ZSI Releases India’s First Comprehensive Catalogue of Butterflies and Moths
Context
The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has published the first comprehensive Catalogue of Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths) of India in the journal Zootaxa. Compiled after more than a decade of research, the catalogue documents 13,703 species, representing nearly 8.25% of the world’s known Lepidoptera diversity. It serves as a landmark reference for biodiversity conservation, ecological research and species documentation in India.
Key Highlights
- India is home to 1,417 butterfly species and 12,286 moth species, classified under 3,705 genera and 102 families.
- The publication fills long-standing gaps in India’s taxonomic records, resolving inconsistencies that persisted for over a century.
- Butterflies and moths play a crucial ecological role as pollinators, herbivores and an important food source for birds, bats and other wildlife, thereby maintaining ecosystem stability.
- The catalogue establishes a reliable baseline for biodiversity assessment, ecological monitoring and conservation planning across the country.
Key Concepts
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
- Established in 1916 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), ZSI is India’s premier institution for faunal exploration, taxonomic research and biodiversity documentation.
Lepidoptera
- Lepidoptera is the insect order comprising butterflies and moths. These insects are widely regarded as bio indicators, as changes in their populations often reflect the health of ecosystems.
Megadiverse Countries
- India is among the 17 megadiverse countries, recognised for harbouring a significant proportion of the world’s biodiversity and endemic species.
Taxonomy
- Taxonomy is the scientific discipline of identifying, classifying and naming organisms, providing the foundation for biodiversity conservation, ecological studies and legal protection of species.
Way Forward
- Utilise the catalogue as a scientific reference to identify priority areas for habitat conservation and monitor biodiversity changes under climate change.
- Strengthen taxonomic research through greater institutional support, capacity building and citizen-science initiatives.
- Integrate pollinator conservation into agricultural practices, land-use planning and ecosystem restoration programmes.
- Promote long-term biodiversity monitoring and expand species documentation to improve evidence-based conservation policies.