International Journal of Entomology Research

www.entomologyjournals.com
ISSN: 2455-4758
Received: 25-05-2024, Accepted: 15-06-2024, Published: 06-07-2024
Volume 9, Issue 7, 2024, Page No. 51-54

A preliminary checklist of moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Heterocera) fauna from around

Aurangabad hill ranges, Maharashtra, India
S S Jadhav1, R F Pathre2*, Y R Kayande1, M G Rathod1
1
Department of Zoology, JES College, Jalna, Maharashtra, India
2
Department of Zoology, Assistant Professor, Arts, Science and Commerce College Ambad, Jalna, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
The study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of moths in agriculture, grassland, and forest hill areas, moths collected
from the Aurangabad district from January 2023 to March 2024. The moths were randomly collected from the selected sites in
Aurangabad. A total number of 30 moth specimens were collected using the light trap method with the help of a vertical sheet
light trap. The identification process focused on family-level classification. A total of 30 moth specimens were collected,
representing families such as Erebidae, Noctuidae, Geometridae, Sphingdae, Crambidae, Metarbelidae, Nolidae and
Lasiocampidae. The study contributes to our understanding of moth biodiversity in this region and highlights their role as
bioindicators of environmental health.

Keywords: Noctudiea, lepidoptera, fauna, moth taxonomy, Aurangabad

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Introduction microorganisms, which can affect the host in various
Lepidoptera is a group of insects which consist of many parameters like fitness, reproduction, and genetic diversity.
large and showy species. Moths form the majority of this (Monika Gulabrao Rathod 2023) [3] Moths are the cousins of
order. There are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different butterflies, both of them belonging to the order Lepidoptera.
species of moths (about ten times the number of butterfly Documenting the diversity of moth fauna can help lead to
species), with thousands of species yet to be described. new evolutionary insights and a first step in developing
thousands of species yet to be described (1. 1892). In 1997 conservation goals for the lepidopteron insects. Hence, in
V.K. Chey, et al. Diversity of moths in forest plantations the present study, an attempt has been made to study the
and natural forests in Sabah on micromoths in the various diversity of moths from in and around Aurangabad city,
fast-growing exotic tree, biogeographic study due to high Maharashtra, which is still not investigated. The main
diversity and geographical coverage. (V.K. Chey1 1997) [12]. purpose was to study the moth’s fauna, collect them,
K. Sivasankaran, et. al. in 2010 a total of 4,679 individuals identify the moth diversity, and study their occurrence. The
of 140 species of noctuid moths belonging to 83 genera and study was carried out from January 2023 to March 2024.
23 subfamilies were collected in the Tamil Nadu part of the The Aurangabad region has a rich flora and fauna of
Western Ghats of south India. (K. Sivasankaran 2011) [4]. A tropical, agricultural, forest deciduous, shrub and semi-
total of 245 species classified,177 genera, and 20 families evergreen plant species of mesophytic nature. Moth
are reported in Northern Maharashtra. (Nikam 2013) [8]. A collection was carried out from evening onwards till
list of the total 282 species of moths recorded in 2018, morning on the next day by using a Light Trap. Bell and
Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve in the Southern Western Scott (1937). The present study reveals a total of 30 species
Ghats.14 species were new records for Kerla,1 new record from 8 subfamilies have been identified from selected
for India, and a new species. (Yash Sondhi 2018) [13]. More sampling stations in Aurangabad city, of which, the
than half of the world's known animal species are insects members of the family Erebidae outnumber the other moth
Lepidoptera is the second largest and the most diverse order families. Noctuidae, Geometridae, Sphingdae, Crambidae,
of the class Insecta (C. Kathirvelu 2019) [2]. Insects Metarbelidae, Nolidae and Lasiocampidae.
belonging to the order Lepidoptera include moths,
comprising approximately 1, 60,000 species that act as a Study Area
major crop pest of the world. The moth fauna of India is Moths were collected from selected sampling stations from
poorly known. There have been very few surveys carried hill ranges of Aurangabad city. Three ecological habitats,
out before the 20th century in British administration, agriculture, grassland forest, and fruit orchards were chosen
especially in Maharashtra state (Ravindra Fakirrao Pathre* for sampling. The study was carried out from January 2023
Sharad Devidasrao Jadhav 2019) [9]. A total of 64 moth to March 2024. Aurangabad city has many hill ranges like
species were recorded from Karanja, Wardha, Maharashtra. Goga Baba Hill, Hanuman Hill, Sai Hill, Himayat Bag Hill,
(Lokesh N Wankhade1 2021) [6]. A great deal of research Mhaismal Hill, Satara Hill Aurangabad. Aurangabad has a
work has been done on the biology, taxonomy, ecology, and
very large forest area, so we get a large variety of moths.
conservation of lepidopterans from different parts of the
The climate is moderately stable. The temperature ranges
world, including the Indian subcontinent. (S.S. Jadhav,
between 17° and 33° C as per season. The area receives rain
Dr.R.F. Pathre, Y.R. Kaynde, M.G. Rathod. 2024) [10]. Many
insects play as hosts to different microbes by forming close from both the northeast and southwest monsoons. This area
mutualistic relationships. (Monika Gulabrao Rathod 2023) has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry
[3]
. Most of the vertically transmit the endosymbiotic climate under the Koppen climate classification.

