Journal of
Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 October 2025 | 17(10):
27785–27786
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10221.17.10.27785-27786
#10221 | Received 24 September 2025
A book review of moths from the Eastern Ghats: Moths of Agastya
Sanjay Sondhi
Titli Trust, 49 Rajpur
Road Enclave, Dhoran Khas, Dehradun, Uttarakhand
248001, India.
Book Name : Moths of Agastya
(A field guide to the moths of Agastya International Foundation,
Gudivanka Campus, Chittoor
District, Andhra Pradesh 517426)
ISBN Number: 978-93-341-8080-0
First Edition 2025, 216 pages
Publisher: Agastya International Foundation, Bangalore
Contact : Mr. Laksh Kumar
Email-
laksh@agastya.org
Mobile/Whatsapp-
9902884543
Date of publication: 26 October 2025 (online &
print)
Citation: Sondhi, S. (2025). A
book review of moths from the Eastern Ghats: Moths of Agastya. Journal of Threatened Taxa 17(10): 27785–27786. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10221.17.10.27785-27786
Copyright: © Sondhi 2025.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT
allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any
medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of
publication.
In recent years, the study of moths by amateur naturalists, and
photographers has gained remarkable momentum. This surge in interest has been
driven largely by the publication of accessible field guides. Dr. V. Shubhalaxmi’s ‘Birdwing Field Guide to Indian Moths’ (2018)
introduced readers to 773 species. In 2022, Unnikrishnan M.P. followed with ‘A
Beginner’s Field Guide to Moths of Malabar’, documenting over 400 species. In
2024, Titli Trust published ‘Moths of India: A Field
Guide’, authored by me, covering 1,500 species. Adding to this growing
literature is ‘Moths of Agastya’ by Dr. R. Bhanumati—an
important, and timely contribution.
What sets ‘Moths of Agastya’ apart is its focus on the Eastern Ghats, a
region underrepresented in recent moth literature. The book is based on an
impressive four years and eight months of surveys, and documents 653 species
and genera, including 369 macromoths, 231 micromoths,
and 53 unidentified species.
The book opens with a brief introduction to moth morphology and ecology,
along with useful sections on moth watching, tourism, and awareness. A concise
guide to moth identification makes the book accessible to beginners. The main
species accounts are divided into two sections—macromoths
and micromoths—organized by superfamily, family, subfamily, and genus. Though
tribe-level classification is generally omitted in the species descriptions, it
is included in the comprehensive checklist at the end. Short notes on moth
families and subfamilies provide helpful context.
The photographs are of consistently high quality, with some examples
showing dorsal, and lateral views, posture variations, and sexual dimorphism.
The absence of scale bars is a minor limitation, but the images remain highly
effective for identification.
The design is simple yet effective, and the print quality is excellent.
Most significantly, the identifications are robust, and carefully considered.
Dr. Bhanumati takes a commendably cautious approach,
recording taxa at the genus or subfamily level where necessary, and using the
“cf.” designation when image-based identification was inconclusive. This
scientific rigour enhances the credibility of the
work.
While the book is largely free of errors—aside from a few typographical
slips—there are areas where additional information would have added value. For
instance, data on larval host plants, where available, could have enriched the
text. Similarly, a dedicated section showcasing caterpillars across families
would have broadened its appeal to both researchers and enthusiasts.
Overall, Moths of
Agastya is a significant contribution to Indian lepidopteran studies. It will
serve scientists, naturalists, moth watchers, and institutions as both a
reference and a source of inspiration. By highlighting the moth diversity of
the Eastern Ghats, it fills a critical gap in regional biodiversity literature.
I hope this fine publication inspires further efforts to document and conserve
the remarkable moth fauna of India.