Introduction

Lepidoptera comprises of Butterflies and Moths. According to VAN NIEUKERKEN et al. (2011), 157,424 species of Lepidoptera under 15,578 genera have been reported globally. 13,500 species of moths have been reported from India (CHANDRA, 2011). Moths are characterized by drably-colored scales on the body, phytophagous and predominantly nocturnal nature. They are also considered vital for ecosystem services because of various roles such as agricultural pests (SHARMA & BISEN, 2013), food for mammals (VAUGHAN, 1997), birds (WILSON et al., 1999), night pollinators (MACGREGOR et al., 2015). They are very sensitive to climate changes and vegetation alterations, making them an important group for monitoring climate and habitat changes (DAR & JAMAL, 2021a). The sudden decline of moths has severe effects on birds, bats and plants because of keystone role of moths in an ecosystem (DAR & JAMAL, 2021b). Trypanophora semihyalina Kollar, 1844 is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in south-east Asia, including India, China, Hong Kong and parts of Taiwan (ANONYMOUS, 2022).

Previous recorded food plants of this moth caterpillar are Barringtonia acutangula (L.) Gaertn. (Family: Lecythidaceae), Bombax ceiba Linnaeus (Malvaceae), Careya sp. Roxb. (Lecythidaceae), Carissa carandas (Linnaeus Apocynaceae), Gardenia J. Ellis (Rubiaceae), Holarrhena sp. R. Br. (Apocynaceae), Lagerstroemia including Lagerstroemia indica (L.) Pers. (Lagerstroemia) and Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. (Lagerstroemia), Ricinus communis Linnaeus (Euphorbiaceae), Rosa sp. Linnaeus (Rosaeceae), Shorea robusta Roth (Dipterocarpaceae), Terminalia including Terminalia catappaLinnaeus (Combretaceae) and Terminalia tomentosa Linnaeus (Combretaceae) and Ziziphus including Ziziphus mauritiana Lam. (Rhamnaceae) (ROBINSON et al., 2010). MESHRAM & GARG (2000) reported this moth as a defoliator of Gmelina arborea Roxb. (Lamiaceae). This caterpillar also seen as pest on Mangifera indica Linnaeus (Anacardiaceae) in southern West Bengal (JHA & PAUL, 2002). Psidium guajava Linnaeus (Myrtaceae) is also reported as larval host plant from West Bengal in previous studies (ARAJUSH PAYRA, 2020).

Results and discussions

On 31-VIII-2019, First author found the caterpillar (Figs 3-4) of Trypanophora semihyalina Kollar feeding on Rubus ellipticusSmith (Rosaceae) inside Baba Ghulam Shah Bashah University in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, India at an altitude of around 1200 m and the coordinates were recorded as (33º23’38.2’’ N, 74º20’36.8’’ E) (Fig. 4). After August same species caterpillar was found on 6-IX-2019 and 2-XI-2019 on Rubus ellipticus. Caterpillar was showing defense (Fig. 1) also on touching the leaf in the form of watery drops like.

Figures 1-3
1. Caterpillar of Trypanophora semihyalina Kollar showing defense. 2-3. Caterpillar feeding on Rubus ellipticus.

Figure 4
A map showing the Location of Trypanophora semihyalina caterpillar in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. (Map source: Google Earth Maps).

Acknowledgments

Authors are thankful to Mr. Sankararaman H for the identification of caterpillar ofTrypanophora semihyalina Kollar, [1844] and Authors are also very thankful to Sh. Om Prakash Sharma (IFS Retd.) for the identification of food plant Rubus ellipticus Smith, 1815.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ANONYMOUS, 2022.– Trypanophora semihyalina, iNaturalist observation entry: Accessed on 24 February 2022

ARAJUSH, P., 2020.– New larval host plant of Trypanophora semihyalina Kollar [1844] (Insecta: Lepidoptera:Zygaenidae: Chalcosinae) from West Bengal, India.– Bionotes, 22(3): 138-140.

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SHARMA, A. K. & BISEN, U. K., 2013.– Taxonomic documentation of insect pest fauna of vegetable ecosystem collected in light trap.– International Journal of Environmental Science: Development and Monitoring, .(3): 4-10.

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Notas de autor

*Autor para la correspondencia / Corresponding author sheikhtass@gmail.com