Moth Diversity Research Articles

Cossid moths (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) as pests of woody plants – A review

Abstract The Cossidae is a worldwide family of macro‐moths popularly known as carpenter moths due to the larval habit of boring in the wood of living plants. This review compiles current knowledge on the characteristics, diversity and bionomy of cossid moths as well as the damage they cause on woody plants. Adult cossids are nocturnal, robust and generally have a low dispersal ability. Their habitat is very diverse from desert to boreal forests and high mountains. They have a long life cycle that varies from 1 to 3 years, the majority of which is spent in the larval stage. Most cossid larvae are highly polyphagous caterpillars and can migrate both intra‐host and inter‐host. Twenty‐six species of cossid have been reported as pests of commercial woody plants in forestry and horticulture. The feeding tunnels of cossid larvae can make large branches or trunks of small trees prone to wind breakage and can lead to tree decline and mortality. Cossid larvae damage reduces growth, yield, quality of fruit and wood as well as its commercial value. Current knowledge on cossid pest management is reviewed highlighting the importance of pheromone traps and the need for an integrated pest management approach for effective control. Lastly, future risks and challenges are discussed.

Plume moths (Lepidoptera, Pterophoridae) of a recently discovered lepidopteran diversity hotspot in the Mount Cameroon area, with descriptions of four new species.

Moth diversity on Mount Cameroon, a critical biodiversity hotspot in the Afrotropics, remains understudied despite the region's rich and unique ecosystems. In this study, 34 species of plume moths (Pterophoridae) were recorded from the Mount Cameroon region, including four species new to science: Titanoptilusbigoti Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Titanoptilusmurkwe Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Hellinsiaekonjo Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., and Hellinsiamapanja Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. Images of the adult type specimen and male genitalia for Titanoptilusmelanodonta Hampson, 1905 are published for the first time. In addition, 25 species are reported as new records for the Cameroonian fauna, raising the number of known Pterophoridae species in the country from 19 to 48. The results significantly expand our understanding of plume moth diversity in the region and extend the known distribution range of several species. These findings emphasise the importance of Mount Cameroon as a biodiversity hotspot within the Afrotropics. Enhanced conservation efforts are essential to preserve the unique biodiversity of Mount Cameroon, especially considering threats such as ongoing habitat degradation in some parts of the region and climate change.

Removing autumn leaves in residential yards reduces the spring emergence of overwintering insects.

Removing autumn leaves in residential yards reduces the spring emergence of overwintering insects.

Contrasting responses of bats and macro-moths to structural complexity in forest borders

Habitat fragmentation increases the proportion of forest borders in the landscape and many forest borders lose their structural complexity due to modern forestry practices. However, remnants of structurally complex deciduous forests can remain as ecotones between plantations and agricultural fields. In this study we used terrestrial laser scanning to measure structural complexity of different forest borders, measured microclimate, and surveyed bats and macro-moths to understand how these taxa are affected. Our aim is to disentangle the main drivers, direct or indirect, that influence bat and moth assemblages. We studied 79 forest borders, and surrounding landscapes and compared them with adjacent agricultural fields and coniferous plantations. Overall, we found less bat activity and lower macro-moth diversity in simple compared to complex borders. Using structural equation modelling, we show the contrasting responses of forest-specialist bats and moths to structural complexity; with bats responding positively and moths negatively. We found similar divergent results in relation to understorey openness; with increasing forest-specialist bat activity but a lower diversity of forest-specialist moths in more open borders. Understorey vegetation also appears to regulate microclimate with more open borders being warmer and less humid. This has a potential knock-on effect for bats as they favoured borders that were warmer and more humid. Surrounding land-cover was more important than structural complexity for generalist species; with increasing generalist bat activity due to a higher proportion of local deciduous forest cover and increasing generalist moth diversity in landscapes with more forest borders. Overall, these complex relationships between forest structure, microclimate and landscape factors, coupled with divergent responses of both taxa highlight their diverse ecological needs. Therefore, we highlight the importance of managing forest borders to retain complexity and connectivity within multifunctional landscapes.

Alpha diversity with increasing altitude and Rapoport's rule adherence: Elevational trends in Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) of Mizoram, India.

