Distribution patterns and habitat associations of Spilomelinae (Crambidae) across arid ecosystems of the United Arab Emirates

The arid landscapes of the United Arab Emirates harbor an unexpectedly diverse Lepidopteran fauna whose ecological determinants remain insufficiently characterized. This research examines the distribution patterns and habitat associations of Spilomelinae moths (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) across five habitat categories in the United Arab Emirates, encompassing desert scrub, oasis woodland, urban gardens, coastal mangroves, and mountain wadis. Standardized light-trapping surveys conducted over 24 months at 15 sampling stations yielded 187 specimens representing nine Spilomelinae species. Species richness was highest in oasis woodland habitats (mean 7.8 species per site), followed by coastal mangroves (6.2) and mountain wadis (5.9), while desert scrub supported the lowest diversity (2.8 species per site). Canonical correspondence analysis identified vegetation cover, soil moisture content, and proximity to permanent water sources as the primary environmental predictors of Spilomelinae species composition. Seasonal abundance patterns showed pronounced peaks during the post-monsoon period in eastern sites and during spring in western habitats. The results demonstrate that microhabitat heterogeneity within arid landscapes creates distinct environmental niches that support differential Spilomelinae assemblages, challenging the perception of desert environments as uniformly species-poor for microlepidopteran taxa. Conservation implications and the role of urban green spaces as secondary habitat for Spilomelinae are discussed.