Scientists discover 2 new moth species in eastern Himalayas

Zoological Survey of India scientists discovered two new lichen moth species—*Caulocera hollowayi* and *Asura buxa*—in the eastern Himalayas. The findings, published in *Zootaxa*, enhance understanding of India’s moth biodiversity and aid ecological monitoring of sensitive ecosystems

Kolkata: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new species of lichen moths in the eastern Himalayan region.

The newly identified species — Caulocera hollowayi S Singh, N Singh & Bhattacharya, 2026 and Asura buxa Bhattacharya, S Singh & N Singh, 2026 — have been described by an Indian research team and documented in the international taxonomic journal ‘Zootaxa’ on March 2, a ZSI spokesperson said on Wednesday.

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Caulocera hollowayi was identified from specimens collected near Golitar in Sikkim, while Asura buxa was discovered from specimens collected in Panijhora in West Bengal.

The names of persons spelt after the species are the scientists — Navneet Singh from ZSI, Kolkata, Santosh Singh from Central Zone Regional Centre of ZSI, Jabalpur, and Srishti Bhattacharya, a UGC senior research fellow at ZSI — who formally described and identified the species in the scientific publication.

“These names formally recognise a species as new to science, ensure global scientific identification and classification and help scientists track biodiversity, evolution and conservation needs,” the spokesperson said.

Along with the description of these two new species, the research paper also reported seven more species of lichen moths recorded in India for the first time, she said.

ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee said the discovery is an important contribution to documenting India’s moth biodiversity and understanding lesser-known insect groups.

“These discoveries are vital for expanding knowledge about India’s moth diversity. Research on groups like Lepidoptera helps scientists understand ecosystem functioning, especially in biodiversity hotspots such as the Himalayas,” Banerjee said.

Researchers distinguished the two species based on their unique physical characteristics, including the colour patterns and bands on their wings, as well as differences in microscopic body structures. These include specialised reproductive structures known in insect taxonomy, which help scientists accurately identify and classify species.

The team also examined the arrangement of tiny body scales and bristle patterns — a feature known as chaetotaxy — which further confirmed that the specimens belonged to previously unknown species, the ZSI spokesperson said.

Lichen moths play an important ecological role because their caterpillars feed on lichens, organisms that are highly sensitive to environmental pollution.

Because lichens are affected by polluted air, the presence or absence of these moths can help scientists monitor air quality and environmental health, particularly in fragile mountain ecosystems like the Indian Himalayas, she added.