An assessment of the alpha diversity across the altitudinal range sizes for the moths of Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera) collected from 25 locations in Mizoram, a biodiversity hotspot in India, was undertaken. A total of 164 moth specimens were examined. based on morphological and genitalia characteristics for their identity. Identified specimens belonged to 42 species and 34 genera of three families Erebidae, Noctuidae and Nolidae. The results showed that the alpha diversity of Noctuoidea moths was the highest at the lower middle altitude range (400-800 m), while the least was at the lower elevation range (0-400 m). In contrast, the species' ranges increased with rising altitude. Steven's (R = 0.903, p < 0.001), Pagel's (R² = 0.873, p < 0.06), Rohde's (R² = 0.961, p < 0.001) and cross-species (R² = 0.013, p < 0.6) methods were used to test Rapoport's rule. They yielded three positive results with the cross-species method being negative due to outliers in the species distribution. Rapoport's rule applicability for moths in the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot was evaluated for the first time. These findings are vital in explaining the elevational diversity patterns of noctuoid moths in northeast India and Indo-Myanmar, leading to a better understanding of the region's biogeography.

Genetic Diversity and Demographic History of Wax Moths, Galleria mellonella Linnaeus, 1758 and Achroia grisella Fabricius, 1794 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Wax moths, Galleria mellonella Linnaeus, 1758 and Achroia grisella Fabricius, 1794 are the key pests of honeybee colonies worldwide. They cause wax comb damages which lead to colony perishing and absconding. To control these pests, their genetic background and evolution should be considered. In this study, genetic diversity and demographic history of 2 species of wax moth were explored based on mitochondrial genes (COI). Wax moths were collected from northeatern part of Thailand for morphological and DNA analyses. G. mellonella and A. grisella sequences from GenBank were included for genetic diversity and demographic history analyses (total of 80 and 26 sequences, respectively). Overall genetic diversity for A. grisella samples from Northeastern Thailand was relatively low (h = 0.467 ± 0.132 and π = 0.00150 ± 0.00042). Likewise, low genetic diversity was also observed in G. mellonella samples (h = 0.280 ± 0.101 and π = 0.00046 ± 0.00017). Among samples from different global regions, the haplotype and nucleotide diversity of A. grisella were 0.834 ± 0.050 and 0.00996 ± 0.00124, respectively. The haplotype and nucleotide diversity of G. mellonella were 0.709 ± 0.034 and 0.01084 ± 0.00279, respectively. The ML tree revealed that these 2 species were separated into 2 major clades (G. mellonella clade and A. grisella clade). All sequences corresponding to G. mellonella formed to a single monophyletic clade, while all the sequences corresponding to A. grisella formed another single monophyletic clade. Clade G. mellonella was divided into 4 subclades designated as Clade Gm1, Gm2, Gm3 and Gm4, whereas A. grisella clade was divided into 3 subclades designated as Clade Ag1, Ag2 and Ag3. The sum of squares deviation (SSD) and Harpending’s raggedness index (rg) and the results of Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs tests indicated population expansion was not found in either species. HIGHLIGHTS This study highlighted the genetic diversity of wax moths Galleria mellonella Linnaeus, 1758 and Achroia grisella Fabricius, 1794 in Thailand and other parts of the world. Population expansion was not observed in either species. The results will be useful to predict directions of population distribution of wax moths under certain factors. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

A checklist of moths in Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, in the western Himalayan foothills, India

In the first ever enumeration of moth diversity of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, India, located mostly in the Shivalik range, 82 species/morphospecies were reported, at least 22 of which are new records for Himachal Pradesh, and five are new records for Western Himalayas. In addition to a list of moths for the district supplemented with photographs, identification keys for similar species, larval host plants for species, and a near exhaustive dataset of distribution of the species/genera within and outside India are also provided.

Diversity of moth families in Urban Bangalore with trends in weather patterns

This work focuses on moths, which serve as pollinators in an ecosystem. The study area, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 in Jalahalli (Latitude: 13.05527, Longitude: 77.53591), is a biodiverse green space within the bustling city of Bengaluru. The study sheds light on the diversity and characteristics of moths in a natural ecosystem closely surrounded by urban development. Data on various moth species were collected from an iNaturalist project, which had already documented the area’s biodiversity over more than a year. The present study enhanced this dataset with additional observations. Remarkably, over 230 moth species were recorded in just one year, including the first photographic documentation of a moth from the family Palaeosetidae in India. Researchers classified this data to explore the seasonal diversity of different moth families within the study area. As part of the project, a mercury vapor lamp trap was set up to evaluate its effectiveness in attracting moths. Additionally, the flowering plant species in the study area were documented, classified, and compared with existing data. This allowed researchers to relate observed moth families with the plant species they pollinate. Overall, work contributes significantly to our understanding of moth ecology in this unique urban-natural interface.

