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Title: A REVIEW OF THE SCHINIA REGIA (STRECKER) SPECIES COMPLEX WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE: HELIOTHINAE)

Author
item Pogue, Michael
item HARP, CHARLES - LITTLETON, CO

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/25/2004
Publication Date: 4/25/2004
Citation: Pogue, M.G., Harp, C.E. 2004. A review of the schinia regia (strecker) species complex with a description of a new species (lepidoptera: noctuidae: heliothinae). Zootaxa. 473:1-32

Interpretive Summary: Cutworm moths in the family Noctuidae are major agricultural pests causing billions of dollars of damage annually. Many species are difficult to distinguish. The study of their life histories and food plants may help to distinguish closely related species. The species in the genus Schinia is closely related to species in the genera Heliothis and Helicoverpa. Species in these genera include the corn earworm and tobacco budworm. These species are the most destructive in the United States, destroying millions of dollars of corn, cotton, and tobacco. A new species is described, and the two are differentiated by descriptions and illustrations. Also, misidentifications in the literature are clarified.The results of this paper will be important to scientists, ecologists, biodiversity surveys and economic entomologists. Also, APHIS, PPQ inspectors and identifiers will use this information.

Technical Abstract: A new species, Schinia regina, is described and illustrated. Diagnostic characters and host plant distributions are compared with Schinia regia (Strecker) and Schinia niveicosta (Smith). The larval host plant of Schinia regina, Palafoxia sphacelata (Nutt. ex Torr.) Cory (Asteraceae), is reported for the first time. Genitalic illustrations and descriptions of both sexes are presented for all species.