Meriem Taferghoust; Farrah Samraoui; Hayat Boucenna; Abdellatif Satour; Wissem Hezil; Zeineb Bouhala; Boudjéma Samraoui

doi:10.19080/JOJWB.2024.05.555662

Research Article

Actias Selene Hubner - Observation from The Silent Valley National Park, Palakkad District, Kerala

Balaji R, Prasanna R, Arunkumar S and Kunhikannan C*

ICFRE-Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R. S. Puram, Coimbatore, India

Submission: November 8, 2024;Published: November 15, 2024

*Corresponding author Kunhikannan C, ICFRE-Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, R. S. Puram, Coimbatore-641002, India

How to cite this article: Balaji R, Prasanna R, Arunkumar S, Kunhikannan C. Actias Selene Hubner - Observation from The Silent Valley National Park, Palakkad District, Kerala. JOJ Wildl Biodivers. 2024: 5(3): 555662. DOI: 10.19080/JOJWB.2024.05.555662

Abstract

Silent Valley National Park is a heaven of biological diversity. The flora and fauna of this area are very varied and diverse. During the phytodiversity study, the team revealed the occurrence of Actias selene (Indian moon moth) in the Keeripara location in Bhavani Forest range of Silent Valley National Park. It is the largest month ever recorded in this genius. It adds to the faunal diversity of Silent Valley National Park.

Keywords: Insect; Actias selene; Indian moon moth; Silent Valley National Park

Introduction

The Western Ghats is one of the richest centers of endemic organisms in India. Silent Valley is situated in the Western Ghats of Kerala in Palakkad district, between 11^o 8’ N, 76^o 28’ E, 11^o13’ N and 76^o 46’ E with a typical humid tropical rain forest, flourished with biodiversity, which is considered as one of the biodiversity hotspots by UNESCO in 2007 [1]. It was declared as National Park in the year 1984 because of its rich diversity. The area comes under core area of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve [2].

Manilal [3] reported 966 plant species belonging to 559 genera which come under 134 families of angiosperms. Faunal diversity of this area is also prominent with 25 species of mammals including endangered tiger, Nilgiri thar and Lion tailed Macaque [4]. Snakes also contribute to its diversity with 25 species [5] and [6] recorded Nineteen species of amphibians. A detailed study by [7] from 1988 to 1993 on the avian community of the forests of Silent valley evaluated the species richness prevailing among the bird community of this area. [8] reported 211 species of birds belonging to 40 families in which 30 species recorded to be rare in Silent Valley. A very specious class of Animal kingdom is Insecta [9] found in almost every habitat and through various activities they help in the functioning of natural ecosystem. They serve as pollinator, predator, herbivore, saprophage and therefore they have a very vital role in maintaining the eco balancing [10]. They also act as an indicator in monitoring the environmental changes [11]. According to George Mathew and Rahamathulla [12], ninety-six species of butterflies and 318 species of moths belonging to 19 families including Pyralidae, Noctuidae, Geometridae, Arctiidae, Lasiocampidae, Bombycidae and Glechidae reported in Silent Valley National Park. Therefore, these represent the ultimate richness of biodiversity of this area. The present paper indented to indicate the presence of Actias selene in Keeripara area, which was not recorded in this location earlier. It adds to the faunal diversity of Silent Valley National Park.

Materials and Methods

The team was surveying the vegetation status of the Keeripara area (latitude 11^o 3’N, and longitude 76^o 31’E; 1932.4 ft. elevation), a reserve forest in Bhavani Forest Range comes under Silent Valley National Park. While collecting the plant species during the month of November a broad winged moth was seen and photo documented and its features were noted for further identification of the species. The moth was identified with the help of Fauna of British India [13], Butterflies and Moths [14]. On comparison with the description of the moth, it was confirmed to be Actias selene (Indian moon moth). The individual moth was not physically touched or destroyed. It remained undisturbed and did not show any kind of movement.

Results and Discussion

According to the report of Zoological Survey of India Actias selene was reported in many Indian states such as Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Andamans [15,16] added that this species is found in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Other India, it also found in Myanmar, Sri Lanka and China [17,18] reported the occurrence of this moth in the core areas of Achanakmar-Amarkantak biosphere reserve, Kabirdham Forest Division of Chattishgarh. It was also recorded in Khana National Park [19], Panna biosphere reserve of Madhya Pradesh, Dhoran Khas of Himachal Pradesh [20]. Presence of this moth in Nallamalai Hill Ranges, Eastern Ghats was reported by [21] as well as in Pench National Park of Maharashtra [22]. A. selene was also recorded in Vagamon hills of Idukki district in Kerala by [23] and in New Amarambalam reserve forest by [24]. The occurrence of this species represents the ecological diversity present in the Silent Valley. It strengthens the insect diversity of this area.

Actias selene belongs to the family Saturniidae. In general, the moths of this family are called the emperor moths due to their big and handsome appearance. As per study conducted by [25], 29 plants act as larval host plants, out of these plants, a few species such as Terminalia arjuna and Lannea coromandelica occur in Silent Valley. The presence of very few species out of the recorded plant species as host plant may be the reason for the rarity of the moth in this location. It feeds on board-leaved trees and shrubs. These moths were extremely appealing for vision and had numerous tiny hairy appendages all over the wings. There were transparent spots on the wings with pink and brown blotches. This nocturnal moth, during the night in day light, not show any kind of action or locomotion, it remained calm without any response to the outer disturbances. During the sight, the moth was in the last stage of its metamorphosis. The fore wings are acute, whereas the hind wings are extended to form a pair of tails with the nerves passing through. The legs were pink in colour, the posterior part had a pair of feathered antennae (Figure 1).

Conclusion

Changes in the biome results in the extinction of several organisms, especially insects. In order to maintain the diversity of species and existence of species, conservation of natural habitat is essential. Many areas in Silent Valley are still not explored. Therefore, detailed studies would definitely result in new discoveries. Other than the ecological importance, Actias selene has economic importance since the cocoons of this species is used for the silk rearing purposes [26]. They serve as a part of the ecological food chain and act as a herbivore insect. Thus, a comprehensive would throw some light on the hidden diversity of the moth in Silent Valley National Park. It is also necessary to take conservation measures in order to safeguard the species.

Acknowledgement

We sincerely acknowledge the Kerala Forest Department for financial support for taking up the project. Special thanks are due to The Wildlife Warden Silent Valley, Assistant Wildlife Warden Silent Valley National Park Range and Bhavani Range, for all help and support rendered during the exploration. We extend our gratitude to all the watchers who accompanied us in the forest during the study. We thank the Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) Dehradun, Director and Group Coordinator (Research), Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding for their continuous support and encouragement. We are grateful to the Head, all Scientists and staff of the division of Forest Ecology and Climate Change, for their help.