HISTORY OF THE ERMINE MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: YPONOMEUTIDAE) STUDY IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST AND ADJACENT COUNTRIES

As a result of the analysis of the history of the family Yponomeutidae study the three conditional stages were outlined mainly based on the used research methods. The first stage, which began in the first half of XVIII century and ended at the beginning of the XX century, covers the period from the first descriptions with illustrations of larva nests and the external features of the preimaginal and imaginal stages to the use of genital characters in the species identification. From the latter the second stage starts and ends before the introduction of the molecular genetic method for study of taxonomic diversity. During this stage the study of the ermine moths were expanded to comparative morphological research, elucidation of the homology of genital structures based on their functional morphology and development of taxonomy based on phylogenetic analyses. The third stage begins from the end of XX century, when researchers started to use molecular markers to solve taxonomic problems in the group. According to the results of many years of research, the fauna of yponomeutid moths has been studied in Russia and adjacent countries very unevenly and, in general, insufficiently. Currently, the species diversity of ermine moths in the Russian Far East is 38 species from 10 genera, significantly inferior to that of China (70 species of 17 genera) and less to that in Japan (46 species of 16 genera). However, the species diversity of ermine moths in the Russian Far East exceeds the known diversity of this group in Korea (25 species from 10 genera).

Assessment of moth diversity in the Zealandia ecosanctuary through a community science initiative

ABSTRACT A collaborative project involving researchers and citizen scientists was conducted in the Zealandia ecosanctuary (Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand) during 2019–2022 to investigate Lepidoptera biodiversity. Here we present the first results of that project, reporting on the success of the citizen science approach and presenting a checklist of moth species in Zealandia. Sampling efforts took place roughly monthly during the night, and relied heavily on the participation of keen volunteers. Moths were primarily attracted using a mercury vapour light trap, but sweep-netting was also applied. On each trip, a selection of representative specimens was collected, humanely euthanised, prepared, photographed, and deposited as voucher specimens in the entomological collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Photos were uploaded to the community science online platform iNaturalist, where experts could help in identifying the species. We report a total of 262 species in Zealandia, belonging to 29 families; of those species, 22 are exotic. Notably, 217 species were found via our sampling, and the remaining 45 were recorded by citizen scientists and posted on iNaturalist. While this is likely an underestimate of the true species count in Zealandia, we consider the project a successful citizen science initiative that has generated valuable data, a fine collection of voucher specimens for the future, considerable public engagement, and positive media attention.

Moth Biodiversity in Central Kerala: A Comprehensive Examination of Urban and High-Altitude Habitats With New Distribution Record of Palaeosetidae

The order Lepidoptera, encompassing both butterflies and moths, many species within lepidoptera plays a pivotal role in ecosystem dynamics as key pollinators. Moths, constituting the vast majority within this order, serve as essential contributors to biodiversity in the Indian subcontinent, with over 12,000 known species. Despite their ecological significance, our understanding of moth diversity in India remains incomplete. This study addresses this knowledge gap by conducting a focused survey of moths in central Kerala between May 2019 and December 2021. Utilizing a standardized methodology involving moth trapping with white cloth and mercury vapor bulbs, we recorded and analyzed 483 moth species spanning 44 families. Notably, this investigation documented the presence of the family Palaeosetidae in Kerala for the first time including two species previously reported only from the Khasi Hills. Additionally, the first-ever sighting of Corgatha semipardata in India and the presence of Cirrhochrista fuscusa in South India were reported. Temporal activity patterns of moths revealed intriguing variations, and a meticulous identification process resulted in classifications at various taxonomic levels. Erebidae emerged as the most speciose family, predominantly in urban areas, while Crambidae, Geometridae, and Noctuidae thrived in high-altitude regions, indicating habitat diversity. Furthermore, this study sheds light on the challenge of identifying moths without specimen collection, particularly for microlepidoptera, which needs further research in this area. The observation of Macroglossum genus caterpillars suggests the possibility of migration, opening avenues for future investigations into moth movement patterns. In conclusion, our research highlights the rich diversity of moths in central Kerala and emphasizes the importance of conserving ecosystems and host plants in urban areas. While providing valuable insights, this study acknowledges its limitations due to a limited duration and calls for extensive research to comprehensively assess moth species richness in the region, offering a crucial foundation for future studies focused on moth diversity.

