A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON THE MOTH DIVERSITY (LEPIDOPTERA) OF UNIVERSITY OF VAVUNIYA, PAMPAIMADU, SRILANKA

Abstract

Moths are conspicuous insects that belong to the order Lepidoptera with 1,911 recorded species from Sri Lanka. The present study is the very first documentation on the moth species diversity in the University of Vavuniya premises, Pampaimadu, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka. This study was carried out from December 2020 to April 2021. University exhibits an enormous diversity of habitats including garden, lake, bushes and grassland having a large number of trees, shrubs, herbs and climbers. University gardens and streets are filled with a wide variety of vascular and medicinal plants like Mangifera indica, Tamarindus indica, Tectona grandis, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Ziziphus oenopolia, Areca catechu, Cocos nucifera and Rosa indica; which are common host plants to 40% - 50% of moth species. Moths were recorded by the examination of illuminated walls throughout the university and hostel premises during the late evenings and the early mornings. Among the 71 species of recorded moths 79% of the species fall under the families: Erebidae, Geometridae, and Crambidae. Identified moth species were showed colour polymorphisms ranging from brown, yellow, white, green, grey, black and violet. The largest moth recorded in this study was Marumba dyras with 125mm wingspan, whereas the smallest moth was Nola lucidalis with 11mm wingspan. This study will improve the better understanding of moth diversity in the University of Vavuniya and can be used in environment –friendly development programs.