Taxonomic Study on Geometrid Moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Diversity in Chirpine Forest of Himachal Pradesh
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Asian J. Adv. Basic Sci.: 2018, 6(1), 49-53 ISSN (Print): 2454 – 7492 ISSN (Online): 2347 – 4114 www.ajabs.org Taxonomic Study on Geometrid Moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) Diversity in Chirpine Forest of Himachal Pradesh Manoj Kumar1, 2, Pawan Kumar1* & Akhil Kumar1 1 Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer campus, Shimla-09, INDIA 2 Faculty of Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Bhajol, Solan, INDIA * Correspondence: Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Conifer campus, Shimla-09, INDIA. E-mail: [email protected] (Received 25 Feb, 2018; Accepted 14 Mar, 2018; Published 27 Mar, 2018) ABSTRACT: The present biodiversity study was conducted in Himachal Pradesh, India to find the status of geome- trid moth diversity in Chirpine forest. During the study, about 212 specimens of moths were collected with the help of light trap from different selected sites of Chirpine forest. All the specimens were sorted into thirty six species of geometrid belonged to 27 genera and three subfamilies. The subfamily Ennominae was represented with maximum 67% species followed by the subfamily Geometrinae (22%) and the subfamily Sterrhinae (11%). The population of the Geometrinae subfamily was moderate, which may be due to the lack of specific host availability and desired habitat preference. This is the first record of geometrid moth diversity study in the Chirpine forest of Himachal Pradesh. Keywords: Geometrid moth; Taxonomy; Chirpine; Diversity; Ennominae; Geometrinae and Sterrhinae. INTRODUCTION: Taxonomic assignments are fun- have peculiar climatic conditions and it is certain that damental for successful communication of biological moth species belonging to these forests will be differ- research, enabling comparability between studies. ent from other forests types. Many researchers have India is mega diversity country and signatory to The reported the distribution, diversity and relative abun- Convention on Biological Diversity and hence it is dance of Lepidoptera from various regions of the In- mandatory for India to study and conserve the entire dian sub-continent.14-21 spectrum of its biodiversity. It comprises of various The family Geometridae is the one of the largest fami- floral and faunal habitats ranging from subtropical ly in the order Lepidoptera. All around the world ap- alpine region to deserts. Its diversified landforms, proximately 23,000 species have been described 22-23 mountains and environmental boundaries support under this family. Scoble22 mention this family as only various types of vegetation and in this wide spectrum second to the maximum recorded species after family of biodiversity insects are an important component Noctuidae of Lepidoptera. Holloway24 published vol- owing to the wide range of species that exist in India. ume named as ‘Moths of Borneo’ of subfamily Insects are the most primitive, dominant and ecologi- Larentiinae. In this volume, Holloway described as cal significant component of the animal kingdom. many as 199 species under 56 genera by including Insects were the first organism among the animal spe- figures and details of their male and female genitalic cies those successfully colonized land.1 Insects are structures, out of which 37 species under 26 genera classified into 121 families under 27 super families2-3. were reported from India. 7, 90,000 insects were globally quoted by May4 whereas Hammoond5 estimated 9, 50,000 species of MATERIAL AND METHODS: Biosystematics Insects. Lepidoptera is one of the largest order of the study was conducted to determine the diversity and class Insecta.6-7 Moths and butterflies were grouped in distribution of geometrid moth species present in dif- order Lepidoptera. Most of these moth-species are ferent Chirpine forests of Himachal Pradesh. An ex- herbivorous and serve as primary herbivores in the tensive survey was undertaken to Chirpine forest of food-chain and assist in the propagation of a variety of three districts namely Bilaspur, Shimla and Solan for flowering plants which are very much dependent on collection of geometrid moths during July, 2013 to these tiny animals for pollination.8-9 Moths are also October, 2016. Study was conducted to examine vari- good bio-indicators for environmental monitoring and ous taxonomically significant morphological features can be used to identify ecologically important areas and wing venation for characterizing the different for conservation purposes.10-13 The Chirpine forests species of geometrid moths. Collection of geometrid 49 [(Asian J. Adv. Basic Sci.: 6(1), 2018, 49-53) Taxonomic Study on Geometrid Moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)….] fauna was during the night as plenty of specimens of