Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist based on museum specimens and surveys

Abstract

There have been several recent checklists, books and publications about Indian moths; however, much of this work has focused on biodiversity hotspots such as North-east India, Western Ghats and Western Himalayas. There is a lack of published literature on urban centres in India, despite the increased need to monitor insects at sites with high levels of human disturbance. In this study, we examine the moths of Delhi, the national capital region of India, one of the fastest growing mega-metropolitan cities. We present a comprehensive checklist of 338 moths species using 8 years of light trapping data (2012-2020) and examining about 2000 specimens from historical collections at the National Pusa Collection of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (NPC-IARI) spanning over 100 years (1907-2020). The checklist comprises moths from 32 families spanning 14 superfamilies with Noctuoidea (48.5%) and Pyraloidea (20.4%) being the the two most dominant superfamilies. We provide links to images of live individuals and pinned specimens for all moths and provide detailed distribution records and an updated taxonomic treatment.
This is the first comprehensive annotated checklist of the moths of Delhi. The present study adds 234 species to the biodiversity of moths from Delhi that were not reported previously, along with illustrations for 195 species.

Full text

Biodiversity Data Journal 9: e73997
doi: 10.3897/BDJ.9.e73997
Taxonomic Paper
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An
illustrated checklist based on museum specimens
and surveys
J. Komal , P. R. Shashank , Sanjay Sondhi , Sohail Madan , Yash Sondhi , Naresh M. Meshram ,
S. S. Anooj
‡ National Pusa Collection, Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
§ Titli Trust, 49 Rajpur Road Enclave, Dhoran Khas, near IT Park, P.O. Gujrada, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| Conservation Education Centre - ABWLS, Delhi Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary, Near Karni Singh Shooting Range,
New Delhi, India
¶ Department of Biology, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, United States of America
# ICAR- Central Citrus Research Institute, Nagpur, India
Corresponding author: P. R. Shashank (spathour@gmail.com)
Academic editor: Bong-Kyu Byun
Received: 06 Sep 2021 | Accepted: 04 Oct 2021 | Published: 06 Oct 2021
Citation: Komal J, Shashank PR, Sondhi S, Madan S, Sondhi Y, Meshram NM, Anooj SS (2021) Moths (Insecta:
Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist based on museum specimens and surveys. Biodiversity Data
Journal 9: e73997. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.9.e73997
Abstract
Background
There have been several recent checklists, books and publications about Indian moths;
however, much of this work has focused on biodiversity hotspots such as North-east India,
Western Ghats and Western Himalayas. There is a lack of published literature on urban
centres in India, despite the increased need to monitor insects at sites with high levels of
human disturbance. In this study, we examine the moths of Delhi, the national capital
region of India, one of the fastest growing mega-metropolitan cities. We present a
comprehensive checklist of 338 moths species using 8 years of light trapping data
(2012-2020) and examining about 2000 specimens from historical collections at the
National Pusa Collection of ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (NPC-
IARI) spanning over 100 years (1907-2020). The checklist comprises moths from 32
‡ ‡ § | ¶ #
‡
© Komal J et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY
4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are
credited.

families spanning 14 superfamilies with Noctuoidea (48.5%) and Pyraloidea (20.4%) being
the the two most dominant superfamilies. We provide links to images of live individuals and
pinned specimens for all moths and provide detailed distribution records and an updated
taxonomic treatment.
New information
This is the first comprehensive annotated checklist of the moths of Delhi. The present
study adds 234 species to the biodiversity of moths from Delhi that were not reported
previously, along with illustrations for 195 species.
Keywords
species checklist, biodiversity inventory, Pusa, Heterocera, India
Introduction
Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758 which includes butterflies and moths, is one of the largest
insect orders consisting of 45 super families and having 157,424 species described (Van
Nieukerken et al. 2011). It constitutes 10% of the total described species of living
organisms (Mallet 2007). Of these, moths form roughly 85% of all known Lepidoptera, with
over 12000 known species of moths from the Indian subcontinent (Chandra 2007). Moths
are ecologically and economically significant as a primary food source for vertebrate
insectivores, as pests of crop plants (Common 1990), pollinators (MacGregor et al. 2015),
food for humans (Zagrobelny et al. 2009) and model organisms in scientific research (Roe
and Just 2009). Nevertheless, the recent reports on insect decline are alarming and it is
also evident in decline in moth diversity and abundance around the world (Hallmann et al.
2020). Numerous factors contribute to the decline of moths, such as rapid urbanisation,
habitat loss, artificial light, intensive agriculture, pesticide pollution and lack of conservation
policies (Dennis et al. 2019). These reports on global insect declines highlight the need for
better conservation and management; however, they need to occur in tandem with ongoing
monitoring and cataloguing of insects. Much of the work on Indian moth fauna was done
pre-independence, including Hampson (1891), Hampson (1892), Hampson (1894),
Hampson (1895), Hampson (1896), Fletcher (1920), Fletcher (1932), Fletcher (1933),
Moore (1880), Moore (1882), Moore (1884), Bell and Scott (1937) and while they are
extensive contributions to Indian moth fauna, these works are in need of a systematic
update with additional modern surveys and current taxonomy. The more recent studies on
moth fauna by Indian authors have been growing in number and include surveys, based
checklists on the moth fauna of specific regions, viz. Mathew and Rahmathulla (1995)
(Silent Valley National Park, Kerala, 318 species), Rose (2002) (Jatinga, Assam, 81
species), Shubhalaxmi et al. (2011) (northern Western Ghats, 418 species), Gurule and
Nikam (2013) (northern Maharashtra, 245 species), Sondhi and Sondhi (2016) (Garhwal,
Uttarakhand, 248 species), Singh et al. (2017) (North East Jharkhand, 81 species), Dey et
2Komal J et al

