Studies On Biodiversity ofMoth Fauna in an Around,Sakri taluka, Dist. Dhule(M.S.)

Abstract

Moths (Order: Lepidoptera) play a vital role in ecosystem functioning and are widely recognizedas effective bio-indicators due to their sensitivity to environmental fluctuations. The presentstudy documents the diversity and seasonal occurrence of moth fauna in grassland andagricultural ecosystems of Sakri Taluka, District Dhule, Maharashtra, India. Systematic fieldsurveys were conducted from July 2023 to December 2023 across heterogeneous habitatsincluding tropical deciduous vegetation, bushy landscapes, pond margins and semi-evergreenriverine zones. Moth specimens were collected using light traps operated from dusk to dawn andsubsequently preserved and identified using standard taxonomic literature. A total of 42 speciesrepresenting 11 families were recorded during the study period. The families Noctuidae,Limacodidae, Lasiocampidae, Lymantriidae, Crambidae, Saturniidae, Hepialidae, Gelechidae,Pyralidae, Geometridae and Gracillariidae were documented, with Noctuidae emerging as themost dominant family in terms of species richness.