Taxonomic Studies on different Lepidopteran caterpillars on Cotton, Chilli and Pulses

Different Lepidopteran larvae were collected from various places from Guntur district on cotton, chilli and pulses. The larvae were reared, preserved, identified through proper studies. The larvae viz., Earias vittella, Spodoptera litura, Pectinophora gossypiella, Helicoverpa armigera, Utetheisa pulchella, Maruca vilrata, Sphenarches caffer were identified and described based on the morphological characters and chaetotaxy of thoracic and abdominal segments especially 3^rd abdominal segment and arrangement of crochets on the ventral pro legs. For easy identification of these larvae, a taxonomic key was prepared with the help of line diagrams of thoracic and abdominal segments.