Overview

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has successfully completed India's first comprehensive Catalogue of Lepidoptera, covering both butterflies and moths, after more than 12 years of extensive research.

Key Facts and Data Points

Project Details

  • Duration: More than 12 years of research
  • Structure: 22 volumes
  • Publication: Final volume published in international journal Zootaxa
  • Methodology: Extensive field surveys, examination of museum collections, and verification of scientific literature

Species Diversity in India

  • Total Species: 13,703 species of butterflies and moths
  • Genera: 3,705
  • Subfamilies: 240
  • Families: 102
  • Superfamilies: 31
  • Concluding Volume: Catalogued remaining 1,689 species

Global Share

  • Indian Lepidoptera fauna accounts for approximately 8.25% of the world's known butterfly and moth species

Family Composition

  • India hosts 2,205 species of Geometroidea moths (8.8% of global Geometroidea diversity)
  • Geometridae: Largest family with 2,100 species
  • Uraniidae: 95 species
  • Epicopeiidae: 9 species
  • Pseudobistonidae: 1 species
  • Sematuridae: Absent from India

Ecological Role

Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) serve critical ecological functions:

  • Pollinators: Essential for plant reproduction
  • Herbivores: Primary consumers in food webs
  • Detritivores: Aid in decomposition
  • Prey base: Serve as food for birds, bats, and other insectivores

Significance for India

Scientific Baseline

The catalogue addresses taxonomic gaps that persisted for more than a century, providing:

  • An updated, centralised, and authoritative inventory of Lepidoptera diversity
  • Baseline data for biodiversity assessment
  • Support for climate-change studies
  • Tools for ecological monitoring
  • Framework for conservation planning across India's diverse ecosystems

Conservation Value

  • Enables systematic monitoring of indicator species
  • Supports assessment of habitat health
  • Facilitates identification of endemic and threatened species
  • Aids in policy formulation for wildlife protection

About Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)

The Zoological Survey of India is a subordinate organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, responsible for surveying, exploring, and documenting India's faunal diversity.

Relevance to UPSC Preparation

This topic connects to:

  • Biodiversity conservation under Schedule VII of the Indian Constitution
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • India's commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
  • National Biodiversity Action Plan
  • Environmental impact assessment frameworks