This document discusses moths and noctuid pests in India and West Bengal. It provides information on: - Approximately 12,000 moth species are recorded in India, with over 1,058 species documented in West Bengal. - The superfamily Noctuoidea comprises 43,000 described species worldwide, classified into 3,800 genera. Many noctuid larvae are agricultural pests. - Several moths and their caterpillars are mentioned as pests of various crops like potatoes, vegetables, jute, pulses, tobacco, and fruit trees. Damage includes defoliating plants or cutting seedlings.

1. Dr Tusar K. Ghosal
Department of Entomology,
Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Post Office : Pundibari-736165,
District : Cooch Behar State : West Bengal, Union : India
E mail: drtkghosal@gmail.com
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2. In India, approximately 12,000 species of
moths are recorded.
In West Bengal, documented moth
species is over 1058, belonging to 614
genera pertaining to 83 sub-families and
36 families.
Reference : SURESH KR. SHAH, APURVA DAS, RITAM DUTTA and BULGANIN MITRA
(2018).A Current List of the Moths (Lepidoptera) ofWest Bengal. Bionotes . 20(1):24-91

3. In our world, the Super Family Noctuoidea
comprises 43,000 described species which
are classified into 3800 genera. The larvae
of many noctuoids are pests, typically
associated with higher vascular plants, and
collectively have a massive commercial
impact annually.
Reference : Sivasankaran K, Anand S, Pratheesh Mathew, Ignacimuthu S (2017) Checklist of the
superfamily Noctuoidea (Insecta : Lepidoptera) from Tamil Nadu, Western Ghats, India. Check
List 13 (6): 1101–1120

4. Among the vegetables, it prefer potato, active at night, remain in soil during
day, caterpillars cut seedling at ground level.
UBKV/CB/Mo-8
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5. It is a sporadic pest, caterpillars cause several
damage to the seedlings, polyphagus having
wide range of host plants.
UBKV/CB/Mo-43
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6. Larval Host Plants : Caterpillars damage seed pods of Crotalaria
assamica,Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria palida (Leguminosae).
UBKV/CB/Mo-95
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7. Serious pest of jute in eastern India and Bangladesh.
Polyphagus and wide range of host plants ie vegetables
including salad plants, tobacco, pulses, and also fruit trees.
UBKV/CB/Mo-15
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8. Polyphagus pest, caterpillars prefer cruciferous vegetable crops,
tomato etc. The caterpillar damages by scrapping and feeding
leaves. In case severe damage, entire plants may be defoliated.
UBKV/CB/Mo-10
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9. Major pest of all cruciferous crops, Young
caterpillars feed by scrapping epidermal leaf
tissues, active during winter but infestation is
more during dry season.
UBKV/CB/Mo-5
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10. It is a mojor pest of tomato. Its caterpillars also cause damage to gram, cowpea,
linseed, groundnut, castor, citrus, hemp, cotton, okra, safflower,tobacco, indigo,
etc
UBKV/CB/Mo-42
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11. Its caterpillars are sometime major pest of zeymays and other crops
in this area.
UBKV/CB/Mo-96
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12. Its caterpillar are often attracted to ripe fruit of sendudok,
Melastoma malabathricum (family : Melastomataceae), a
widespread forest shrub. I had collected it from Jaigaon (Indo-
Bhutan border area).
Jaigaon/ALD/Mo-97

13. UBKV/CB/Mo-57
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14. Its caterpillar feeds castor oil plant . It is extremely poisonous
and should be avoided. The caterpillars damage foliage,
resulting in defoliation and reduction of photosynthesis
process. They also attack stems and bore into them, and
finally the whole plant wilts and dies.
UBKV/CB/Mo-44

15. Wasp moth or tiger moths are day flying moth in the Family Erabidae. It
is the smallest species in its genus. It is not pest in nature.
UBKV/CB/Mo-48
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16. Its caterpillar feed on Phaseplus sp., Chrysopogon sp.,
Eleusine sp., Indigofera sp., Nephelium ssp. Etc. It is a minor
pest and control measures does not required.
ALD/ SKB/Mo-98

17. This Fruit Sucking moth is
polyphagus and favour fruits of
citrus. In India, it is reported to
be minor pest of tomato.
Generally no control measure is
adopted.
ALD/CM/Mo-99
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18. This Fruit Sucking moth is
polyphagus and favour fruits of
citrus. In India, it is reported to be
minor pest of tomato. Generally no
control measure is adopted.
Adult of these noctuoid
genera damage fruit crops
by piercing the skins of
fruits to suck juice.
CB/BLK II/Mo-100
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19. Adult of these noctuoid genera damage
fruit crops by piercing the skins of fruits to
suck juice.
CB/BLK II/Mo-101
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