Moths are close relatives of butterflies, both belonging to the group Lepidoptera. Globally, there are between 150,000 to 180,000 species of moths, almost 10 times as many as butterflies. In India, it is estimated that there are over 12,000 species of moths, with many species still to be described. Just in the Eastern Himalayas, a reasonable guess could be that there are 6,000 to 7,000 moth species.
Moths in India are very poorly studied. The Englishman G.F. Hampson wrote the last comprehensive books about Indian moths in four volumes between 1894 and 1898 as part of the Fauna of British India series. This photographic field guide covers all currently described species in 23 families.
Species Accounts
1. Bombycidae and Endromidae (Bombycids)
2. Eupterotidae (Monkey Moths)
3. Saturniidae (Emperor and Silk Moths)
4. Brahmaeidae (Brahmid Moths)
5. Sphingidae (Hawkmoths)
6. Callidulidae (Callidulids)
7. Cossidae (Leopard and Goat Moths)
8. Drepanidae (Hooktip and False Owlet Moths)
9. Epicopeiidae
10. Geometridae (Geometer Moths)
11. Uraniidae (Swallowtail Moths)
12. Lasiocampidae (Lappet, Eggar and Snout Moths)
13. Erebidae
14. Subfamilies Arctiinae, Aganainae, Anobinae, Boletobiinae, Calpinae, Eulepidotinae, Herminiinae, Hypeninae, Pangraptinae, Scoliopteryginae, Lymantriinae Noctuidae (Cutworm, Armyworm and others)
15. Euteliidae (Euteliids)
16. Nolidae (Tufted Moths)
17. Notodontidae (Prominent Moths)
18. Zygaenidae (Burnet and Forester Moths)
19. Limacodidae (Slug Moths)
20. Crambidae (Grass Moths)
21. Pyralidae (Snout Moths)
22. Thyrididae (Window-Winged Leaf Moths)
23. Other Families
Common Moth Caterpillars
Glossary
Index of Scientific Names
Index of Common names