An inventory of Indian pyralids (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

An inventory of 1646 species of pyralids so far recorded from India is presented indicating the year of publication and the current nomenclatural combination. A key adapted from literature is also given for separation of subfamilies. Due to discovery of new species and also due to refinements in the taxonomic techniques, considerable changes have taken place in the taxonomic status of various categories of the Indian Pyralidae since publication of Sir George Hampson's Fauna volume in 1896 in the 'Fauna of British India' series. As a result, the nomenclature of a number of species had undergone changes, some times on several occasions and unaware of these changes, entomologists have been using different names for the same species. For example, the common rice borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) is also known under the names Tryporiza incertulas and Schoeobius incertulas. Many species originally described under the genus Glyphodes are currently referable under several genera such as Parotis, Palpita, Stemorrhages, Arthroschista etc. Also, no attempt has been made to compile the species so far recorded from India. In addition to the above, a number of species have been published which lie scattered in the literature. A complete taxonomic revision of the family would have been most appropriate but considering the large number of included species and the tremendous task involved, this is not going to be materialised in the immediate future. Until such a revision is made, availability of a list of species occurring in the Indian region will be quite useful for checking the occurrence and nomenclature of species that have been reported from this region.