India, March 15 -- Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Saturday said scientists at the Zoological Survey of India have announced the discovery of two new species of lichen moths. "The discovery of Caulocera Hollowayi and Asura Buxa is a vital contribution to the documentation of India's moth biodiversity," the minister wrote in a social media post.

He said this success underscores the necessity of sustained taxonomic efforts in biodiversity hotspots like the Himalayas. The findings, published in the prestigious international taxonomic journal Zootaxa, document seven new species records of lichen from India in the same publication.

Lauding the contribution, Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Zoological Survey of India, said, "Res...