Urban green spaces as refuges for insect diversity: A case study based on deceased insect collection from Saikheda College Campus, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

"Urban green spaces may provide important refuges for insect diversity within agricultural–urban landscapes. This study documented insects from the five-acre Saikheda College campus, Nashik, Maharashtra, using naturally deceased or partially damaged specimens collected through random sampling and hand-picking. Diurnal surveys were conducted from June 2023 to February 2024, and specimens were preserved, photographed, and identified morphologically using established taxonomic resources and expert consultation. The survey yielded approximately 260 specimens representing 199 species, 182 genera, 102 subfamilies, 70 families, and 15 orders. Lepidoptera was the most species-rich order, with 97 species, followed by Coleoptera (26), Hemiptera (15), and Hymenoptera (12). The assemblage indicates that heterogeneous campus vegetation adjoining agricultural fields can support insects associated with varied ecological guilds. The agricultural–campus boundary may provide complementary food resources and microhabitats, while areas with limited pesticide exposure may offer temporary refuge. A noteworthy record was the lymantriine moth Psalis pennatula, which, based on the faunal sources examined in the study, appears to represent its first documented occurrence in Maharashtra. The findings establish a preliminary baseline for the campus and demonstrate the value of non-destructive specimen-based documentation. Because the survey covered nine months and relied on opportunistically encountered deceased or injured insects, the inventory should not be interpreted as a complete estimate of campus insect diversity."