A colorful moth first documented in the 19th century has resurfaced in India, and researchers are now highlighting its importance to the story of a lesser-known species in a thriving region.

When British entomologist George Francis Hampson described the hairy orange insect in 1891, he left only a written account of its existence and the three specimens he collected were lost over time, reported The Hindu.

When researchers in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, discovered that Chiretolpis sylvaticaThey quickly photographed it, marking a first in 132 years. Their study was published in June in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society.

The moth and other creatures in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that may be equally unknown are crucial to understanding “their role in the ecology of the landscape,” co-author N. Moinudheen told the outlet.

The reemergence of species is a promising sign that, despite the sixth mass extinction and unprecedented human warming, the planet is an indomitable force that will endure long after we are gone. With help, everything from frogs to bison can recover and bring the environment back into balance.

Education and awareness about human-induced climate change and conservation efforts can help pave the way to a sustainable future.

The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, according to UNESCO, includes forest ecosystems that are home to thousands of animals and plants. It is located in the Western Ghats, “the most important region and one of the known ‘hot spots’ for speciation in the tropics.” There are 3,500 species of flowering plants, 100 species of mammals, 550 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, 300 species of butterflies and “a large number of invertebrates and many more species waiting to be discovered by scientists.”

“Studying these (lesser known) species and understanding the microclimates in which they occur, their host plants and other aspects of their life cycle and behaviour will help us understand the importance of protecting the remaining biodiversity in the Nilgiris,” Moinudheen told The Hindu.

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