In News:

Scientists have recently recorded the presence of the rare moth species Antitrisuloides catocalina at the Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary in Palakkad district, Kerala, marking its first documented occurrence in the Western Ghats.

About Antitrisuloides catocalina

• Belongs to the Noctuidae family and genus Antitrisuloides, which has only two known species worldwide.
• It is a rare nocturnal moth, earlier reported only from Northeast India.
• The specimen identified in Kerala has been confirmed as the subspecies Antitrisuloides catocalina cyclica.
• Its discovery extends the known range of the species and highlights the hidden diversity of moth fauna in the Western Ghats.

About Choolannur Peafowl Sanctuary

• Popularly known as Mayiladumpara.
• Located in Palakkad district, Kerala.
• Established in 1996, it is the only peacock sanctuary in Kerala and the first of its kind in India.
• Dedicated exclusively to the breeding and conservation of peafowls.
• Named in memory of K.K. Neelakantan (Induchoodan), renowned ornithologist and nature writer, who hailed from the nearby village of Kavassery.

Significance of the Discovery

• Expands the documented geographical distribution of A. catocalina.
• Reinforces the role of the Western Ghats as a biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism and undocumented species.
• Highlights the importance of systematic surveys in lesser-studied taxa like moths, which can act as indicators of ecosystem health.