Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India

Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India
Why in News?
Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have published the first comprehensive Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India, documenting the country's butterfly and moth diversity after nearly 12 years of research. The catalogue fills taxonomic gaps that had persisted for over a century and provides an authoritative baseline for biodiversity research and conservation.
What is the Catalogue of Lepidoptera?
•    The Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India is a comprehensive scientific inventory of India's butterfly and moth species.
•    It was prepared by ZSI scientists Navneet Singh and Rahul Joshi after nearly 12 years of field exploration, museum curation and literature verification.
•    The catalogue has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
•    It bridges taxonomic gaps that have existed for more than 100 years, since the earliest attempts to document India's insect fauna.
Key Findings
•    India is home to 13,703 species of Lepidoptera, representing about 8.25% of the world's known Lepidoptera diversity.
•    The catalogue records:
o    1,417 species of butterflies.
o    12,286 species of moths.
Geometroidea: The Nocturnal Pollinators
•    The catalogue identifies 2,205 species of Geometroidea, a major superfamily of moths.
•    India's Geometroidea account for about 8.8% of the world's known species in this superfamily.
•    These moths serve as important nocturnal pollinators, carrying out pollination when many daytime pollinators are inactive.

Why are Butterflies and Moths Important?
Lepidoptera play a vital role in maintaining ecological balance by serving as:
•    Important pollinators of flowering plants.
•    Herbivores and detritivores, contributing to ecosystem functioning.
•    A major food source for birds, bats and other insect-eating animals.
•    Valuable indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The catalogue will support:
•    Biodiversity research.
•    Ecological monitoring.
•    Species identification and taxonomy.
•    Conservation planning and policy formulation.
Why is this Significant?
•    Provides the first updated and authoritative national inventory of India's butterflies and moths.
•    Strengthens India's position among the world's megadiverse countries with comprehensive biodiversity documentation.
•    Establishes a long-term scientific reference for future research, monitoring and conservation of Lepidoptera.