Heliothis is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1816. Some of the species have larvae which are agricultural pests on crop species such as tobacco, cotton, soybean and pigeon pea. Some species originally in this genus have been moved to other genera, see Chloridea and Helicoverpa.[1]

Heliothis
Heliothis viriplaca, Poland
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Superfamily: Noctuoidea
Family: Noctuidae
Subfamily: Heliothinae
Genus: Heliothis
Ochsenheimer, 1816
Subgenera
Synonyms
  • Heliothentes Ochsenheimer, 1816
  • Heliotis Sodoffsky, 1837
  • Aspila Guenée, 1852
  • Disocnemis Grote, 1883
  • Dysocnemis Grote, 1890
  • Neocleptria Hampson, 1903
  • Pradatta Moore, 1881
  • Curubasa Moore, 1881
  • Lecerfia Domont, 1920

Taxonomy

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Several species of moths of agricultural importance that used to be placed in this genus now are classified as members of the genus Helicoverpa, such as the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea.[2] The species subflexa, tergemina, and virescens are now members of the genus Chloridea.[1]

Description

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The proboscis is fully developed. Palpi porrect (extending forward) and second joint evenly clothed with long hair. The third joint is short and depressed and a short frontal shift. Thorax and abdomen without tufts. Fore tibia has a pair of slender terminal spines, whereas mid and hind tibia also spined. Forewings with veins 8 and 9 sometimes given off from the end of the areole.[3]

Species

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  • Subgenus Timora (also treated as a separate genus):

References

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Heliothis phloxiphaga, Darker Spotted Straw Moth
  1. ^ a b Pogue, Michael G. (2013). "Revised status of Chloridea Duncan and (Westwood), 1841, for the Heliothis virescens species group (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) based on morphology and three genes" (PDF). Systematic Entomology. 38. doi:10.1111/syen.12010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  2. ^ Kingan, Timothy G.; Thomas-Laemont, Patricia A. & Raina, Ashok K. "Male accessory gland factors elicit change from 'virgin' to 'mated' behaviour in the female corn earworm moth Helicoverpa zea". Journal of Experimental Biology 183.1 (1993): 61-76.
  3. ^ Hampson, G. F. (1894). The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma: Moths Volume II. Taylor and Francis – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
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