top of page

MOTH Lab: Moths Of The Himalayas

Dr. Mansi Mungee
Assistant Professor, Biology;  Azim Premji University, Bhopal​
https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/people/mansi-mungee 
Community Ecology, Radar Aeroecology, and everything in between
  • X

Our lab explores the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of moths across the Himalayas - one of the world’s most biodiverse mountain systems, and across the Satpuras - a lesser known ecological hotspot of the country

 

We combine phylogenetics, morphometrics, photogrammetry, image processing, and artificial intelligence to study how this remarkably colorful and morphologically diverse group coexists across environmental gradients.

​

Some of us also study other (aerial) arthropods using novel and emerging tools within Radar Aeroecology.

Late night at the light screen — Bicky and I surrounded by extraordinary moth diversity, Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. Photo credit: Satyaraj Nagpaul.

21.jpg

This is what biodiversity looks like: a single light sheet in Ramaling crowded by hundreds of moths, revealing the unseen richness of nocturnal life in Arunachal Pradesh.

hq720.jpg

Nocturnes
Discover the Mysteries

Embark on a journey through the enchanting world of Himalayan moths with our captivating documentary, 'Nocturnes'. Witness the intricate lives of these nocturnal creatures and join us as we explore the hidden wonders of the Himalayas and the fascinating realm of moth ecology.

In the news

🎬 Nocturnes — From Night Fieldwork to the Global Screen
​
Our group's long-term moth research became the subject of the award-winning documentary Nocturnes, directed by Anirban Dutta and Anupama Srinivasan. Filmed in the forests of the Eastern Himalaya, the film follows nights spent at light screens documenting moth diversity and trying to understand how environmental change affects fragile nocturnal ecosystems.

🌿 Field Methods in Biodiversity & Conservation at the National Centre for Biological Sciences Pachmarhi Field Station
 
Students from the Biodiversity and Conservation Occupational Minor participated in an immersive training programme at the NCBS field station in Pachmarhi. The course combined ecological theory with real-world practice — including habitat surveys, species identification, sampling design, and discussions on conservation decision-making. 

How Quickly Can Species Adapt to Climate Change? Evolution of Climatic Tolerance in Tropical Insects
​
We are grateful to the Anusandhan National Research Foundation for the generous Early Career Research Grant (ECRG) to investigate the evolution of climatic tolerance in tropical Insects. The project will investigate large-scale patterns of moth elevational distribution, their traits and phylogenetic relationships using a combination of field observations, automated imaging, and bioinformatics.

👩‍🔬 Welcome to the Lab — Aditi & Vishma
 
We are delighted to welcome Aditi and Vishma as new project students in the lab. Vishma will lead the work on building phylogenetic trees for mulitple moth families while Aditi will be working on image-based biodiversity research — contributing to our developing AI-assisted species identification pipeline.

 

MOTH Lab: Moths Of The Himalayas.

 

bottom of page