al. (2018) (Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 291 species), Sondhi et al. (2018)
(Agastyamalai Biosphere Reserve, Kerala, 282 species), Dar et al. (2020) (Jammu and
Kashimir, 461 species) and Bhagat (2020) (Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, 55 species).
There has been a tendencey to focus on studying regions of higher biodiversity, including
the Western and Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats; however, there has been
much less work done from regions with higher levels of human disturbance or metropolitian
cities in India.
In this study, we focus on the moth fauna of Delhi, the National capital territory of India, one
of the largest growing metropolitan centres in the world with an estimated population of 23
million (MPD 2021). Delhi, with a geographical coverage of 783 km , extends on the
western bank of River Yamuna between 28º12' and 28º53' N latitude and 76º50' and 77º23'
E longitude and is bound on the northeast by the Indo-Gangetic plain and on the southeast
by the Thar Desert (Dakshini 1968). The prominent component of the natural vegetation is
the Delhi Ridge forest which is an outcrop of the Aravali Hills, one of the oldest chains of
hills in the world. Open scrub forest, classified under the Tropical Dry Thorn Forest type
(Champion and Seth 1968), covers a large extent of the ridge. Such vegetation type is
widely distributed in the arid and semi-arid zones of the Earth where the total annual
rainfall ranges from 50-100 mm. Tree species commonly found in Delhi, in such vegetation
include, Acacia leucoplachia, Prosopis cineraria, Ziziphus nummularia, Anogeissus
pendula etc. (Maheshwari 1953, Maheshwari 1963). Additionally, Prosopis juliflora, an
exotic species introduced, as part of the afforestation drive, also dominates this thorny
vegetation (Sinha 2014). Another prominent feature of the natural vegetation in Delhi is the
Dichanthium-Cenchrus-Lasiurus grasslands (Dabadghao et al. 1973). The fertile alluvial
plains of the State support agricultural crops which also influence the moth diversity of the
region by favouring many heteroceran agricultural pests. Donahue (1966), in his study of
Butterflies of Delhi, identified two distinct habitats in Delhi: the arid xerophytic Aravalli
Ridge (Delhi Ridge) and mesophytic urban nursery area. Though the city is a highly
urbanised landscape with a human population of about 16.75 million (as per 2011 census),
it holds a forest cover of about 13.18% (Forest Survey of India 2019), one of the largest
percentages of forest cover when compared to other Indian cities. This, along with factors
like the presence of the Yamuna River and its nearness to the Himalayas, adds to factors
that augment biodiversity of the area. Much of the rainfall in Delhi is received during the
months of July to August during which the otherwise dry vegetation shows luxuriant growth
and supports the insect diversity.
In general, the insect fauna of Delhi has received less attention with only very few groups
like butterflies (Lepidoptera) (Biswas et al. 2017) and Odonata (Nazneen 2019) being well
documented. The studies on moth fauna of Delhi were always insufficient, the State fauna
series of Delhi, published by the Zoological Survey of India in the year 1997, included only
11 species of moths (Ghosh and Varshney 1997). Later, after two decades, Paul et al.
(2016) added 36 species of moths to the biodiversity of Delhi which included mostly
agricultural pests. The recent checklist of moths of Delhi consists of only 74 species (Paul
et al. 2017, Paul 2021).
2
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 3

There are limited studies in India that have utilised moth collections preserved in museums
and none that have integrated this with primary survey data and secondary data from
literature and citizen science projects. In the present work, we have studied the moth
collections at National Pusa Collection, Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural
Research Institute, New Delhi (NPC-IARI) which is one of the four important Lepidoptera
collections in India (Smetacek 2011). NPC houses over 0.4 million specimens, comprising
56000 specimens of Lepidoptera representing 3300 species. NPC has an illustrious history
in agriculturally important insect pest collection. Famous lepidopterists such as T.B.
Fletcher and Edward Meyrick, worked on these collections prior to India’s independence.
However, after independence, there are only a few experts on moths who could visit and
work on these collections. In the current study, we studied all the moths that are collected
from Delhi housed in NPC-IARI, including our own observations from 2012-2020 and data
from different citizen science portals. An illustrated checklist of the 338 moths found in
Delhi, along with up-to-date taxonomic treatment, are presented.
Materials and methods
Museum specimens
In the present study, the biodiversity of moths of the region was studied by an exhaustive
exploration of the museum holdings of the National Pusa Collection, Department of
Entomology at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi (NPC-IARI) which is one
of the largest insect repositories in Asia for agricultural pests since the 1900s. The
specimens of moths belonging to Delhi were sorted separately for the present study. A
database has been created from individual specimens, based on label data including the
name of the collector, date of collection, method of collection, associated host plants and
sex. This includes more than 1500 specimens since 1907 up to 2020 which can be
accessed at Moths of Delhi, India dataset. Furthermore, identification and reconfirmation of
all the specimens was done and were updated to their current taxonomic positions. All the
representative species were photographed with a Cannon 70D with a 100 mm macro lens.
The micromoths were photographed with a digitalised camera Leica DFC 425C on the
Leica 19205FA Stereozoom Automountage microscope.
Field surveys
Field surveys were conducted from 2012 to 2020 by setting up light traps at different
locations, viz. the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR- IARI), Pusa (28.04°N,
77.12°E), Rashtrapathi Bhawan (28.61°N, 77.19°E) and Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary
(28.4762°N, 77.23°E). This accounted for a total of 73 survey nights. The light traps were
set after sunset during the evening hours generally for 5 hours from 6 to 11 PM using a
Mercury vapour bulb of 160 W. Most of the time, electrical mains were available for
surveys, but a portable diesel-based generator was used to set the light traps at the
locations without a source of electricity. All the moths were photographed in the field using
a Cannon 70D with a 100 mm macro lens.
4Komal J et al

