Comparative Diversity of Fruit-Feeding Lepidoptera in Primary Forests and Agroforestry Environments of Koraput, Southern Odisha, India

Abstract This study investigated the diversity of fruit-feeding Lepidoptera in primary forest and agroforestry plantations in Koraput, India. Using traps baited with fermented banana, we collected 172 individuals representing 12 species. Five moth species from the family Erebidae and seven butterfly species from three subfamilies of Nymphalidae were identified. Agroforestry plantations exhibited higher butterfly abundance and richness, while primary forests supported a richer moth community. The distinct microclimates and vegetation of the two study sites likely contribute to these differences. This study provides a preliminary checklist of fruit-feeding Lepidoptera in Koraput and highlights the importance of both primary forest and agroforestry habitats for Lepidoptera conservation.