Day 1 - Keynote - Cracking the Code: Moth Identification and Citizen Science by Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi

In this keynote, the speaker intricately explores the challenging and meticulous process of moth species identification, likening it to detective work due to the careful observation, analysis, and problem-solving required. She emphasizes the immense diversity of moths, with over 160,000 species globally, and highlights the difficulty in distinguishing visually similar species, which often requires a combination of external observations and advanced techniques.
The talk outlines the pioneering effort to create India’s first field guide on moths, documenting 773 species across 38 families, and details the ongoing revisions in its second edition to correct earlier misidentifications. A major focus is on the detective work involved in species identification, which often requires examining external traits like size, shape, coloration, and wing patterns, as well as internal characteristics such as genitalia structures. However, Dr. Shubhalaxmi underscores the limitations posed by relying on photographs alone for identification. While photographs can capture many external features, they cannot reveal critical internal traits that are essential for confirming species, particularly when dealing with cryptic species or those exhibiting sexual dimorphism.
She explains how this limitation is exacerbated by the scarcity of resources specific to moth identification. For instance, while comprehensive references like Fauna of British India or regional works like Moths of Borneo exist, they are either outdated or region-specific, leaving gaps in knowledge for Indian species. This makes identification especially challenging for researchers relying solely on visual or photographic data, as the subtleties of moth anatomy often require detailed laboratory techniques like genitalia dissection or molecular analysis to resolve.
Dr. Shubhalaxmi illustrates these challenges with real-world examples, such as the Darwin’s Hawk Moth, initially misclassified due to drastic differences between its larval and adult stages, and the Aptani Glory Moth, whose identification required international collaboration and expeditions to confirm it as a new species, Elcysma ziroensis. She explains how taxonomical terms like sp.cf. (species close to), sp.nr. (species near), and indet. (indeterminate) are used when definitive identification is unattainable without advanced tools.
The presentation also highlights the critical role of citizen scientists in aiding this detective work, despite the inherent challenges. Dr. Shubhalaxmi provides clear do’s and don’ts to guide citizen scientists, stressing the importance of detailed and accurate observations, proper use of identification tools, and adhering to ethical data collection practices. She acknowledges the difficulties they face with limited resources but underscores how their contributions, when done correctly, can significantly enhance biodiversity data quality.
In conclusion, Dr. Shubhalaxmi calls for the integration of modern tools like DNA barcoding, better resource allocation, and collaborative efforts among researchers and citizen scientists to overcome the challenges in moth identification. Her presentation emphasizes the detective-like precision required in taxonomy and highlights the need for robust resources and teamwork to advance biodiversity research and conservation.