Charan Kamal Sekhon
Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, India
Title: An inventory of family Noctuidae (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) from Himachal Pradesh
Biography
Biography: Charan Kamal Sekhon
Abstract
Lepidoptera comprising moths and butterflies is the third largest order in the class Insecta. Their numerical strength has been estimated to be about more than 35,000 described species referable to 4,200 described genera. They are usually dull colored moths with drab forewings, although some have brightly colored hind wings. They have thicker abdomen and robust body structure. The Noctuid moths can be easily distinguished on the basis of venation of the hind wing, where Sc+R1 are separated from Rs and are connected with the discal cell at base. Principally they are defined by the presence of tympanum on metathorax. The moths belonging to subfamily Noctuidae are of great economic importance as these include large number of minor and major pest species. The most important pests belonging to this family are known by their common names like armyworms, cutworms, bollworms, stemborers and rootfeeders. An inventory of family Noctuidae belonging to super family Noctuoidea has been prepared from Himachal Pradesh. As many as 2300 representatives of 105 species referable to 69 genera have been studied and 10 species have been recorded for the first time from this area.
