Moth diversity (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) of Shendurney and Ponmudi in Agastyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Kerala, India, with notes on new records

Abstract

We present a list of 282 species of moths recorded during surveys conducted over 31 survey nights during a 3-year period in Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) and Ponmudi, Kerala, India. Shendurney WLS and Ponmudi are part of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in the southern Western Ghats, which is one of India’s three biodiversity hotspots. Shendurney is a diversity hotspot within the Western Ghats. It has a high degree of endemism and several new species have recently been described from the sanctuary. The moth diversity in Shendurney is poorly studied and only 128 moth species have been previously reported. This illustrated checklist of 282 species expands on previous reports and includes notes on flight periods and distribution. Fifteen range extensions were recorded, of which 14 were new records for Kerala, one a new record for India, and one a new species.