of Bangalore - 1 Background: Butterflies and Moths belong to the order . (In Greek Lepis = scales and Pteron = wings). These are the only to have scales on their wings. If you have noticed, when you hold butterflies or moths in your hand, you can see powdery substance in your hand; these are the tiny scales that give them remarkable colours. It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable orders in the world. Beet Webworm Common Owlet Imaon Handmaiden Introduction to Moths: (Spoladea recurvalis) (Spirama sp. cf. Helicina) (Syntomoides imaon) Moths are among the most diverse organisms on the Earth, found in many colours, shapes and sizes. Scientists estimate that there are more than 1,40,000 species and some believe that there could be more than 5,00,000 species of Moths worldwide. Moths require food in liquid form; their survival depends on nectar that is produced in flowers and also extra-ripe fruits. Moths play an important role in ecosystems, acting as a pollinator, a food source and an indicator of the ecosystem's well being. Moths play a major role in pollinating night blooming flowers. Benefits of Moths: Moths are sensitive to climate change. Use of pesticides and insecticides and habitat loss are major threats to its population. Therefore, an abundance of moths usually indicates a healthier ecosystem. Increased moth populations may indicate an increase in plant diversity and other pollinator groups Yellow-tail Tussock Black Triangle Moth Buff Silk Moth Acacia Blood Vein within restored areas. Their incredibly complicated wing colours and patterns make a more Moth (Trigonodes hyppasia) (Trilocha varians) (Traminda mundissima) attractive addition to the flower garden and more important insect than most people realize. (Somena scintillans) How to differentiate a moth and a butterfly? Most of the moths are active during the night and butterflies are active during daytime, however few moths can be seen during daytime and few butterflies are active during dusk. A moth and a butterfly sure can look alike and they both belong to the same insect order, but there are few differences to look for.

Differences between Moths and Butterflies Parts Moths Butterflies Heliotrope Moth Pink Tiger Moth Antennae Variety/ Salt - Pepper Hairy, Feathery, Varied Straight and clubbed (Amerila astreus) Moth (Utetheisa Spp) Body shape Stout and fuzzy Slender and smooth Editorial Team : Wings at rest Kept flat or forms a Jet shape Kept flat or folded upwards Concept and Supervision: Sri. Raj Kishore Singh, IFS, Director General, EMPRI. Dr. K.H. Vinaya Kumar, IFS, Moths make cocoons that are Butterflies form Chrysalis, which are Pupal stage Director (Research) & ENVIS Coordinator, EMPRI; wrapped in silk coverings hard, smooth and silk less. Research and Content Development: Mr.Chaturved Shet, & Mr.Vrijulal MV, Researchers, HRBSF. Lifecycle of a Moth: Review : Dr. K.H. Vinaya Kumar, IFS, Director (Research) & ENVIS Coordinator, EMPRI; Moths undergo a complete lifecycle with four distinct stages consuming Editing: Mr.Chaturved Shet, & Mr.Vrijulal MV, Researchers, HRBSF. Smt. Siri HP, Programme Officer, different amount of time for transformation with significant changes at each ENVIS EMPRI. stage. They are (1) Egg, (2) Larva, (3) Cocoon and (4) Adult. Image Credits: Mr.Chaturved Shet, Mr.Ajay Raveendra, Ms.Shraddha Kumari, Ms.Chathura Viswanath Moths of Bangalore: Layout and Designing: Smt. Siri HP, Programme Officer, ENVIS In India, there could be more than 12,000 moth species yet we do not know the exact number of moths present in our country. This small brochure gives you a count of 37 Collaboration Work By : Karnataka State ENVIS Centre, Moths species recorded and photographed in and around Bangalore. Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) References: “Hasiru Bhavana”JP Nagar 5th Phase Bangalore: 560078,Website : www.karenvis.nic.in & 1.V Shubhalakshmi (2018), Field Guide to Indian Moths, Birdwing Publishers, India Harish R. Bhat Science Foundation (HRBSF) 2.Sondhi, S., Y.Sondhi, P.Roy and K.Kunte (eds.) 2020. Moths of India, v.2.00., www.mothsofindia.org BEML layout, 3rd Stage, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore—560098, Website : www.hrbsf.org

Currly-wing Leaf Moth Large Eyed Owl Moth / Pomergranate Fruit Death's Head Seven-spotted Handmaiden Variety Common Owl Moth Piercer Aemene taprobanis (Entomogramma torsa) (Erebus macrops) (Eudocima homaena) Hawkmoth (Amata cyssea) (Acherontia styx)

Red Costate Tiger Geometric Moth Leaf Moth Orange-underwing Moss Footmen Green Drab / Teak Leaf Skeletonizer Clearwing Tussock Moth Moth (Anisephyra ocularia) (Anticarsia irrorata) Snout Tiger (Nepita Tirhaca Underwing (Paliga damastesalis) (Perina nuda) (Aloa lactinea) (Asota caricae) conferta) (Ophiusa tirhaca)

Dusky Handmaiden Common Fruit Piercing Molly Monkey Moth Little Chiasmia Easter Tree Leaf The Jigsaw Moth Moth (Eupterote mollifera) (Chiasmia emersaria) Roller (Dysgonia torrida) (Eressa confinis) (Eudocima phalonia) (Cydalima laticostalis)

Yellow Stem Borer Monkey Moth Variety Lantana Defoliator Grey Swallowtail Yellow Under- Cramer's Cyana Moth Oleander Hawk Moth (Scirpophaga incer- (Eupterote undata) Moth (Micronia wing Snout Passenger Moth (Cyana Spp) Moth (Hypena laceratalis) (Dichromia sagitta) (Bastilla crameri) (Daphnis nerii) tulas) aculeata)