Abstract

                                In the wake of invasive species and climate change, sub-family Lymantriinaea neglected group was chosen to evaluate and consider as bio-indicator ofthe disturbed ecosystem with anthropogenic activities. In the present study,moth collections were carried out through a light trap in the plains at the foothills of the Nilgiris and hilly regions of lower Pulney hills. The hilly region wasmore abundant with 260 individuals of 18 species from 12 genera under 5tribes than the plains with 87 individuals of 14 species from 10 genera under4 tribes. The dominant Lymantriid fauna were distinctly different for bothregions. Plains were dominated by Aroa simplex attributed to prevalence ofLantana camera and hilly regions dominated by Perina nuda on Artocarpusheterophyllus intercropped in coffee plantations. The alpha diversity analysisalso indicated that the hilly region was species-rich than the plains with moreanthropogenic activities through Shannon Weiner Diversity index, Simpson’sDiversity index, Margalef Index of Species Richness, Equitability J EvennessIndex, Jaccard and Sorensen Indices of Similarity.

Key words : Lymantriinae; Biological indicator; The Western Ghats; Plains; Hilly region