The Diversity of Moths in Suheldev Wildlife Sanctuary, Uttar Pradesh, India

Moths are insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera. Moths make up about 90% or more of the Lepidoptera. Moths have a global outlook. As pollinators, herbivores, and prey for several other higher creatures, they significantly impact the global ecology. They serve as bioindicators since any variation in the population or its diversity directly reflects the state of that particular area. Moths are also regarded as keystone species. The

Disentangling how urbanisation influences moth diversity in grasslands

Abstract Urban areas have profound impacts on local species diversity and composition through a set of intertwined changes in the environment. As the world is rapidly urbanising while simultaneously facing a biodiversity crisis, a better understanding of how urbanisation influences biodiversity is necessary. To test if and how urbanisation influences moth diversity and whether urbanisation is acting directly or indirectly via urbanisation‐induced increased habitat isolation, smaller habitat area, higher light pollution and increased mowing intensity, we sampled moths with light trapping in 20 grasslands in the urban core of the city of Darmstadt (southwestern Germany) and 20 grasslands in the surrounding area. Moth abundance and diversity decreased with increasing urbanisation. Smaller habitat area and high mowing intensity reduced moth abundance, while other environmental variables including isolation and light pollution had only indirect effects. High levels of urbanisation were associated with reduced moth abundance, which in turn drove declines in diversity. Urbanised sites favoured generalist species and differed in species composition compared to sites in the surrounding. The results show that urbanisation is directly reducing moth abundance and diversity in cities. The negative effect of urbanisation is further attenuated by habitat fragmentation and high mowing intensity, which are both known drivers of biodiversity decline in urban areas and beyond. While urbanisation itself is often irreversible, reducing mowing intensity and preserving larger grassland areas could facilitate moths and other taxa in and around cities.

Study the Diversity of Nocturnal Moths in Agricultural Field of Western Maharashtra Region

Abstract: Study of moths is important as they are significant part of the ecosystem. A study on macro-moths was conducted at agricultural field of Western Maharashtra region from month of June 2022 to May 2023. The Main aim of study to acquire the detail information of moths found in agricultural filed of District Satara and Pune. During the study period, a total 2012 specimen’s moths were observed. In addition, the number of families recorded from agricultural field of Western Maharashtra is also high, 20 families and 57 species occurred in desired location. Agricultural field of Western Maharashtra shows moths diversity. So, moth diversity was studied from Western Maharashtra from two sites including Phaltan and Baramati taluka respectively. These two sites have a few species in common. In general, Arctiidae, Noctuidae, Pyralidae and Sphingidae dominated both the sites. The Moths were collected by using mercury light traps (160 W). The moth diversity has been studied for the first time from Agricultural field of Western Maharashtra region.

Magnifying the hotspot: descriptions of nine new species of many-plumed moths (Lepidoptera, Alucitidae), with an identification key to all species known from Cameroon.

This study confirms Mount Cameroon as an unprecedented hotspot for the diversity of many-plumed moths, with the discovery and description of nine new species: Alucitafako Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitapyrczi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitasroczki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitapotockyi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitasedlaceki Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitatonda Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitaerzayi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., Alucitasokolovi Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov., and Alucitahirsuta Ustjuzhanin & Kovtunovich, sp. nov. Additionally, four additional species are reported from the Mount Cameroon area as new for the country: Alucitaagassizi, Alucitadohertyi, Alucitaplumigera, and Alucitarhaptica. Of the 89 Alucitidae known from the Afrotropics, the studied area hosts 36 species, most of which are endemic to the area. This unprecedented level of diversity and endemism within this lepidopteran family highlights Mount Cameroon's significance as a stronghold for specialised insect taxa. Efficient conservation efforts are necessary to protect these ecosystems and their associated unique microlepidopteran diversity.

