Heliothinae

Heliothinae is a small subfamily of moths in the family Noctuidae. There are about 400 species described worldwide. They are found predominantly in semiarid subtropical habitats.

Heliothinae
Heliothis peltigera
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Heliothinae
Boisduval, 1828
Genera

See text

Chloridea virescens larva

Taxonomy

The subfamily has been studied extensively. Important works include studies by Hardwick (1965 and 1970) and Matthews (1988).

Location

These species thrive in hot, dry regions of the world (Mitter). They are very common in Australia, sections of Asia, the southwest region of the United States, and the majority of Africa (Matov).

Characteristics

The most reliable characters defining the subfamily are in the larvae (Hardwick and Matthews). These have a spiny skin and a transverse arrangement of L1 and L2 setae on the prothorax.

Features of the adults which are more or less exclusive to this subfamily are the male genitalia which have an elongate, strap-like valve with a simple corona in conjunction with an aedeagus vesica that is often spiralled and tending to have isolated or small clusters of cornuti (Hardwick, 1970).

Food plants

The subfamily includes a number of serious crop pests.

Along with the Stiriinae, most of the members of this subfamily are flower and seed feeders (Matthews, 1988).

Genera

The subfamily includes the following genera:

Selected former genera

References
  • Cho, S.; Mitchell, A.; Mitter, C.; Regier, J.; Matthews, M.; Robertson, R. 2008: Molecular phylogenetics of heliothine moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), with comments on the evolution of host range and pest status. Systematic entomology, 33: 581-594. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2008.00427.x
  • ICZN 1985: Opinion 1312. Heliothis Ochsenheimer, 1816 (Insecta: Lepidoptera): gender and stem designated. Bulletin of zoological nomenclature, 42: 158-159. ISSN 0007-5167 BioStor
  • Lafontaine, J.D.; Schmidt, B.C. 2010: Annotated check list of the Noctuoidea (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of North America north of Mexico. ZooKeys, 40: 1-239. doi:10.3897/zookeys.40.414

Mitter, et al., (1993, January). Biosystematics of the Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Matov, A. (2008, January). The Heliothinae of Iran (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).


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