Achievement:
The important findings of the project ‘Taxonomy, Biodiversity and Habitat Association of Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in various Conifer Forests of Himachal Pradesh’ funded by MoEF, Govt. of India includes biodiversity and taxonomy of 107 species of Noctuid moths belonging to 32 subfamilies of the family Noctuidae (Lepidoptera) has been collected and identified. Their genitalic structures and wing venation has been examined in addition to morphological study of imagoes of noctuds to update the identifying features of the species. Keys of the taxa such as subfamily, genus and species have been prepared for easy identification of the Noctuid species. Biodiversity analyses of thes species has been carried out to ascertain the threat status of the species. Host plant relationship has been updated by identifying the host plant proffered by the Noctuid species. Faunal biodiversity of all the conifer habitats has been analysed to establish the habitat association of the Noctuid species.

Initial Infection in the Field

Closer View