Identification and preparation of checklist
The available literature was used to identify the moths, including Barlow (1982), Holloway
(1999), Holloway (1998), Holloway (1996), Holloway (1993), Holloway (1989), Holloway
(1986), Holloway (1987), Holloway (1983), Holloway (1985), Holloway (2003), Holloway
(2011), Holloway (1997), Holloway (1988), Bell and Scott (1937), Kononenko and
Pinratana (2005), Kononenko and Pinratana (2013), Moore (1880), Moore (1882), Moore
(1884), Schintlmeister and Pinratana (2007), Zolotuhin and Pinratana (2005), Kirti and
Singh (2015), Kirti and Singh (2016), Kendrick (2002), Hampson (1891), Hampson (1895),
Robinson et al. (1994) and Inoue et al. (1996).
Along with the above museum collection data and surveys, additionally, data from citizen
science internet portals, such as the Moths of India (http://www.mothsofindia.org/; Sondhi
et al. 2021), iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org) and India Biodiversity
(http://indiabiodiversity.org/), were also used to prepare the checklist. For a few
morphospecies, we could not identify up to species and we have mentioned only genera
name and numbers.
Finally, a comprehensive checklist has been prepared by including all the data from
museum specimens, field surveys, available literature and citizen science portals. The
classification system used by Van Nieukerken et al. (2011) was followed. Systematic
arrangement was made alphabetically, the checklist being presented below with notes
mentioning previous reports. Additional data related to materials studied can be accessed
here: http://ipt.pensoft.net/resource?r=moths_of_delhi&v=1.8. Representative species
photographs of museum specimens and also those captured in the field are arranged into
plates alphabetically.
Checklist
Order Lepidoptera Linnaeus, 1758
Bombyx mori (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 1a
Trilocha varians (Walker, 1855)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 1b
Eupterote fabia (Cramer, 1780)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 5

Eupterote undata Blanchard, [1844]
Notes: Present study; Fig. 1c
Cephonodes hylas (Linnaeus, 1771)
Notes: Inaturalist, Present study; Fig. 1d
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 1.
Adults:
a: Bombyx mori
b: Trilocha varians
c: Eupterote undata
d: Cephonodes hylas
e: Hippotion boerhaviae
f: Hippotion celerio.
6Komal J et al

Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study
Hippotion boerhaviae (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 1e
Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 1f
Hyles lineata (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 2a
Macroglossum neotroglodytus Kitching & Cadiou, 2000
Notes: Present study; Fig. 2b
Macroglossum stellatarum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study
Nephele hespera (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 2c
Theretra alecto (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 2d
Theretra nessus (Drury, 1773)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 2e
Theretra oldenlandiae (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Theretra silhetensis (Walker, 1856)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 7

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 2.
Adults:
a: Hyles lineata
b: Macroglossum neotroglodytus
c: Nephele hespera
d: Theretra alecto
e: Theretra nessus
f: Clanis sp.
8Komal J et al

Clanis phalaris (Cramer, 1777)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Clanis sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 2f
Leucophlebia lineata Westwood, 1847
Notes: Present study
Acherontia lachesis (Fabricius, 1798)
Notes: Present study
Acherontia styx (Westwood, 1847)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 3a
Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 3b
Psilogramma increta (Walker 1865)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 3c
Psilogramma sp.
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Phycodes minor Moore, 1881
Notes: Fig. 3d
Exinotis catachlora Meyrick, 1916
Notes: Present study; Fig. 3e
Coleophora sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 3f
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 9

Ascalenia crypsiloga (Meyrick, 1915)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 4a
Anatrachyntis sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 4b
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 3.
Adults:
a: Acherontia styx
b: Agrius convolvuli
c: Psilogramma increta
d: Phycodes minor
e: Exinotis catachlora
f: Coleophora sp.
10 Komal J et al

Ethmia acontias Meyrick, 1906
Notes: Present study; Fig. 4c
Ethmia sp.
Notes: Present study
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 4.
Adults:
a: Ascalenia crypsiloga
b: Anatrachyntis sp.
c: Ethmia acontias
d: Psorosticha zizyphi
e: Anarsia ephippias
f: Helcystogramma engraptum
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 11

Psorosticha zizyphi (Stainton, 1859)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 4d
Anarsia ephippias Meyrick, 1908
Notes: Present study; Fig. 4e
Anarsia lineatella Zeller, 1839
Notes: Present study
Helcystogramma engraptum (Meyrick, 1918)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 4f
Helcystogramma hibisci (Stainton, 1859)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 5a
Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller, 1873)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 5b
Pseudodoxia albinea Meyrick 1914
Notes: Present study; Fig. 5c
Eretmocera impactella (Walker, 1864)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 5d
Stathmopoda sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 5e
Chiasmia fidoniata (Guenee, 1858)
Notes: Present study
Chiasmia frugaliata (Guenee, 1858)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
12 Komal J et al

Chiasmia nora (Walker, 1861)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 5f
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 5.
Adults:
a: Helcystogramma hibisci
b: Phthorimaea operculella
c: Pseudodoxia albinea
d: Eretmocera impactella
e: Stathmopoda sp.
f: Chiasmia nora
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 13

Chiasmia sp. 1
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Chiasmia sp. 2
Notes: Present study
Cleora acaciaria (Boisduval, 1833)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Cleora cornaria (Guenée, 1857)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Cleora sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 6a
Hyperythra lutea (Stoll, [1781])
Notes: Present study
Hyperythra swinhoei Butler, 1880
Notes: Present study; Fig. 6b
Hyposidra talaca (Walker, 1860)
Notes: Present study
Isturgia arenacearia (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Notes: Present study
Isturgia disputaria (Guenée, [1858])
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Petelia medardaria Herrich-Schäffer, [1856]
Notes: Present study
14 Komal J et al

Petelia sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 6c
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 6.
Adults:
a: Cleora sp.
b: Hyperythra swinhoei
c: Petelia sp.
d: Rhodometra sacraria
e: Scardamia metallaria
f: Ornithospila avicularia
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 15

Rhodometra sacraria (Linnaeus, 1767)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 6d
Scardamia metallaria Guenée, 1858
Notes: Present study; Fig. 6e
Hemithea aestivaria (Hübner, 1799)
Notes: Present study
Ornithospila avicularia (Guenée, 1857)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 6f
Pelagodes veraria (Guenée, 1857)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Pelagodes / Thalassodes sp.
Notes: Present study
Pingasa dispensata (Walker, 1860)
Notes: Present study
Thalassodes quadraria (Guenee, 1857)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Thalassodes sp. 1
Notes: Present study
Thalassodes sp. 2
Notes: Present study
Eupithecia ultimaria Boisduval, 1840
Notes: Present study; Fig. 7a
16 Komal J et al

Pasiphila rectangulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study
Craspediopsis sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 7b
Haematopis grataria (Fabricius, 1798)
Notes: Inaturalist
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 7.
Adults:
a: Eupithecia ultimaria
b: Craspediopsis sp.
c: Scopula nesciaria
d: Scopula relictata
e: Scopula sp.
f: Traminda mundissima
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 17