Moth Diversity in the Mahamaya Reserve Forest, Kokrajhar, Assam

The present study was conducted in the Mahamaya Reserve Forest area of Kokrajhar, Assam for one year from 2021 to 2022 to record the moths found in the area. A total of 129 species were identified, belonging to 20 families and 114 genera. The most predominant are the Erebidae and Crambidae, with 13 species being identified as new records from this region of Assam. The diversity indices revealed moderate dominance (D 0.19) of moths in the study sites. Simpson diversity with 0.8, Shannon diversity presented 2.1 moderate diversity. Margalef index value with 4.012 at par and Berger-Parker index 0.3 indicated a good diversity of moths in the region.

Taxonomic Assessment and Distributional Records of Sphingidae Moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from Nagaland

An updated checklist of 22 moth species under 14 genera belonging to Sphingidae has been catalogued with an aim to follow the current state of knowledge in moth diversity from the north-eastern state of Nagaland. Although, richly endowed with an array of biodiversity, the state seriously lacks attention regarding faunal status and distributions; ergo, the present work to ascertain the diversity of hawk moths of the state based on records from available literature to fill the void on the path of systematic research.

An inventory of moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from Kullu and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh

The current research work was done to evaluate the diversity and distribution of moths (Lepidoptera) from Kullu and Mandi districts of Himachal Pradesh. The sample of moths was collected from 4 villages in Mandi (Sadar Mandi, Joginder Nagar, Sarkaghat, and Sunder Nagar) that lie at an altitude of 750–1,200 m above the main sea level and 5 villages in Kullu (Banjar, Tandi, Chethar, Bini, and Bahu) that lie at an altitude of 1,300–2,000 m above the main sea level. The collection was done in the months from August 2020 to October 2020 and June 2021 to October 2021. The collection of moths was done at night because moths are nocturnal species, using a light trap method. The samples were then sacrificed using a few drops of ethyl acetate in a killing jar. Afterward, the samples were pinned and stretched. A total of 300 samples (230 from Kullu and 70 from Mandi) were collected, which belong to 82 species, 67 genera, 20 subfamilies, and 14 families were collected and identified. From Kullu district, we collected 43 species, and from Mandi, we collected 13 species. Other than these, 26 species were found to be common in both Kullu and Mandi districts, making a total of 69 species from Kullu and 39 species from Mandi. The genitalia dissection of 54 moth’s samples was also performed. The most species-rich family was Erebidae, which includes 40 species, and the most abundant species during the study was Nyctemera adversata (Schaller, 1788). The moth’s population was found to be highest in the Kullu district, and the diversity of moths was highest in the months of July- September and declined from October onward.

A hasty survey on diversity of moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from Bargi region of Jabalpur (M.P.)

Lepidoptera is an order that includes moths (Heterocera). A preliminary analysis of the moth fauna in the catchment of the Bargi reservoir was conducted between 2021 and 2023, and it revealed a total of 30 moth species. Every attempt was made to discover and preserve the secret fauna of the Narmada basin and some nearby locations for the preservation of the environment's health. To ascertain the variety and occurrence of moths, collection of moths was done throughout the year. 30 moth species overall, belonging to 09 families, 29 Genus were obtained from the reservoir by the present findings utilizing simple light traps that were in operation from nightfall to dawn. Among the families represented in the collection samples were Noctuidae, Arctiidae, Pyralidae, Geometridae, Sphingdae, Saturniidae, Eupterotidae, Zygaenidae and Cosmopterygidae. There may be opportunities for new records, according to the study. The study has also indicated that there are possibilities of new records of moth family, genus and species of in Madhya Pradesh.

Macro Moth (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) Diversity in the Southern Assam Region: A Study in Cachar District, India

This study assessed macro moth diversity in the Cachar district, Assam, India, focusing on Arctiidae, Geometridae, and Sphingidae families. It identified 56 Geometridae, 55 Arctiidae, and 6 Sphingidae species, showcasing variations in diversity indices across sites. Among 1599 specimens, Geometridae constituted 50.78%, Arctiidae 47.4%, and Sphingidae 1.74%. The checklists include 55 species, with 41 at the species level, 10 at the genus level, one at the sub-family level, and three at the family level in Arctiidae. In Geometridae, 50 of the 56 species were identified to the species level, and 7 to the genus level. Sphingidae had four species identified to the species level and two to the subfamily level. Geometridae dominated with 812 specimens, followed by Arctiidae (758) and Sphingidae (29). This study offers valuable insights into moth diversity, laying the foundation for further research and conservation efforts in the region.