good indicator of deforestation and subsequent forest different species keep arriving. Employment of this regeneration because they have close relationships methodology of procuring collection not only helped with the vegetation they live. in the collection of fresh fauna emerging late in the During the present investigation, thirty six geometrid night or the ones travelling from far off places to their moth species (Table 1) were identified out of the 212 host plants, but also prevented their consumption by specimens. Lot of work has been done by various predatory birds possessing variety of techniques. Col- taxonomists on moth diversity, taxonomic composi- lection, preservation and storage of specimens of Ge- tion and biomass in different forest ecosystems ometrid moths were done with light trap.25-28 throughout the world33-38; but a little attention has Collection and Preservation: Nocturnal species were been given to such studies in India.39-41 Therefore, collected by using light to attract them to a sheet or a there is no scientific taxonomic report about the sys- trap. Light lure system were installed in open area and tematic studies of geometrid moths from Chirpine near woods where light can attract moths from a wide habitats of Himachal Pradesh, so literature reference is area. A light lure system comprising of a 3 × 3 meters’ relative scarce as compare to other Lepidoptera fami- white sheet were tied between a pair of vertical poles lies. and sheet nicely illuminated by two mercury lamps of Table 1: Overview of the identified Geometrid 160W each was used to attract the moths. A wide vari- moth species of Chirpine forest of Himachal Pra- ety of insects were attracted to light including beetles desh, India. and other moths. Moths belonging to geometrid fami- ly were collected in killing jar. Moth specimens were S. No. Name of species Sub family annihilated and stored in sterile collection tube. Spec- 1. Agathia hilarata Guenee Geometrinae imens were kept in a desiccator for relaxing of mus- 2. Eucyclodes divapala Geometrinae cles along with thymol crystal and phenol crystal. 3. Comostola subtiliaria Geometrinae Starched and dried specimens were labeled with in- 4. Timandra responsaria Sterrhinae Chiasmia eleonora formation of collection viz, date, place, name of col- 5. Ennominae lector and preserved in fumigated insects box. (Cramer) 6. Cleora acaciaria Ennominae Arrangement of collection and Identification: The Heterostegane 7. Ennominae collected moth samples were taxonomically arranged subtessellata (Walker) into various families, genera and species. The identifi- 8. Chiasmia frugaliata Ennominae cation of different species has been done with the help 9. Cleora cornaria Ennominae of keys and descriptions documented in ‘Fauna of 10. Chiasmia emersaria Ennominae 29 Ourapteryx marginata British India Moths’ Vol. III and IV and scattered 11. Ennominae publications by Warren, Prout, and Inoue etc. In addi- Hampson Pelagodes veraria tion to this, World Catalogue of Geometrid Moths by 12. Geometrinae (Guenee) Scoble22 has been consulted to determine the present 13. Agathia hemithearia Geometrinae status of the studied species as per nomenclature Protuliocnemis castalaria 14. Geometrinae available in British Museum (Natural History), Lon- Oberthür don. Species were identified after their comparison Herochroma cristata 15. Geometrinae with reference collection housed at Indian Agriculture Warren. Institute (I.A.R.I.), New Delhi; Zoological survey of 16. Ascotis selinaria Ennominae India (Z.S.I.), Kolkata, Himalayan Forest Research 17. Psilalcis inceptaria Ennominae Institute, Shimla and Forest Research Institute (F.R.I.), Hyposidra talaca 18. Ennominae Dehradun. Walker 19. Chiasmia nora (Walker) Ennominae Iotaphora admirabilis RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In natural ecosys- 20. Geometrinae tem, moths play important role as pollinators and as (Oberthür) Biston suppressaria prey in food chain. Herbivorous insects include a sig- 21. Ennominae nificant percentage of any insect’s fauna due to their Guenee 22. Timandra correspondens Sterrhinae complete majority.30-32 The larva of these moths de- 23. Problepsis deliaria Sterrhinae stroyed vegetables plants because their main food 24. Problepsis vulgaris Sterrhinae sources is live plant and act as pest in agriculture. 25. Zamarada apospatulata Ennominae These Lepidoptera species have great economic im- Thinopteryx crocoptera 26. Ennominae portance because of their role as pollinators, honey Koll. producer, silk producer and as pest species. Insects are 27. Zeheba marginata Ennominae 50 [(Asian J. Adv. Basic Sci.: 6(1), 2018, 49-53) Taxonomic Study on Geometrid Moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)….] 28. Ectropis crepuscularia Ennominae Walker, Guenee, Butler, Swinhoe, Warren, Hampson 29. Opisthograptis luteolata Ennominae and Prout who made tremendous contribution between 30. Hypomecis