Problepsis vulgaris Butler, 1889
Notes: Present study
Scopula nesciaria (Walker, 1861)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 7c
Scopula relictata (Walker, 1866)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 7d
Scopula subpunctaria (Herrich-Schäffer, 1847)
Notes: Present study
Scopula sp. 1
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Scopula sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 7e
Traminda mundissima (Walker, 1861)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 7f
Phazaca theclata (Guenée, 1858)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 8a
Acrocercops phaeomorpha Meyrick, 1919
Notes: Present study; Fig. 8b
Acrocercops trissoptila Meyrick, 1921
Notes: Present study; Fig. 8c
Caloptilia soyella (van Deventer, 1904)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 8d
18 Komal J et al

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 8.
Adults:
a: Phazaca theclata
b: Acrocercops phaeomorpha
c: Acrocercops trissoptila
d: Caloptilia soyella
e: Euspilapteryx sp.
f: Phyllocnistis citrella
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 19

Euspilapteryx sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 8e
Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, 1856
Notes: Present study; Fig. 8f
Chilena similis Walker, 1855
Notes: Present study
Chilena strigula Walker, 1865
Notes: Present study
Kunugia latipennis (Walker, 1855)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 9a
Streblote dorsalis (Walker, 1866)
Notes: Present study
Streblote siva (Lefèbvre, 1827)
Notes: Present study
Streblote sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 9b
Trabala vishnou (Lefebvre, 1827)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Hyblaea puera (Cramer, 1777)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 9c
Asota caricae (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 9d
20 Komal J et al

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 9.
Adults:
a: Kunugia latipennis
b: Streblote sp.
c: Hyblaea puera
d: Asota caricae
e: Asota ficus
f: Digama hearseyana
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 21

Asota ficus (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 9e
Digama hearseyana Moore ,1859
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 9f
Plecoptera reflexa Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study; Fig. 10a
Agylla pallens (Hampson, 1894)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 10b
Aloa lactinea (Cramer, 1777)
Notes: Present study
Aloa lineola (Fabricius, 1793)
Notes: Present study
Aloa moorei (Butler, 1875)
Notes: Rajesh et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 10c
Amata cyssea Stoll, 1782
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 10d
Amata sperbius (Fabricius, 1787)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 10e
Argina astrea (Drury, 1773)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Creatonotos gangis (Linnaeus, 1763)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 10f
22 Komal J et al

Eressa confinis (Walker, 1854)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 11a
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 10.
Adults:
a: Plecoptera reflexa
b: Agylla pallens
c: Aloa moorei
d: Amata cyssea
e: Amata sperbius
f: Creatonotos gangis
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 23

Mangina syringa (Cramer, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 11b
Olepa ricini (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study
Psichotoe duvaucelii Boisduval, 1829
Notes: Present study; Fig. 11c
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 11.
Adults:
a: Eressa confinis
b: Mangina syringa
c: Psichotoe duvaucelii
d: Spilosoma obliqua
e: Utethesia pulchella
f: Autoba olivacea
24 Komal J et al

Spilosoma obliqua (Walker, 1855)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study;Fig. 11d
Utethesia pulchella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 11e
Autoba olivacea Walker, [1858]
Notes: Present study; Fig. 11f
Autoba silicula Swinhoe, 1897
Notes: Present study; Fig. 12a
Hiccoda nigripalpis (Walker, 1866)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 12b
Metachrostis badia Swinhoe, 1886
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Eudocima materna (Linnaeus, 1767)
Notes: Present study
Eudocima phalonia (Linnaeus, 1763)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 12c
Lyncestis amphix (Cramer, 1777)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 12d
Oraesia emarginata (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Oraesia cf. emarginata (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 12e
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 25

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 12.
Adults:
a: Autoba silicula
b: Hiccoda nigripalpis
c: Eudocima phalonia
d: Lyncestis amphix
e: Oraesia cf. emarginata
f: Polydesma umbricola
26 Komal J et al

Polydesma umbricola Boisduval, 1833
Notes: Present study; Fig. 12f
Acantholipes circumdata Walker, 1858
Notes: Present study
Achaea janata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 13a
Antarchaea cucullata Moore, 1885
Notes: Present study
Attatha ino (Drury, 1782)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 13b
Attatha regalis (Moore, 1872)
Notes: Present study
Bastilla crameri (Moore, 1885)
Notes: Present study
Bastilla joviania (Stoll, 1782)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 13c
Buzara onelia (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 13d
Dysgonia crameri (Moore, 1885)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Dysgonia nr. torrida (Guenee, 1852)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 13e
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 27

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 13.
Adults of a. Achaea janata; b. Attatha ino; c. Bastilla joviania; d. Buzara onelia; e. Dysgonia nr.
torrida; f. Entomogramma torsa
a: Achaea janata
b: Attatha ino
c: Bastilla joviania
d: Buzara onelia
e: Dysgonia nr. torrida
f: Entomogramma torsa
28 Komal J et al

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 14.
Adults of a. Erebus macrops; b. Ericeia inangulata; c. Grammodes geometrica; d. Grammodes
stolida; e. Mocis frugalis; f. Ophisma gravata
a: Erebus macrops
b: Ericeia inangulata
c: Grammodes geometrica
d: Grammodes stolida
e: Mocis frugalis
f: Ophisma gravata
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 29

Entomogramma torsa Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study; Fig. 13f
Erebus macrops (Linnaeus, 1768)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 14a
Ericeia inangulata (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 14b
Grammodes geometrica (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 14c
Grammodes stolida (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 14d
Mocis frugalis (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 14e
Mocis undata (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study
Ophiusa triphaenoides (Walker, 1858)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Ophisma gravata Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study; Fig. 14f
Pandesma anysa Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study; Fig. 15a
Pandesma quenavadi Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study; Fig. 15b
30 Komal J et al

Pandesma sp.
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Pericyma albidens (Walker, 1865)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 15c
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 15.
Adults of a. Pandesma anysa; b. Pandesma quenavadi; c. Pericyma albidens; d. Pericyma
glaucinans; e. Pericyma umbrina; f. Spirama sp.
a: Pandesma anysa
b: Pandesma quenavadi
c: Pericyma albidens
d: Pericyma glaucinans
e: Pericyma umbrina
f: Spirama sp.
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 31

