New and recent records of moth and butterfly species (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Praslin and Mahé Islands, Seychelles

We report recent records of 17 Lepidoptera species from 15 genera and 11 families, which were collected on the Inner Seychelles in January 2013. From Praslin Island, 11 species, including two Seychelles endemics, were recorded for the first time. These records have significantly expanded the list of the lepidopteran fauna of Praslin to 54 species. Four species were newly collected after a long-term (ca. 50 years) absence of their specimens in samples from the Seychelles archipelago. In addition, seven species were rediscovered from separate islands. Our findings highlight that there is some evidence of faunal exchange between the two largest islands of the granitic Seychelles and that the lepidopteran fauna of Praslin has been largely underestimated.