Location of Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka is a tropical island situated close to the southern tip of India. The invertebrate fauna is as large as it is common to other regions of the world. There are about 2 million species of arthropods found in the world, and still it is counting. So many new species are discover up to this time also. So it is very complicated and difficult to summarize the exact number of species found within a certain region.

The following is an incomplete list of the moths of Sri Lanka.

Moth

Moths are lepidopterans that classified together with their beautiful partners, the butterflies. The two types are easily recognized by first sight with a good naked eye. The main differences are as follows.

Feature Butterflies Moths
Shape and structure of antennae thin slender filamentous antennae which are club-shaped at the end. comb-like or feathery antennae, or filamentous and unclubbed.
Wing-coupling mechanisms lack a frenulum. have a frenulum which is a filament arising from the hindwing and coupling (matching up) with barbs on the forewing. The frenulum can be observed only when a specimen is in hand. Some moths have a lobe on the forewing called a jugum that helps in coupling with the hindwing.
Pupae form an exposed pupa, also termed a chrysalis. moth caterpillars spin a cocoon made of silk within which they metamorphose into the pupal stage.
Colouration of the wings bright colours on their wings. usually plain brown, grey, white or black and often with obscuring patterns of zigzags or swirls.
Activity diurnal. nocturnal and crepuscular.
Structure of the body have slender and smoother abdomens. have stout and hairy or furry-looking bodies.
Scales possess fine scales. larger scales on their wings which makes them look more dense and fluffy.
Appearance of eyes apposition eyes. superposition eyes.
Resting posture fold their wings above their backs when they are perched. rest with their wings spread out to their sides.

Within Sri Lanka, the latest revision of lepidopterans described 1903 species with 58 families of butterflies and moths. Out of these 1903 species, 208 species are butterflies and 1695 species are moths.[1]

The family-wise number of moth species are:

Family Common name Species
Alucitidae - 11
Autostichidae - 6
Batrachedridae - 6
Bombycidae Silkworm moths 3
Brachodidae Little bear moths 6
Callidulidae Day flying moths 1
Carposinidae - 4
Choreutidae Metalmark moths 15
Coleophoridae - 1
Coleophoridae - 1
Cosmopterigidae Cosmet moths 30
Cossidae Carpenter millers 13
Crambidae Grass moths 266
Drepanidae Hooktip moths 9
Depressariidae - 2
Dudgeoneidae - 1
Elachistidae Grass miner moths 10
Epipyropidae Planthopper parasite moths 3
Erebidae Underwing moths 466
Ethmiidae - 1
Eupterotidae Giant lappet moths 15
Gelechiidae Twirler moths 66
Geometridae Geometer moths 219
Glyphipterigidae Sedge moths 14
Gracillariidae Leaf-blotch miner moths 56
Hepialidae Ghost moths 3
Hyblaeidae Teak moths 2
Immidae Imma moths 13
Lacturidae Tropical burnet moths 2
Lasiocampidae Tent moths 15
Lecithoceridae Long horned moths 95
Limacodidae Slug caterpillar moths 26
Lyonetiidae Lyonet moths 7
Momphidae Mompha moths 4
Nepticulidae - 2
Noctuidae Owlet moths 179
Nolidae Nolid moths 70
Notodontidae Prominent moths 40
Plutellidae Diamondback moths 1
Pterophoridae Plume moths 32
Psychidae Bagworm moths 36
Pyralidae Snout moths 90
Saturniidae Giant silkworm moths 7
Sesiidae Clearwing moths 2
Sphingidae Sphinx moths 55
Thyrididae Picture-winged leaf moths 21
Tineidae Fungus moths 44
Tortricidae Leaf-roller moths 174
Uraniidae Swallowtail moths 31
Urodidae False burnet moths 1
Xyloryctidae Giant micromoths 2
Yponomeutidae Ermine moths 2
Zygaenidae Burnet moths 13

Checklist of species

Alucitidae

Autostichidae

Batrachedridae

Bombycidae

Brachodidae - little bear moths

Callidulidae - day-flying moths

Carposinidae

Choreutidae - metalmark moths

Coleophoridae

Copromorphidae

Cosmopterigidae - cosmet moths

Cossidae - carpenter millers

Crambidae

Acentropinae

Crambinae

Cybalomiinae

Epipaschiinae

Evergestinae

Musotiminae

Noordinae

Odontiinae

Pyraustinae

Schoenobiinae

Scopariinae

Spilomelinae - spilomeline moths

Wurthiinae

Drepanidae - hooktip and false owlet moths

Depressariidae

Dudgeoneidae

Elachistidae - grass-miner moths

Epipyropidae - planthopper parasite moths

Erebidae - underwing moths

Aganainae

Anobinae - anobine moths

Arctiinae - tiger and lichen moths

Boletobiinae

Calpinae - fruit-piercing moths

Gesonia obeditalis
Serrodes campana

Erebinae

Herminiinae - litter moths

Hypeninae - snout moths

Hypenodinae

Lymantriinae - tussock moths

Pangraptinae

Scoliopteryginae

Tinoliinae

Ethmiidae - ethmiid moths

Eupterotidae - giant lappet moths

Gelechiidae - twirler moths

Geometridae - geometer moths

Glyphipterigidae - sedge moths

Gracillariidae - leaf-blotch miner moths

Heliodinidae - sun moths

Hepialidae - ghost moths

Hyblaeidae - teak moths

Immidae - imma moths

Lacturidae - tropical burnet moths

Lasiocampidae - tent and lappet moths

Lecithoceridae - long-horned moths

Limacodidae - slug caterpillar moths

Lyonetiidae - lyonet moths

Momphidae - mompha moths

Nepticulidae - nepticulid moths

Noctuidae - owlet moths

Acontiinae - bird dropping moths

Acronictinae

Agaristinae

Amphipyrinae

Bryophilinae

Catocalinae

Condicinae

Eustrotiinae

Euteliinae

Hadeninae - hants moths

Noctuinae

Pantheinae

Plusiinae - looper moths

Stictopterinae

Tinoliinae

Toxocampinae

Xyleninae

Nolidae - nolid moths

Ophthalmitis herbidaria

Notodontidae - prominent moths

Oecophoridae

Stathmopodinae

Plutellidae - diamondback moths

Pterophoridae - plume moths

Psychidae - bagworm moths

Pyralidae - pyralid moths

Epipaschiinae

Gallerinae

Phycitinae

Pyralinae

Saturniidae - giant silkworm and royal moths

Sesiidae - clearwing moths

Sphingidae - sphinx moths

Thyrididae - picture-winged leaf moths

Tineidae - fungus moths

Tortricidae - leaf-roller moths

Uraniidae - swallowtail moths

Urodidae - false burnet moths

Xyloryctidae - giant micromoths

Yponomeutidae - ermine moths

Zygaenidae - burnet and forester moths

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ Koçak, Ahmet Ömer; Kemal, Muhabbet (20 February 2012). "Preliminary list of the Lepidoptera of Sri Lanka". Cesa News (79). Centre for Entomological Studies Ankara: 1–57 – via Academia.

External links

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List of moths of Asia
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