Pericyma glaucinans (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 15d
Pericyma umbrina (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 15e
Sphingomorpha chlorea (Cramer, 1777)
Notes: Present study
Spirama helicina (Hubner, 1831)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study
Spirama retorta (Clerk,1764)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Spirama sp.
Notes: Present study; Fig. 15f
Tathorhynchus exsiccata (Lederer, 1855)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 16a
Thyas coronata (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study
Trigonodes hyppasia (Cramer, 1779)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 16b
Eublemma anachoresis (Wallengren, 1863)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 16c
Eublemma bifasciata (Moore, 1881)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 16d
32 Komal J et al

Eublemma cochylioides (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 16e
Eublemma parva (Hübner, 1808)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 16f
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 16.
Adults:
a: Tathorhynchus exsiccate
b: Trigonodes hyppasia
c: Eublemma anachoresis
d: Eublemma bifasciata
e: Eublemma cochylioides
f: Eublemma parva
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 33

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 17.
Adults:
a: Eublemma roseana
b: Eublemma scitula
c: Anticarsia irrorata
d: Hydrillodes lentalis
e: Nodaria cingala
f: Hypena laceratalis
34 Komal J et al

Eublemma roseana (Moore, 1881)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 17a
Eublemma scitula (Rambur, 1833)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 17b
Anticarsia irrorata (Fabricius, 1781)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 17c
Hydrillodes lentalis (Guenee, 1854)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 17d
Nodaria cingala Moore, [1885]
Notes: Present study; Fig. 17e
Hypena laceratalis Walker, 1859
Notes: Present study; Fig. 17f
Hypena peruvialis Schaus, 1904
Notes: Present study
Hypena sp.
Notes: Paul et al., 2017
Rhynchina obliqualis (Kollar, 1844)
Notes: Present study
Rhynchina xylina Swinhoe, 1886
Notes: Present study
Euproctis cervina (Moore, 1877)
Notes: Present study;Fig. 18a
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 35

Euproctis fraterna (Moore, [1883])
Notes: Present study; Fig. 18b
Euproctis lunata Walker, 1855
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 18.
Adults:
a: Euproctis cervina
b: Euproctis fraterna
c: Euproctis xanthorrhoea
d: Laelia testacea
e: Olene mendosa
f: Anomis flava
36 Komal J et al

Euproctis lutea (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study
Euproctis similis (Füssli, 1775)
Notes: Present study
Euproctis varians (Walker, 1855)
Notes: Present study
Euproctis virguncula Walker, 1855
Notes: Present study
Euproctis xanthorrhoea (Kollar, 1848)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 18c
Euproctis sp. 1
Notes: Present study
Euproctis sp. 2
Notes: Present study
Laelia testacea (Walker, 1855)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 18d
Lymantria sp.
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Olene mendosa (Hübner, 1823)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 18e
Orvasca subnotata Walker, 1865
Notes: Present study
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 37

Psalis pennatula (Fabricius, 1793)
Notes: Present study
Somena scintillans (Walker, 1856)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study
Anomis flava (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 18f
Anomis involuta (Walker, [1858])
Notes: Present study; Fig. 19a
Syntomoides imaon (Cramer, 1780)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 19b
Calesia haemorrhoa Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study; Fig. 19c
Anumeta atrosignata Walker, 1858
Notes: Present study; Fig. 19d
Chlumetia transversa (Walker, 1863)
Notes: Present study
Acontia basifera Walker, [1858]
Notes: Present study
Acontia catenula (Walker, 1865)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 19e
Acontia lucida (Hufnagel, 1766)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 19f
38 Komal J et al

Acontia marmoralis (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 20a
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 19.
Adults of a. Anomis involuta; b. Syntomoides imaon; c. Calesia haemorrhoa; d. Anumeta
atrosignata; e. Acontia catenula; f. Acontia lucida
a: Anomis involuta
b: Syntomoides imaon
c: Calesia haemorrhoa
d: Anumeta atrosignata
e: Acontia catenula
f: Acontia lucida
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 39

Acontia notabilis (Walker, 1857)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 20b
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 20.
Adults:
a: Acontia marmoralis
b: Acontia notabilis
c: Acontia sexpunctata
d: Emmelia semipallida
e: Aegocera venulia
f: Matopo selecta
40 Komal J et al

Acontia opalinoides Guenée, 1852
Notes: Present study
Acontia sexpunctata (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 20c
Emmelia lunana (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Present study
Emmelia semipallida (Warren, 1913)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 20d
Athetis bremusa (Swinhoe, 1885)
Notes: Present study
Athetis obtusa (Hampson, 1891)
Notes: Present study
Athetis placida (Moore, [1884])
Notes: Present study
Aedia leucomelas (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study
Aegocera venulia (Cramer, [1777])
Notes: Present study; Fig. 20e
Matopo selecta (Walker, 1865)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 20f
Amyna axis (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 21a
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 41

Perigea galaxia Butler, 1883
Notes: Present study; Fig. 21b
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 21.
Adults:
a: Amyna axis
b: Perigea galaxia
c: Deltote marginate
d: Maliattha signifera
e: Ozarba mallarba
f: Ozarba punctigera
42 Komal J et al

Cretonia vegetus (Swinhoe, 1885)
Notes: Present study
Deltote marginata (Walker, 1866)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 21c
Maliattha signifera (Walker, [1858])
Notes: Inaturalist; Fig. 21d
Ozarba mallarba Swinhoe, 1885
Notes: Present study; Fig. 21e
Ozarba punctigera Walker, 1865
Notes: Present study; Fig. 21f
Ozarba rufula Hampson, 1910
Notes: Present study; Fig. 22a
Ozarba venata Butler, 1889
Notes: Present study
Adisura atkinsoni Moore, 1881
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner, 1809)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 22b
Helicoverpa assulta (Guenée, 1852)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 22c
Heliothis peltigera (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 22d
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 43

Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel, 1766)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 22e
Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 22f
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 22.
Adults:
a: Ozarba rufula
b: Helicoverpa armigera
c: Helicoverpa assulta
d: Heliothis peltigera
e: Agrotis ipsilon
f: Agrotis segetum
44 Komal J et al

