Ecological Insights into Moth Diversity and Seasonal Dynamics in Ban Oak Forests of the Western Himalaya, India

Ecological studies are vital for understanding biodiversity patterns and their seasonal dynamics. A study was carried out to know species composition, diversity and seasonality of macro-moths in the Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus (Fagaceae) forests (n=4) in the Western Himalayan (WH) regions of Uttarakhand state in northern India. Seasonal surveys were conducted using moth screen over 69 days, spanning 207 sampling hours from June 2020 to October 2023, across pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon periods. 6875 individuals of 480 species of macro-moths belonging to 09 super families, 22 families, 51 subfamilies, reflecting rich diversity. Which included 01 new range extensions (Epiplema adamantina Inoue, 1998) into the Western Himalaya from Central (Nepal) and Eastern Himalaya. Family Geometridae (162) was most dominant, followed by Erebidae (132), Crambidae (45), and Noctuidae (41), respectively; while a low number of species was recorded in the families Brahmaeidae (1), Endromidae (1), and Cossidae (1). Of the sites, Mandal and Maheshkhan had the greatest Shannon diversity (4.283 & 4.557). Mandal forest site indicated the unique moth community structure. Over 123 moth species were recorded in ‘Mandal’ forest, which makes it a unique habitat. Two annual peaks shows in ban oak forest first peak oocured earlier in May (pre-monsoon) and second also occurred earlier in September (early post-monsoon). Habitat-restricted or rare species including, Numenes patrana, Batracharta irrorata, Sypna umbrosa (Erebidae), Fascellina porphyreofusa, Medasina basistrigaria Paralcis conspicauta, Photoscotosia amplicata (Geometridae), Epiplema arcuata (Uraniidae), Acmeshachia albifascia (Notodontidae), Nordstromia lilacina, Agnidra discispilaria (Drepanidae) were recorded, emphasizing the conservation significance of these forest ecosystems. This study highlights the ecological importance of Ban Oak forests as biodiversity hotspots supporting diverse and seasonal moth communities. Habitat heterogeneity and the presence of rare species highlight their role as crucial ecological refuges in the Western Himalaya.