A study on the habitat characteristics of Moths in some selected sites of Barpeta District, Assam, India
1Maniza Choudhury, 2*Mofidul Islam and 1Parthankar Choudhury
1Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar - 788011 (India) 2Department of Zoology, PDUAM- Behali, Biswanath, Assam - 784184 (India) *Corresponding author: mofi.glp@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT
In the study conducted in the Barpeta district, a comprehensive assessment of the local flora was carried out, identifying a total of 113 tree species from 43 different families. The average species richness among the tree species within moth habitats was found to be S= 43.5±7.05. Notably, sites 2, 3, 4, 8, and 16 exhibited the highest tree species diversity with S= 60, S= 58, S= 46, S= 46, and S= 48, respectively. Several dominant tree species were identified throughout the study sites, including Tectona grandis L.f., Linnea grandis A. Rish., Dalbergia sissoo Roxb., Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk., Bombax ceiba L., Lagerstroemia reginae Roxb., Michelia champaca L., Sterospermum chelonoides (L.) DC., Mangifera indica L., Toona ciliata M. Roem., Albizzia procera (Roxb.) Benth, Erythrina indica Lamk., Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels, Premna bengalensis Cl., Melia azedarach L., Eucalyptus maculata Hook, Trewia nodiflora L., Vitex peduncularis Wall.ex Schuer., Spondias pinnata (L.f.) Kurz., and Vitex altissima L. Additionally, the study identified a total of 62 shrub species from 28 families across the study area, with an average species richness of S=19.5± 5.27. Sites 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, and 16 were found to exhibit the highest diversity of shrub species. Furthermore, 75 herb species from 38 families were identified across the study area, with an average species richness of S=54.19±34.09. Sites 9, 4, 16, 6, and 14 showed significant diversity in herb species. The study also highlighted the most preferred food/host plants used by the Arctiidae, Geometridae, and Sphingidae moth families, with these plants belonging to various families such as Poaceae, Moraceae, Solanaceae, Rubiaceae, Oleaceae, and Verbenaceae. This research provides valuable insights into the rich biodiversity of the Barpeta district and the plant species that play a crucial role in supporting local moth populations