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 23.
Adults:
a: Agrotis spinifera
b: Dichagyris flammatra
c: Leucania comma
d: Mudaria cornifrons
e: Mythimna separata
f: Polytela cliens
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 45

Agrotis spinifera (Hübner, 1808)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 23a
Dichagyris flammatra (Schiffermuller, 1775)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 23b
Leucania comma (Linnaeus, 1761)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 23c
Leucania irregularis (Walker, 1857)
Notes: Present study
Leucania loreyi (Duponchel, 1827)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Mudaria cornifrons Moore, 1893
Notes: Present study; Fig. 23d
Mythimna separata (Walker, 1865)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 23e
Polytela cliens (Felder & Rogenhofer, 1874)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 23f
Polytela gloriosae (Fabricius, 1781)
Notes: Present study
Sasunaga tenebrosa (Moore, 1867)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 24a
Sesamia uniformis (Dudgeon, 1905)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 24b
46 Komal J et al

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 24.
Adults:
a: Sasunaga tenebrosa
b: Sesamia uniformis
c: Spodoptera exigua
d: Spodoptera litura
e: Autographa nigrisigna
f: Chrysodeixis chalcites
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 47

Spodoptera exigua (Hubner, 1808)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 24c
Spodoptera litura (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017 Present study; Fig. 24d
Spodoptera pecten Guenee, 1852
Notes: Present study
Xestia sp. (Hübner, 1790)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Autographa nigrisigna (Walker, 1857)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 24e
Chrysodeixis acuta (Doubleday, 1843)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012; Paul et al. 2017
Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper, 1789)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012; Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 24f
Chrysodeixis eriosoma (Doubleday, 1843)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 25a
Ctenoplusia albostriata (Bremer & Grey, 1853)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study
Erythroplusia pyropia (Butler, 1879)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Thysanoplusia daubei (Boisduval, 1840)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
48 Komal J et al

Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Present study; Fig. 25b
Trichoplusia ni (Hubner, 1803)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 25c
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 25.
Adults:
a: Chrysodeixis eriosoma
b: Thysanoplusia orichalcea
c: Trichoplusia ni
d: Arcyophora dentula
e: Carea angulata
f: Earias cupreoviridis
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 49

Arcyophora dentula (Lederer, 1869)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 25d
Aquis orbicularis (Walker, 1858)
Notes: Present study
Carea angulata (Fabricius, 1793)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 25e
Earias cupreoviridis (Walker, 1862)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 25f
Earias insulana (Boisduval, 1833)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017, Fig. 26a
Earias vittella (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 26b
Giaura sceptica (Swinhoe, 1885)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 26c
Labanda semipars (Walker, 1858)
Notes: Present study
Maurilia iconica (Walker, 1857)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 26d
Selepa celtis Moore, [1858]
Notes: Present study; Fig. 26e
Selepa docilis Butler, 1881
Notes: Present study; Fig. 26f
50 Komal J et al

Evonima plagiola (Hampson, 1898)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 27a
Meganola sp.
Notes: Present study
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 26.
Adults:
a: Earias insulana
b: Earias vittella
c: Giaura sceptica
d: Maurilia iconica
e: Selepa celtis
f: Selepa docilis
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 51

Nola internella (Walker, 1865)
Notes: Present study
Exelastis atomosa (Walsingham, 1885)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012; Present study
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 27.
Adults:
a: Evonima plagiola
b: Sphenarches caffer
c: Chilo partellus
d: Ptychopseustis sp.
e: Crocidolomia pavonana
f: Aporodes floralis
52 Komal J et al

Sphenarches caffer (Zeller, 1852)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012; Present study; Fig. 27b
Sphenarches sp.
Notes: Present study
Elophila sp.
Notes: Present study
Parapoynx diminutalis (Snellen, 1880)
Notes: Present study
Paraponyx fluctuosalis (Meyrick, 1899)
Notes: Present study
Chilo partellus (Swinhoe, 1885)
Notes: Fig. 27c
Chilo suppressalis (Walker, 1863)
Notes: Present study
Hendecasis duplifascialis (Hampson, 1891)
Notes: Present study
Ptychopseustis sp. (Hampson, 1896)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 27d
Crocidolomia pavonana (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 27e
Crocidolomia suffusalis (Hampson, 1891)
Notes: Arora 2000
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 53

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 28.
Adults:
a: Autocharis fessalis
b: Hydriris ornatalis
c: Pyrausta indistans
d: Spoladea recurvalis
e: Scirpophaga incertulas
f: Scirpophaga nivella
54 Komal J et al

Hellula undalis (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study
Aporodes floralis (Hübner, 1809)
Notes: Arora 2000, Present study; Fig. 27f
Autocharis fessalis (Swinhoe, 1886)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 28a
Tegostoma baphialis (Staudinger, 1871)
Notes: Present study
Tegostoma comparalis (Hübner, 1796)
Notes: Present study
Hydriris ornatalis (Duponchel, 1832)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 28b
Isocentris filalis (Guenée, 1854)
Notes: Present study
Pyrausta indistans Moore, 1888
Notes: Gupta 1994, Present study; Fig. 28c
Pyrausta phoenicealis (Hübner, 1818)
Notes: Present study
Spoladea recurvalis (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 28d
Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker, 1863)
Notes: Fig. 28e
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 55

Scirpophaga nivella (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Fig. 28f
Scirpophaga sp.
Notes: Present study
Aethaloessa calidalis (Guenée, 1854)
Notes: Present study
Antigastra catalaunalis (Duponchel, 1833)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 29a
Botyodes asialis Guenée, 1854
Notes: Present study
Botyodes diniasalis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 29b
Botyodes sp.
Notes: Present study
Chabula acamasalis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Present study
Cirrhochrista brizoalis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 29c
Cnaphalocrocis exigua (Butler, 1879)
Notes: Present study
Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee, 1854)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 29d
56 Komal J et al

Cnaphalocrocis trapezalis (Guenée, 1854)
Notes: Inaturalist; Present study
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 29.
Adults:
a: Antigastra catalaunalis
b: Botyodes diniasalis
c: Cirrhochrista brizoalis
d: Cnaphalocrocis medinalis
e: Conogethes punctiferalis
f: Diaphania indica
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 57

