Insect Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Zoology, D S B Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital263002, Uttarakhand, India
*Email: dr.manojkumar19@rediffmail.com (corresponding author)
A study on community structure of moth’s diversity was undertaken in an urban biotope located in the lake catchment area of Nainital. A total of 988 moths belonging to 36 species under 34 genera and 9 families were observed. Erebidae was the most dominant family with 10 species, followed by Geometridae (8 species), Noctuidae (7 species), Crambidae (6 species) and Drepanidae, Eupterotidae, Notodontidae, Saturniidae, Sphingidae with single species each. Erebidae, Noctuidae, Crambidae revealed maximum species richness during September, while Geometridae peaked throughout monsoon season. Maximum alpha biodiversity indices were exhibited by the family Erebidae. Species such as Hypena iconicalis Walker, Hypomecis sp. and Mythimna separata (Walker) were the most abundant during the entire study period. Two species (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis and Hydrillodes sp.) appear to have new distribution records from Nainital vicinity. The urbanized landscape so reflects moderately more moths and corresponding floral diversity and can be an attribute in sustaining a rich biodiversity.
Abundance, Biotope, Diversity, Family, Himalaya, Moths, Nainital, Seasonal index, Species, Urban
