Open AccessMoth (Insecta: Lepidoptera) fauna of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India
Author(s) -
Afaq Ahmad Dar,
Khowaja Jamal
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
notulae scientia biologicae
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2067-3264
pISSN - 2067-3205
DOI - 10.15835/nsb13210906
Subject(s) - erebidae , biology , saturniidae , tiger , lepidoptera genitalia , fauna , ecology , zoology , computer security , computer science
Survey to assess moth diversity was carried out in Sariska Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan in 2019 from June to November. Total 16 species were recorded under 15 genera, belonging to 5 families for the first time from Sariska Tiger Reserve. Of these, 12 species viz. Eudocima materna Linnaeus, 1767; Eudocima phalonia Linnaeus, 1763; Dysgonia stuposa (Fabricius, 1794); Euproctis divisia Walker, 1855; Achaea janata Linnaeus, 1758; Acherontia styx Westwood, 1847; Daphnis nerii Linnaeus, 1758; Hippotion rosetta (Swinhoe, 1892); Agrius convolvuli Linnaeus, 1758; Nephele hespera Fabricius, 1775; Theretra oldenlandiae (Fabricius, 1775); Caligula lindia Moore, 1865 were first time reports from the state. Moth species were collected with the help of a light sheet system operated every night from 9:00 pm to 2:00 am. Ethyl acetate fumes were used to kill collected speciemens and processed as per standard strategies in Lepidopterology. The identification of moths was carried out with the help of identification keys, standard reference keys. Family Erebidae and Sphingidae are represented by six species each, followed by Saturniidae represented by two species, Noctuidae and Crambidae represented by one species each. This study will improve our understanding of Sariska’s biodiversity and be used to develop strategies for the conservation of moth diversity.