Diversity of moths from the urban set-up of Valmiki Nagar, Chennai, India

A study was conducted at Valmiki Nagar, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India to explore its moth diversity from December 2018 to May 2021. This manuscript presents a partial checklist of moths from Valmiki Nagar. Four locations around the colony were studied to record the moth fauna. The study sites were surveyed twice a month using a mercury vapour lamp along with a white sheet, along with over 100 visits at night. Diurnal surveys were conducted bimonthly to observe larval host plants and day flying moths. A total of 135 species were recorded from the study area, belonging to nine superfamilies. The most diverse family of moths recorded was family Erebidae, with 39% of moths recorded in the study belonging to this family, followed by Crambidae (30%), Geometridae (8%), and other families constituting the rest. The moth diversity in the month of July was seen to be the highest. Along with this study, future studies on similar lines will help in documenting the moth diversity of Chennai.

Insect Pest Management of Vegetables in Pocket Areas of Modi Rural Municipality, Parbat

Modi Rural Municipality is one of the commercial vegetable pocket areas under temperate climate. A study was carried out during July 2021 in three vegetable growing areas: Tilahar, Deupur and Bajung of Modi Rural Municipality. A total number of nine quadrates (10×10) m2 were laid, including three replicating quadrates in each area with 500m differences from each quadrates in the sampling site. Overall, 18 farmers were interviewed to collect information about vegetables grown, insect pests that affected vegetables and their management practices. The total number of 24 insect pests were recorded belonging to five orders from 14 vegetable crops. Greater Sorensen's similarity index of insects was recorded in Tilahar and Deupur (ß=0.52) because there was similarity in environment, habitats, larval host plants and visiting plants of insects. Lower Sorensen's similarity index (ß=0.25) was recorded in Deupur and Bajung as there was less similarity in environment, habitats, larval host plants and visiting plants of insects. Insect pests and diseases on vegetables were the major problems in the study areas. The use of chemical insecticides was the means to control adopted by most of farmers while a few of them used other control methods. Insecticides on pests were applied considering fewer precautions. The study clearly indicated that the farmer’s knowledge towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was null and thus necessary action should be taken by concerned agencies to increase rate of vegetable production, avoid the heavy use of chemicals and allied consequences.

MORPHOLOGY AND MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION OF THE LARVAL STAGE OF TWO SPECIES FROM THE GENUS CHRYSOBOTHRIS ESCHSCHOLTZ, 1829 (COLEOPTERA, BUPRESTIDAE)

The genus of Chrysobothris Eschscholtz, 1829 is one of the most diverse and widespread genera of the family Buprestidae of some 700 described species distributed throughout the world. In Iraq, particularly in the Kurdistan region, about 4 species had been recorded so far, many of these species are sympatric, share larval host plants, and are difficult to reliably separate morphologically. The current study investigates species limits and relationships among the recognized species occurring within the Erbil Province; mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COX I) molecular analysis confirmed the monophyly of two Chrysobothris species, Ch. affinis (Fabricius, 1794) and Ch. chrysostigma (Linnaeus, 1758). Implications of the resultant larval morphology and molecular techniques are discussed. Diagnostic characteristics that are depended to identifying the species within Chrysobothris in larval stage were illustrated and then compared with the molecular data.

Two new species of Gelechiidae (Lepidoptera) from Korea, with some biological data including larval host plants

In this study, two new species of the family Gelechiidae are described from Korea. The new species are Teleiodes juglansivora Park & Byun, sp. nov. and Encoplata najuensis Park & Byun, sp. nov. For the new species, some biological data concerning on their larval food plants are given.

ASSESSING IN-SITU SEMI-NATURAL BUTTERFLY BREEDING APPROACH OF ORNITHOPTERA CROESUS (PAPILIONIDAE) ON BACAN ISLAND, MALUKU UTARA, INDONESIA

Indonesia is rich in endemic species of flora and fauna. One of them is Ornithoptera croesus butterfly, which is endemic to North Maluku. Habitat degradation and trade of this species have caused the populations to decline. To avoid the collection of butterfly specimens from nature and to preserve their habitat and population in nature, a semi-natural butterfly breeding practice at Bacan Island was initiated in 2013. This research was conducted to assess the breeding approach for O. croesus lydius using a qualitative descriptive method. The assessment was based on these variables: the specific ecology of the butterfly; the suitability of the breeding site and development model; the utilization of larval host plants and butterfly nectar plants; and the establishment of the birdwing population at the site. The observations and results are presented here. Based on the assessment, the in-situ semi-natural breeding approach is one of the solutions for sustainable use of this protected species.

A note on the rediscovery of the Redspot butterfly Zesius chrysomallus Hübner, 1819 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) from Uttar Pradesh State, with a new larval host plant record for India

Zesius chrysomallus Hübner, 1819 – The Redspot – is rediscovered from Varanasi area in Uttar Pradesh State after 108 years. Cordia dichotoma G. Forst, 1786 of Boraginaceae family is new addition to list of larval host plants from India.