Scholar from Manipur discovers 17 moths
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 02 2020:
Young scholar from Manipur and pursuing his research studies at the Czech Republic University of South Bohemia, Irungbam Jatishwar has discovered 17 species of moths from the Shirui hills giving a ray of hope to numerous research students in the State.
Speaking to The Sangai Express the young research scholar said that he came across the 17 species during his studies at the Shirui hills and the adjoining areas from 2016 to 2019 .
The PhD scholar who is also currently working as a scientist at Czech Academy of Science said that his discovery has come from studying the butterflies ad moths found at Shirui hills and the adjoining areas in Ukhrul district and added that there is not much data on the study of butterflies and moths in Manipur.
The 17 moths which he has discovered broadly come under the Lappet Moth family, said the young scholar and added that five of the moths have not been recorded in India.
The five such moths are Euthrix Improvisa, Eteinopla Narcissus, Kunugia Burmensis, Kunugia Xichangensis and Arguda Viettei.
Of the species he discovered in 2016, there is Euhampsonia Rubricata found in Shirui hills and adjoining Myanmar, said Jatishwar and added that this has been published in the international peer group review journal named Jutaksha (Magnolia Press, Oakland, New Zealand) .
The publication came out last year.
Other than this, another international peer review journal published by the Attaturk University, Turkey also came out last year, he added.
Jatishwar from Khundrakpam in Imphal East passed out from Manipur Public School and did his graduation and post graduation from Ahmednagar in Maharashtra.
It was in Bhutan where he worked for five years that he came in close contact with a number of international scientists who closely studied butterflies and moths, said the young scholar.
There he met Zdenek Fric another scholar from Czech Republic in 2016 who invited him to come there for his PhD .
The young scholar said that he has finished his PhD thesis and submitted the same and added that he is still studying butterflies and moths.
He plans to name the moths he has discovered after the chief of Shirui village.