Diversity of Tortricid Moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Kashmir division, Jammu & Kashmir, India

Abstract

The present study was carried out in districts Anantnag, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Kargil and Leh of J&K State during 2010-2012. The whole collection of 2217 tortricid moth specimens comprised of 30 species out of five species (Acleris birdi sp. nov., Choristoneura pseudofumiferana sp. nov., Clepsis kupwari sp. nov., Eucosma gundai sp. nov. and Rhopobota pseudonaevana sp. nov.) were reported as new to science, two species [(Crocidosema plebejana Zeller and Matsumuraeses phaseoli (Matsumura)] as new to Jammu & Kashmir and one species (Grapholita molesta Busck) new to India. In this study, highest diversity and evenness indices were observed in Anantnag (H′ = 1.26268, J = 0.854825), followed by Kupwara (H′ = 1.22247, J = 0.827603) while as lowest were observed in Leh (H′ = 0.94035, J = 0.636610), respectively, the highest dominance index was observed in Leh (D = 0.363390). Results also indicated highest relative abundance of Rhopobota naevana (14 %) followed by Archips cantinus (12%) and Clepsis rurinana (10%).