The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has officially completed the first-ever comprehensive catalogue of butterflies and moths found within the country. This monumental scientific effort, which documents a total of 13,703 species, serves as a definitive reference for lepidopterists and biodiversity researchers. The project was led by ZSI taxonomists Dr. Rahul Joshi and Dr. Navneet Singh.

The final volume of the research series, which consolidates years of taxonomic study, has been published in the peer-reviewed international journal Zootaxa. This publication marks the conclusion of a long-term initiative to map the diversity of these insects across India’s varied ecological zones. By providing a standardized list and classification, the catalogue is expected to assist in future conservation efforts and environmental impact assessments. The documentation process involved verifying historical records alongside recent field observations to ensure the accuracy of the species count. This catalogue is considered a significant milestone for Indian entomology, providing a centralized database that was previously fragmented across various regional studies and older taxonomic records.