Heliothinae

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Heliothinae
Helicoverpa armigera

Helicoverpa armigera

Systematics
Superordinate : New winged wing (Neoptera)
Order : Butterflies (Lepidoptera)
Subordination : Glossata
Superfamily : Noctuoidea
Family : Owl butterfly (Noctuidae)
Subfamily : Heliothinae
Scientific name
Heliothinae
Boisduval , 1828

The Heliothinae are a subfamily of the owl butterflies (Noctuidae), which currently includes about 365 species (400 species). The species are predominantly nocturnal ( moths ). Some of the species are considered pests on crops. The species Heliothis virescens (Fabricius), which occurs in North and South America and lives on tobacco plants, is said to cause damage running into billions.

features

The Heliothinae mainly contain small or medium-sized butterflies with a compact body. They have little modified venules and an areole on the forewings as well as complete ventral laminae on the furca of the metathorax . As with all representatives of the noctuoid, tympanic organs are present. They are predominantly nocturnal, in the resting position the dorsal corners of the forewings meet in the middle line of the moth. The staggered arrangement of the setae L1 and L2 on the prothorax of the later caterpillar stages and the skin of the caterpillars, which are covered with conical granules with pointed apical thorns, are regarded as apomorphism . Thorny skin is also found in other subfamilies of the Noctuidae ( Herminiinae , Cuculliinae and Plusiinae ), but it developed convergent there.

Geographical distribution, habitat and way of life

The Heliothinae are a cosmopolitan subfamily of the owl butterflies. They mostly live in warm, dry regions in both hemispheres. So far, the food plants are only known from a quarter of the species. Of these, approximately 70% are mono- or oligophagous . Most of the monophageous species feed on species of the daisy family (Asteraceae) or closely related plant families, such as. B. on mint family (Lamiaceae), barrier herbaceous family (Polemoniaceae), figwort family (Scrophulariaceae) or nightshade family (Solanaceae). In addition to these, a few species have also switched to sweet grasses (Poaceae) and legumes (Fabaceae). The caterpillars mainly feed on flowers and fruits of the mainly herbaceous plants . The remaining 30 percent of the species of Heliothinae are polyphagous , including some species, such as B. Helicoverpa armigera and Heliothis virescens , which annually cause damage to crops worth billions.

Systematics

The genera of the subfamily Heliothinae with the species occurring in Europe:

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Cho et al. (2008: p. 581)
  2. ↑ Fibiger et al. (2009: p. 177ff)

literature

  • Soowon Cho, Andrew Mitchell, Charles Mitter, Jerome Regier, Marcus Matthews and Ron Robertson: Molecular phylogenetics of heliothine moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae), with comments on the evolution of host range and pest status. Systematic Entomology, 33: 581-594, 2008 doi : 10.1111 / j.1365-3113.2008.00427.x
  • Michael Fibiger, László Ronkay, Axel Steiner & Alberto Zilli: Noctuidae Europaeae Volume 11 Pantheinae, Dilobinae, Acronictinae, Eustrotiinae, Nolinae, Bagisarinae, Acontiinae, Metoponiinae, Heliothinae and Bryophilinae. 504 pp., Entomological Press, Sorø 2009 ISBN 978-87-89430-14-0
  • Niels P. Kristensen: Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies . In: Maximilian Fischer (Ed.): Handbook of Zoology . 1st edition. tape 4 - Arthropoda: Insecta , volume 35. de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 1998, ISBN 3-11-015704-7 (English).
  • Charles Mitter and Robert W. Poole: Biosystematics of the Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Annu. Rev. Enromol., 38: 207-225, 1993 PDF

Web links

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