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Title: Systematics of Schinia Cupes (Grote) Complex: revised status of Schinia Crotchii (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae)

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

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2003
Publication Date: 9/12/2003
Citation: Pogue, M.G., Harp, C.E. 2003. Systematics of Schinia Cupes (Grote) Complex: revised status of Schinia Crotchii (Hy. Edwards) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae). Zootaxa. 294:1-16.

Interpretive Summary: Cutworm moths are major agricultural pests causing billions of dollars of damage annually. Species such as the corn earworm and tobacco budworm destroy millions of dollars of corn, cotton, and tobacco. Many species of these and related groups of moths are dificult to distinguish, and studies of life histories and food plants can help in separating closely related species. This research distinguishes two species that were once considered the same. Their separation is supported by morphological, food plant, seasonal occurrence, and distributional data. These two and a third species are described and illustrated and misidentifications in the literature are clarified. The results will be important to scientists, ecologists, economic entomologists, those interested in biodiversity studies, APHIS PPQ inspectors and identifiers.

Technical Abstract: The revised status of Schinia crotchii is defended, based on differences in male and female genitalic structures and distribution of larval host plant. Schinia navarra Dyar remains a synonym of S. cupes (Grote). Genitalia of both sexes of S. crotchii, S. cupes, and S. deserticola Barnes and McDunnough are described and illustrated for the first time. Distributions of larval hosts of both S. crotchii and S. deserticola are mapped and compared with adult moth distributions.