UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Moths (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) represent one of the most taxonomically and ecologically diverse groups of insects on Earth, playing pivotal roles as pollinators, herbivores, prey, and bioindicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity. Despite their ecological significance, many regions in the Indian subcontinent remain poorly studied with respect to moth diversity. Silarigaon, a forested locality in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, is one such underexplored region. A week-long light trap survey conducted from 15 to 21 October 2025 documented the moth fauna of this area. A total of 101 species belonging to 87 genera under 8 families were recorded during the study period. The most species-rich family was Geometridae (32 species), followed by Erebidae (24 species), Crambidae (11 species), and Noctuidae (21 species). Other families, including Drepanidae, Nolidae, and Pyralidae, were represented by fewer species. Among the recorded taxa, 88 species were identified as potential nocturnal pollinators, emphasizing the ecological importance of moths in sustaining nighttime pollination networks within the region. The results provide a valuable baseline for future ecological and conservation-oriented studies in the area and contribute to the understanding of eastern Himalayan biodiversity. Most recorded species were categorized as “Not Evaluated” under current IUCN assessments, highlighting substantial knowledge gaps in moth conservation within the eastern Himalayan region. This study represents the first systematic documentation of moth diversity from Silarigaon and contributes to the growing body of knowledge on Lepidoptera in the eastern Himalayas.