Moths of Superfamily Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera: Heterocera) from Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh, Central India

Abstract

Noctuoidea is a highly diverse superfamily of moths with ecological and economic relevance in forest and agricultural systems. This study documented the Noctuoidea fauna of Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary, Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, Central India, based on surveys conducted from 2022 to 2024 across different forest ranges. Moths were collected using insect nets, light traps and light sheets operated between 09:00 p.m. and 03:00 a.m. Specimens were examined using diagnostic characters and available taxonomic keys, literature and field guides, and were deposited in the National Zoological Collection of the Central Zone Regional Centre, Jabalpur. The survey recorded 82 species belonging to five families and 26 subfamilies. Erebidae was the most species-rich family, with 55 species, followed by Noctuidae with 16 species, Nolidae with five species, Notodontidae with four species and Euteliidae with two species. Within Erebidae, Erebinae, Arctiinae and Lymantriinae were the most species-rich subfamilies documented in the study. The recorded species are from the sanctuary for the first time, providing a baseline checklist for Noctuoidea in the area. The findings expand the available faunal documentation for Gangau Wildlife Sanctuary and provide a basis for subsequent studies of moth diversity and for conservation-oriented and pest-related assessments within the sanctuary.