Environ Exp Biol (2020) 18: 271–282

Monsoon moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of Midnapore town, West Bengal, India: a preliminary checklist with a note on their diversity

Abstract

An investigation on monsoon moth fauna of Midnapore town in West Bengal, India was carried out from June 1 to September 30, 2019. We documented 1084 individual moths representing 12 families, 29 subfamilies, 71 genera and 78 morphospecies during nocturnal surveys conducted over 36 survey nights. A preliminary illustrated checklist of all moths and their diversity status was created. Erebidae showed the maximum species richness followed by Crambidae, Geometridae and others, whereas highest proportion of moths were recorded from Crambidae (37.63%) followed by Erebidae (31.54%), Geometridae (15.40%), and others. August and September exhibited more species richness with an evenly distributed moth community as compared to the other two months. However, statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in moth abundance among the four monsoon months. The present work also recorded some of the very rare species like Biston suppressaria, Dysgonia algira, Hypopyra vespertilio, Nannoarctia himalayana, Oruza divisa, and others from this part of the state.