EXPLORING MOTH DIVERSITY ACROSS RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF SOUTH GOA

The investigation aimed to comprehend moths diversity across the rural and urban areas in the Salcete Taluka of South Goa in India. Moths were documented from August 2023 to January 2024 by setting up light traps. Ahigher diversity and abundance within rural areas, hosting 510 individuals from 24 families, was reported compared to urban settings, with 366 individuals from 17 families. The families Erebidae and Crambidae emerged as the most dominant across both habitats. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index indicated that the rural areas had higher species diversity than the study sites in the city. The Sorensen similarity index, with a value of 39%, showed a low similarity between the moth communities of both habitats, suggesting distinct differences in their species composition. Representatives from the families Lecithoceridae and Zygaenidae previously reported from Maharashtra and Karnataka were found for the 1st time in Goa. These findings underscore the significance of understanding moths and their habitats for effective conservation and management strategies.. KEYWORDS :Diversity, Habitat-specific, Moths, Shannon-Wiener index, Sorenson index