India, Nov. 5 -- Though the diversity and number of moths have declined globally over the past few decades, researchers have spotted the Lesser Rice-Leaf Roller Moth species for the first time in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district. This species was recorded for the first time in the state during a joint survey conducted in the Tilak Nagar area of Bhilwara city by Dr Anil Kumar Tripathi from the Zoology Department of MLV Government College, Bhilwara; Dr Anil Kumar Sharma from Dr BRA Government PG College, Nimbahera; Dr Kailash Chandra Nagar from Meera Girls College, Udaipur; and Dr Narayan Lal Choudhary from Adarsh Mahavidyalaya, Jodhpur. "Moths belong to the order Lepidoptera and are economically important herbivores in the ecosystem. The present observation provides the first record of the Lesser Rice-Leaf Roller Moth from Rajasthan. Previously, its presence had been recorded in various regions of the country, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala," Dr Choudhary, a member of the research team said "During regular field visits across central, southern, and western Rajasthan, we observed this species of Lesser Rice-Leaf Roller Moth in the Tilak Nagar area of Bhilwara. Males of this species are usually smaller than females. Females have triangular, brownish-yellow forewings, whereas males are characterised by their dark brown patches and shining scales along the mid-costa," he further added. The researchers pointed out that recent studies have shown a significant decline in moth diversity and population worldwide over the last few decades. This decline is linked to multiple factors, including habitat loss, degradation, fragmentation, intensified agriculture, changes in woodland management, urbanisation, industrialisation, chemical pollution, artificial night lighting, and climate change. They further noted that in urban areas, unplanned development has led to a sharp decline in greenery and plant cover. Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation pose serious threats to native biodiversity, leaving only a few species capable of surviving extensive environmental and biological changes....