Scientists from the western regional
centre of the Zoological Survey of India, Pune, announced the discovery of a
new Forester Moth species from the Kali Tiger Reserve
¨
Scientists from the
western regional centre of the Zoological Survey of India, Pune, announced the
discovery of a new Forester Moth species from the Kali Tiger Reserve on 17 June
2026.
¨
The new species has been
named Mimeusemia kali Kalawate & László, 2026.
¨
It is the first new
addition to the genus Mimeusemia in nearly 30 years.
¨
Forester moths belong to
the Zygaenidae family, which includes day-flying moths found across Asia,
Europe, and Africa.
¨
The genus Mimeusemia now
comprises 30 taxa worldwide, including 23 species and 7 subspecies.
¨
The discovery was made in
the Kali Tiger Reserve, a protected area in the Western Ghats of Karnataka.
¨ The study was led by
Aparna Kalawate of the Zoological Survey of India, Pune, in collaboration with
Gyula M. László of the Natural History Museum, London.
¨ Mimeusemia kali was distinguished from related species based on its morphological characteristics, reproductive structures, and genetic features.
¨ The species description was published in the international scientific journal Zootaxa.
