Spatial Distribution of Moths Along the Altitudinal Gradient in the Pithoragarh District of Kumaun Himalaya

The present study was conducted along an altitudinal gradient in Munsiari subdivision, Pithoragarh district, Kumaun Himalaya. The study site was divided into 14 transects, each measuring 200 m in breadth, with the total extent of the study site, ranging from 1200 to 4000 m amsl, and five zones, broadly based on the vegetational profile. Moths were collected using automated light traps between 7 and 11 pm. Four families- Erebidae, Geometridae, Lasiocampidae, and Noctuidae, were marked out by their presence throughout the study area. Two species- Euphyia subangulata Kollar 1844 and Eustroma melencolicum venipicta Butler 1878 (Geometridae), were distributed throughout. On the other extreme, Tortricidae, Brahmaeidae, and Hepialidae were confined to just 1-3 transects; and thus, could be defined as highly niche-specialized. The distribution of species diversity exhibited ‘mid-domain’ pattern, with maximum diversity encountered in zone II. In terms of similarity in species composition, Erebidae, Geometridae, and Noctuidae are clustered together, showing that these families have similar distributions along the altitudinal gradient.