Jamaica’s moths land on website
INFORMATION on 730 species of Jamaica’s moths can now be accessed through a link on the Moths of Belize website at www.tropicalmoths.org.
The website is a project of Belize lepidopterist, Matthew Barnes, who collected the insects over a one-year period — 1987-88. In addition, data from fellow researchers as well as help from “various specialists” helped to establish a preliminary inventory of the moths.
According to the website, of the estimated 100 species of moths in Jamaica, 40 per cent are endemic.
The website gives an overview of moths in Jamaica as well as a listing of the various species. It also posts images of 21 of our local moths.
Barnes hopes through his website, similar internet catalogues may help to stimulate interest in the biodiversity of lepidoptera other than butterflies and of other insects in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.
