India Completes First-Ever Lepidoptera Inventory with 13,703 Species
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) completes India's first complete Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) inventory |
| Supervising Scientists | Dr. Navneet Singh & Dr. Rahul Joshi (ZSI) |
| Parent Organization | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
| Publication | December issue of Zootaxa (22-volume series) |
| Key Findings | - 3,705 genera - 240 subfamilies - 102 families - 31 superfamilies - Represents ~8.25% of global Lepidoptera species |
| Ecological Importance | - Pollinators - Herbivores affecting plant communities - Prey for birds/amphibians - Environmental change indicators - Agricultural/forestry impact (pests & benefits) |