Cnaphalocrocis sp. Lederer, 1863
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée, 1854)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 29eFig. 29f
Diaphania indica (Saunders, 1851)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 29f
Eurrhyparodes bracteolalis (Zeller, 1852)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 30a
Eurrhyparodes tricoloralis (Zeller, 1852)
Notes: Arora 2000, Present study
Gadessa nilusalis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Glyphodes onychinalis Guenée, 1854
Notes: Present study; Fig. 30b
Haritalodes derogata (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 30c
Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Present study
Herpetogramma licarsisalis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Inaturalist; Fig. 30d
Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Guenee, 1854)
Notes: Present study
58 Komal J et al

a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 30.
Adults:
a: Eurrhyparodes bracteolalis
b: Glyphodes onychinalis
c: Haritalodes derogata
d: Herpetogramma licarsisalis
e: Leucinodes orbonalis
f: Maruca vitrata
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 59

Herpetogramma stultalis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Present study
Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée, 1854
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Inaturalist, Present study; Fig. 30e
Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Paul et al. 2017, Present study; Fig. 30f
Nausinoe geometralis (Guenée, 1854)
Notes: Present study
Nausinoe perspectata (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 31a
Nomophila nearctica Munroe, 1973
Notes: Present study
Nomophila noctuella (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 31b
Noorda blitealis Walker, 1859
Notes: Present study
Notarcha aurolinealis (Walker, 1859)
Notes: Present study
Omiodes indicata (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study
Prorodes mimica Swinhoe, 1894
Notes: Gupta 1994
60 Komal J et al

Pygospila tyres (Cramer, 1780)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 31c
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 31.
Adults:
a: Nausinoe perspectata
b: Nomophila noctuella
c: Pygospila tyres
d: Sameodes cancellalis
e: Trachylepidia fructicassiella
f: Etiella zinckenella
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 61

Sameodes cancellalis (Zeller, 1852)
Notes: Paul et al. 2017; Fig. 31d
Synclera traducalis (Zeller, 1852)
Notes: Mandal and Bhattacharya 1979
Achroia grisella (Fabricius, 1794)
Notes: Present study
Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton, 1866)
Notes: Arora 2000
Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Present study
Trachylepidia fructicassiella Ragonot, 1887
Notes: Present study; Fig. 31e
Copamyntis infusella (Meyrick, 1879)
Notes: Arora 2000
Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke, 1832)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 31f
Euzophera perticella Ragonot, 1888
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study
Nephopterix eugraphella Ragonot, 1888
Notes: Arora 2000
Phycita clientella Zeller, 1867
Notes: Arora 2000, Present study
62 Komal J et al

Polyocha depressellus (Swinhoe, 1885)
Notes: Arora 2000
Pristarthria akbarella Ragonot, 1888
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
a
b
c
d
e
f
Figure 32.
Adults:
a: Hypsopygia mauritialis
b: Acanthoclita balanoptycha
c: Dudua aprobola
d: Loboschiza koenigiana
e: Syntozyga ephippias
f: Plutella xylostella
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 63

Hypsopygia mauritialis (Boisduval, 1833)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 32a
Acanthoclita balanoptycha (Meyrick, 1910)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 32b
Dudua aprobola (Meyrick, 1886)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 32c
Loboschiza koenigiana (Fabricius, 1775)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 32d
Syntozyga ephippias (Meyrick, 1907)
Notes: Present study; Fig. 32e
Typhonia autochthonia (Meyrick, 1931)
Notes: Present study
Leucoptera sphenograpta Meyrick, 1911
Notes: Present study
Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758)
Notes: Kumar et al. 2012, Present study; Fig. 32f
Yponomeuta sp.
Notes: Present study
Fulgoraecia melanoleuca (Fletcher, 1939)
Notes: Fig. 33a
Aergina hilaris Meyrick, 1913
Notes: Present study; Fig. 33b
64 Komal J et al

Altha nivea Walker, 1862
Notes: Present study; Fig. 33c
Campylotes histrionicus Westwood, 1839
Notes: Paul et al. 2017
Analysis
The present study encompasses 338 moth species belonging to 32 different families
pertaining to 14 superfamilies. Two hundred and thirty four species were added to the
existing moth fauna of Delhi. Amongst the different superfamilies, the highest number of
species were recorded in the superfamily Noctuoidea with 164 species accounting for
about 48.5% of all the moths, followed by the superfamily Pyraloidea which constitutes
about 20.4% of the moths and includes 69 species. The least number of species were
observed in the superfamilies Cossoidea, Tineoidea and Hyblaeoidea comprising only one
species each as shown in Table 1. Of the superfamilies, more familial diversity was
exhibited by the superfamily Gelichioidea having species belonging to eight different
a
b
c
Figure 33.
Adults:
a: Fulgoraecia melanoleuca
b: Aergina hilaris
c: Altha nivea
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 65

families, followed by Noctuoidea representing four families. Amongst the different 32
families, the highest number of species (95) were recorded in Erebidae (Table 1).
Noctuoidea is the most speciose superfamily recorded in current study with 164 species
belonging to four families. In these four families, Erebidae was observed to be the largest
family comprising 95 species which constitutes about more than half of the superfamily
making up to 56.7%. Pyraloidea is the second largest superfamily in the current study with
69 species belonging to two families. Of the two families, Crambidae dominates with 57
species accounting for about 82.6% of Pyraloidea. All the data regarding the total number
of species in different superfamilies and families are presented in Table 1.
Superfamily No. of species Family No. of species
Bombycoidea 24 Bombycidae 2
Eupterotidae 2
Sphingidae 20
Cossoidea 1 Brachodidae 1
Gelechioidea 15 Blastobasidae 1
Coleophoridae 1
Cosmopterigidae 2
Elachistidae 3
Gelechiidae 5
Oecophoridae 1
Scythrididae 1
Stathmopodidae 1
Geometroidea 37 Geometridae 36
Uraniidae 1
Gracillarioidea 5 Gracillariidae 5
Lasiocampoidea 7 Lasiocampidae 7
Hyblaeoidea 1 Hyblaeidae 1
Noctuoidea 164 Erebidae 95
Euteliidae 1
Noctuidae 54
Nolidae 14
Pterophoroidea 3 Pterophoridae 3
Pyraloidea 69 Crambidae 57
Pyralidae 12
Tortricoidea 4 Tortricidae 4
Table 1.
Number of species under different superfamilies and families in Delhi.
66 Komal J et al

