomposer, prey forestry and agricultural pests, and night time pollinators. For the moth diversity in the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mandsaur and Neemach districts of Madhya Pradesh the current study will be the first to report on species diversity, species composition, and abundance. In the year 2022 to 2024, a comprehensive survey was carried out in the forest areas of Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary and its environs from March to December. In the course of the investigation, we identified 148 species, 121 genera, 44 subfamilies and 17 families under 10 superfamilies from the study area. The family Erebidae 49 species was dominant, followed by Crambidae 28 species, Geometridae 23 species, Noctuidae 15 species, Sphingidae 8 species, Notodontidae 5, Limacodidae 4 species, Nolidae and Saturniidae 3 species each, Euteliidae and Lasicocampidae 2 species each. The other families are Bombycidae, Hybaleidae, Eupterotidae, Pterophoridae and Thyrididae one species each were the least recorded families. The study revealed that there were noteworthy variations found in the moth faunal diversity in the Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary Madhya Pradesh.

Keywords

Lepidoptera, Moths, Nocturnal, Pests, Pollinator, Diversity, Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary

Conclusion

The present work has been carried out to elucidate a preliminary checklist of moth fauna from Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh which has not been explored previously. The present investigation, we identified 148 species, 121 genera, 44 subfamilies and 17 families under 10 superfamilies from the study area. The family Erebidae 49 species was dominant, followed by Crambidae 28 species, Geometridae 23 species, Noctuidae 15 species, Sphingidae 8 species, Notodontidae 5, Limacodidae 4 species, Nolidae and Saturniidae 3 species each, Euteliidae and Lasicocampidae 2 species each. The other families are Bombycidae, Hybaleidae, Eupterotidae, Pterophoridae and Thyrididae one species each were the least recorded families. Erebidae, Crambidae, Geometridae and Noctuidae families remains the most species rich and the most abundant from the study sites. Although preliminary, the study will provide valuable baseline data for moth diversity of the area that has not been reported.

References

-

How to cite this article

Sanjay Paunikar and Akhil Nair (2025). Studies on Moth Distribution (Insecta: Lepdioptera: Heterocera) in Gandhisagar Wildlife Sanctuary Mandsaur and Neemach Districts of Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Biological Forum, 17(2): 42-50.