1Department of Entomology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences (Deemed to be University), Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore - 641 114, Tamil Nadu, India
*Corresponding author's E-mail: rathikannu@karunya.edu
Online published on 4 January, 2023.
In the present study, economically most important, five pests species viz., Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenee, 1854) on castor, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee, 1854 on brinjal; Diaphania indica (Saunders, 1851) on ashgourd and ribbedgourd; Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787) on redgram and lablab; Haritalodes derogata (Fabricius, 1775) on cotton were recorded under the speciose subfamily Spilomelinae. Labial palpi of all species short, porrect or upturned and revealed presence of sexual dimorphism in labial palpi of L. orbonalis. Diaphania recognized structurally by the presence of a strong anal tuft of distinctly spatulate scales, present in both sexes though weakly developed in female. Male and female genitalia of the five different species were studied and described.
Genitalia, Morphology, Pests, Spilomelinae, Taxonomy
