Taxonomic studies on the genus Glyphodes Guenee (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae) from Karnataka, India

Abstract

The specimens collected and reared to an adult stage on their respective hosts utilized to characterize the species of the genus Glyphodes based on morphological and genital characters of adults, revealed three species of the genus Glyphodes and were documented from Karnataka viz., Glyphodes caesalis Walker, Glyphodes pulverulentalis Hampson and Glyphodes vertumnalis Guenee on jack-fruit, mulberry and jasmine, respectively. These three species differ morphologically in having entire body green colour in G. vertumnalis, abdomen with oblique lateral stripes in G. pulverulentalis wherein, G. caesalis having sub-marginal black edged patch on costa with four spots. In genitalia, uncus greatly curved and beak shaped in G. vertumnalis, uncus slim and slightly curved in G. caesalis, whereas in G. pulverulentalis uncus long, narrow and slightly curved with short setae at apex.