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International Journal of Entomology Research www.entomologyjournals.com

Material and Methods as a fumigant. Each specimen was provided with a label ID
Collection and Identification of Moths indicating the area and date of collection.
The moth’s samples were collected from various localities The identification of moths was carried out in a laboratory
in the Aurangabad City of Maharashtra, India. The at the JES College Jalna, India. With the help of identified
collection of moths was carried out from evening time specimens and literature by Hampson (1892, 1894, 1895
onwards till morning on the next day by using the Light and 1896) [1]. And other published literature. Moore (1882),
Trap method. And daytime moths were collected with the Barlow (1982), Holloway (1983– 2011) [], Sanjay Sondhi et
help of hand nets. The collected moth specimens were killed al., (2016). Gurule et al., 2010-2013) [8]. Pathre et al., (2019)
by Chloroform and later pinned using entomological pins, [9]
. The identified species recorded during the survey were
spread using a spreading board and dried in the oven at identified in the relevant literature. The subfamilies, genera
about 80-100°C for 2-4 hours. All specimens were and species are listed alphabetically within their respective
preserved in an airtight insect box, having naphthalene balls families.

Table 1: Preliminary list of moth species recorded selected sites from Aurangabad district.
Sr. Scientific Name Family Subfamily
Utethesia Lotrix, Cramer, 1777. Erebidae Arctiinae
Eressa Confinis, Francis Walker, 1854. Erebidae Arctiinae
Spilisoma Eldorado, Rothschild, 1910. Erebidae Arctiinae
Aloa Lactinea, Pieter Cramer, 1777. Erebidae Arctiinae
Euproctis Lunata, Francis Walker, 1855. Erebidae  Noctuinae
Lymantria Incerta, Francis Walker, 1855.  Erebidae  Noctuinae
Creatonotos Gangis, Carl Linnaeus, 1763. Erebidae Arctiinae
Catephia Alchymista, Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775.  Erebidae  Noctuinae
Amata Cyssea, Caspar Stoll, 1782. Erebidae Arctiinae
Olepa Ricini, Johan Chistian Fabricius, 1775. Erebidae Arctiinae
Utetheisa Pulchelloides, George Hampson, 1907. Erebidae Arctiinae
Acantholipes Trajecta, Francis Walker, 1865. Erebidae Arctiinae
Nygmia Icilia, Caspar Stoll, 1790. Erebidae Lymantriinae
Dysgonia Stuposa, Fabricius, 1794. Erebidae Lymantriinae
Aedia Acronyctoides, Guenée, 1852. Noctuidae Noctuinae
Spodoptera Furgifeda Smith, 1797. Noctuidae Amphipyrinae
Spodoptera Litura, Fabricus, 1775. Noctuidae Xyleninae
Helicoverpa Armigera, Hubner, 1808. Noctuidae Heliothinae
Aegocera Venulia, Pieter Cramer, 1777. Noctuidae Arctiinae
Hyposidra Talaca, Francis Walker, 1860.  Geometridae  Geometrinae
Nemoria Subsequence, Jacob Hübner, 1818.  Geometridae Geometrinae
Biston Suppressaria, Guenée, 1857. Geometridae Lymantriinae
Acherontia. Styx, Westwood, 1847. Sphingidae  Acherontiina
Polyptychus Dentatus, Cramer, 1777. Sphingidae Smerinthinae
Hippotion Celerio, Linnaeus, 1758. Sphingidae Macroglossinae
Hippotion Rosetta, Swinhoe, 1892. Sphingidae Macroglossinae
Rupela Albino, Becker & Solis, 1990. Crambidae Schoenobiinae
Indarbela, Thomas Bainbrigge Fletcher, 1922. Metarbelidae Schoenobiinae
Earias Cupreoviridis, Francis Walker, 1862. Nolidae Schoenobiinae
Gastropacha Pardale, Walker 1855. Lasiocampidae Macroglossinae

Comparison of Dominating families recorded from family Erebidae were common and outnumbered the other
Aurangabad district, Maharashtra moth families Noctuidae, Geometridae, Sphingdae,
Results and discussion Crambidae, Metarbelidae, Nolidae and Lasiocampidae. Of
In the present study, A total of 30 moth species were all the families Erebidae was found to be the dominating
recorded during the present study a total of eight families family with 10 species (45%) followed by the family
were identified from the selected sampling station Noctuidae with 5 species and Sphingdae with 4 species
Aurangabad. Among eight families’ moths belonging to the (16%).

Family: Erebidae

1. Utethesia Lotrix 2. Eressa Confinis 3. Spilisoma Eldorado 4. Aloa Lactinea

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5. Euproctis Lunata 6. Lymantria Incerta 7. Creatonotos Gangis 8. Catephia Alchymista

9. Amata Cyssea 10. Olepa Ricini 11. Utetheisa Pulchelloides 12. Acantholipes

13. Acantholipes Trajecta 14. Dysgonia Stuposa

Family: Noctuidae

15. Aedia Acronyctoides 16. Spodoptera Furgifeda 17. Spodoptera Litura 18. Helicoverpa Armiger

Family: Geometridae

19. Aegocera Venulia 20. Nemoria Subsequence 21. Biston Suppressaria

Family: Sphingidae

22. Acherontia. Styx 23. Polyptychus Dentatus 24. Hippotion Celer 25. Hippotion Rosetta

Family: Crambidae Family: Metarbelidae Family: Nolidae Family: Lasiocampidae

27. Rupela Albino 28. Indarbela 29. Earias Cupreoviridis 30. Gastropacha Pardale

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International Journal of Entomology Research www.entomologyjournals.com

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