National Catalogue of Lepidoptera in India

Why in News?
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has completed the Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths) of India, creating the country’s first comprehensive and updated inventory of butterfly and moth diversity and bridging taxonomic gaps that existed for over a century.

About the Catalogue:

• Prepared by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• It provides a centralised, authoritative and updated taxonomic inventory of India’s butterflies and moths.
• The catalogue documents:
  • 13,703 species
  • 3,705 genera
  • 240 subfamilies
  • 102 families
  • 31 superfamilies
• Indian Lepidoptera constitute approximately 8.25% of the world’s known butterfly and moth species.
• The final publication in Zootaxa catalogued the remaining 1,689 species, resolving several long-standing taxonomic uncertainties.

India and Geometroidea Moths

• The catalogue identifies India as a significant global centre for the Geometroidea superfamily.
• India hosts:
  • 2,205 Geometroidea species
  • 479 genera
  • 13 subfamilies
  • 4 families
• This represents about 8.80% of the world’s known Geometroidea species.
• The most species-rich subfamilies are:
  • Ennominae
  • Larentiinae
  • Geometrinae

Ecological Importance of Lepidoptera

• Butterflies and moths are important pollinators, particularly for wild plants and several crops.
• Their larvae act as herbivores, while many species also contribute to decomposition and nutrient cycling.
• They serve as a vital food source for birds, bats and other insectivorous animals.
• They are widely used as bioindicators to assess ecosystem health and environmental change.
• Some species are also economically significant due to their impact on agriculture and forestry.

Source: PIB

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