Superfamily No. of species Family No. of species
Tineoidea 1 Psychidae 1
Yponomeutoidea 3 Lyonetiidae 1
Plutellidae 1
Yponomeutidae 1
Zygaenoidea 4 Epipyropidae 1
Limacodidae 2
Zygaenidae 1
Discussion
In most parts of the world, the nocturnal Lepidoptera (such as Noctuoidea, Tortricoidea,
Bombycoidea, Geometroidea, Pyraloidea, Yponomeutoidea and Gelechioidea) have
received less attention than their more charismatic diurnal cousins, butterflies. However, as
herbivores and a food supply as a prey for other insects, birds and bats (Vaughan 1997),
these insects play an important ecological role and some of them are important pollinators
of specific plant species (e.g. some Orchids and many members of Caryophyllaceae).
Moth numbers have been declining dramatically in recent decades (Dennis et al. 2019).
For example, macro-moth abundance decreased by 28% in the United Kingdom between
1968 and 2007 (Fox et al. 2013) and similar negative patterns have been observed in
Sweden (Franzén and Johannesson 2007) and The Netherlands (Groenendijk and Ellis
2011). Due to the keystone importance of moths in many habitats, such losses are
predicted to have cascading consequences at both higher (bats, birds) and lower (plants)
trophic levels (Wickramasinghe et al. 2004). The present checklist is an accumulation of
surveys in three locations in Delhi which include the Indian Agricultural Research Institute
(IARI) campus, Rashtrapathi Bhawan and Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary and the study of
moth specimens housed in NPC-IARI. In the current study, we have added 234 species to
the checklist of moths of Delhi. This accounts for 338 species of moths belonging to 32
families of 14 different superfamilies. Many of the specimens studied from the museum
collections were previously unidentified and those identified were not published.
Interestingly, the identification in these collections was done by Mr. E. Meyrick
(Microlepidoptera), Mr. T.B. Fletcher and Dr. S.L. Gupta (Macrolepidotpera and
microlepidoptera). Post-independence, there were very few collection events and there is a
discontinuity in moth monitoring and collections in Delhi, except for few agriculturally-
important pests (Paul et al. 2016) and a few common moths (Paul et al. 2017). This may
be because of: 1. Absence of continuous moth monitoring projects in Delhi; 2. Lack of
training amongst researchers to collect and deposit moths in museums and 3. Most
importantly, photographic identification of common moths has gained momentum during
the last decade (Sondhi et al. 2021). The identification of many moth species is difficult
with photographs alone and there is a need to collect and study them morphologically. In
our study, we found that most of the moths from Delhi in the collections belong to macro-
moth families. The under-representation of micro-moths is likely due to a lack of systematic
collections and a lack of experts who study micro-moths. Additionally, our study documents
Moths (Insecta: Lepidoptera) of Delhi, India: An illustrated checklist ... 67

more moth species associated with agricultural and horticultural habitat (e.g.
Helicoverpa
armigera, Spodoptera litura etc.) likely due to extensive human-led landscaping in Delhi
and also due to the greater survey effort in the IARI campus, which contains many
agricultrual and horticultural research farms.
The paucity of baseline data, both in terms of abundance and diversity of moths, poses a
significant hurdle in assessing the impact of various threats like land-use changes, rapid
urbanisation, pollution, insecticides and global warming (Dennis et al. 2019) to insect
diversity. According to a recent analysis (Sharma et al. 2020), unplanned urbanisation in
Delhi that occurred between 1998 and 2018 led to Delhi's forest cover shrinking by half
between 1998 and 2018, suggesting the need for development of conservation zones
inside and adjacent to the capital, as well as increased interaction with urban citizens to
create a better understanding of urban biodiversity. There are examples of the forested
land converted into conserved sites, such as the Sanjay Van, Aravalli Biodiversity Parks
and Asola Wildlife Sanctuary has assisted in sustaining the biodiversity to an appreciable
extent. However, there have been no systematic studies on moth diversity till now in these
locations and, given the rapid urban growth, more such sites are needed to prioritise the
conservation efforts documenting available biodiversity and continuous monitoring is very
important. We strongly recommend the setting up of a study site/sites for long term
monitoring of insect populations and their diversity in the State of Delhi. The monitoring
programme could be undertaken by public participation in biodiversity documentation
involving citizens and it has been proven successful in certain nations (Miller-Rushing et al.
2012, Pocock et al. 2015).
In conclusion, we believe that there will still be many more species that can be added to
the present list as moths are sampled more extensively and studied more intensively using
modern techniques, such as DNA barcoding. However, our study helps to establish the first
comprehensive preliminary dataset on moths of the region, which can be a spring-board for
future well-planned moth recording in Delhi. The areas for future investigation include
concentrating on developing comprehensive species inventory, studying larval host
associations and evaluation and prioritising moth species for conservation.
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr. Ashok Kumar Singh, Director, ICAR-IARI; Dr. V.V. Ramamurthy, Ex-professor
and Dr. Debjani Dey, Head (Acting), Division of Entomology and the administration of
ICAR-IARI for their continued support during the present study. This study was funded
under DST-SERB Core Research Grant (No. CRG/2018/000753) to the corresponding
author. This work is also a part of the Master’s thesis of the first author to be submitted to
the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. The first author
acknowledges the the support of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi by
providing a Junior Research Fellowship and also NAHEP, Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR), New Delhi, Grant No. NAHEP/CAAST/2018-19/07. We also thank Dr.
Gautam Talukdar, Scientist E and Mr. Dinesh Singh Pundir, Web Information Manager from
68 Komal J et al

Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India for helping us in GBIF data
submission.
Author contributions
JK, SPR, SS, SM: Conducted fieldwork, compiled data, inspected specimens, manuscript
writing. SPR: Conceived the project. NMM, YS and AS: Compiled data, verified records,
assisted in writing the manuscript. SPR: Supervision. SPR and NMM: Funding acquisition.
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