Indian Scientists Discover Two New Lichen Moth Species, Crucial for Air Pollution Study

• Scientists at the Zoological Survey of India discovered two new species of lichen moths: Caulocera Hollowayi and Asura Buxa.
• Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced the discovery, highlighting its importance for India's moth biodiversity.
• The findings, published in Zootaxa, underscore the need for sustained taxonomic efforts in biodiversity hotspots like the Himalayas.
• These moths, collected from Sikkim and West Bengal, are identified by unique physical features and serve as indicator species for air pollution.
• ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee emphasized the research's role in understanding ecosystem functioning and air pollution indicators in the Indian Himalaya.