📌 Why in News?
The **Zoological Survey **of India (ZSI) has completed a 12-year effort to document India’s Lepidoptera diversity. The resulting Catalogue of Lepidoptera of India records 13,703 species of butterflies and moths, highlighting India’s rich insect biodiversity. Lepidoptera is an order of insects comprising butterflies and moths.
Syllabus & Relevance
Prelims: Environment — institutions, terminology and factual features connected with the development.
Mains: GS-3 — contemporary application of the relevant syllabus theme.
Current–static link: Revise the underlying institution, policy or concept together with this development.
Why it matters for India
The **Zoological Survey **of India (ZSI) has completed a 12-year effort to document India’s Lepidoptera diversity.
The resulting Catalogue of Lepidoptera of India records 13,703 species of butterflies and moths, highlighting India’s rich insect biodiversity.
India hosts 13,703 Lepidoptera species, approximately 8.25% of the world’s known species.
Static Foundation
Lepidoptera is an order of insects comprising butterflies and moths.
The name is derived from Greek words referring to “scale” and “wing”, reflecting their characteristic scaly wings.
They undergo complete metamorphosis (holometabolism): egg → larva (caterpillar) → pupa → adult.
Adults generally possess a coiled proboscis for feeding on nectar and other liquids.
Caterpillars usually have chewing mouthparts, while adults generally have sucking mouthparts.
India hosts 13,703 Lepidoptera species, approximately 8.25% of the world’s known species.
The catalogue consolidates taxonomic information accumulated over more than a century.
Data, Reports, Cases & Examples
The **Zoological Survey **of India (ZSI) has completed a 12-year effort to document India’s Lepidoptera diversity.
The resulting Catalogue of Lepidoptera of India records 13,703 species of butterflies and moths, highlighting India’s rich insect biodiversity.
India hosts 13,703 Lepidoptera species, approximately 8.25% of the world’s known species.
Prelims Quick Facts
The **Zoological Survey **of India (ZSI) has completed a 12-year effort to document India’s Lepidoptera diversity.
The resulting Catalogue of Lepidoptera of India records 13,703 species of butterflies and moths, highlighting India’s rich insect biodiversity.
Lepidoptera is an order of insects comprising butterflies and moths.
The name is derived from Greek words referring to “scale” and “wing”, reflecting their characteristic scaly wings.
They undergo complete metamorphosis (holometabolism): egg → larva (caterpillar) → pupa → adult.
Adults generally possess a coiled proboscis for feeding on nectar and other liquids.
Caterpillars usually have chewing mouthparts, while adults generally have sucking mouthparts.
India hosts 13,703 Lepidoptera species, approximately 8.25% of the world’s known species.
Mains-only layer✍️ Open Mains Perspective & Answer FrameworkClick to expand ↓
Mains Perspective
Background and key dimensions
- They undergo complete metamorphosis (holometabolism): egg → larva (caterpillar) → pupa → adult.
- Adults generally possess a coiled proboscis for feeding on nectar and other liquids.
- Caterpillars usually have chewing mouthparts, while adults generally have sucking mouthparts.
- India hosts 13,703 Lepidoptera species, approximately 8.25% of the world’s known species.
- The catalogue consolidates taxonomic information accumulated over more than a century.
- Lepidopterans are important pollinators, herbivores and components of food webs.
- This is a high-value taxonomy-based prelims topic.
- UPSC may ask which organisms belong to Lepidoptera, characteristics of complete metamorphosis, or distinguish butterflies from moths.
- The topic also links with pollination, food chains, biodiversity monitoring and insect conservation.
Analytical use
- Connect the development with its institutional, policy, economic, social, environmental or security implications only where supported above.
- In a Mains answer, separate the verified development from broader evaluation and use the named evidence precisely.
Way forward
- Base recommendations on the gaps and institutional responsibilities identified in the source-grounded points.
Answer Framework
Introduction
Begin with the immediate development and identify the central institution or policy issue.
Body
- Explain the relevant static concept.
- Present the principal source-backed facts.
- Analyse significance for India and the syllabus theme.
- Discuss supported challenges or implementation gaps.
- Use one named law, report, institution, date or example from the evidence box.
Conclusion
End with a balanced, institutionally feasible way forward without making claims beyond the available evidence.
Possible Mains Question
Examine the significance of “Environment & Ecology / Biodiversity”. Discuss its key implications and the way forward.