Comparison of the morphological characteristics of Spodoptera frugiperda pupae with those of five other Lepidopteron pest species
Author of the article:YANG Ya-Jun；GUO Jia-Wen；QIAN Jia-Ning；XU Hong-Xing；Lü Zhong-Xian
Author's Workplace：State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology；Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
Key Words：Spodoptera frugiferda; Spodoptera litura; Spodoptera exigua; Mythimna separata; Helicoverpa armigera; Ostrinia furnacalis; pupae; morphological characteristics
Abstract：
[Objectives] The pupae of Spodoptera frugiferda are
easily confused with those of other Lepidoperan pests, including S. litura, S. exigua, Mythimna separata, Helicoverpa
armigera, and Ostrinia furnacalis.
Documenting morphological differences between
the pupae of these species will
therefore facilitate the accurate identification of Lepidopteran pests in the
field. [Methods] The external
morphological characteristics of S.
frugiferda, S. litura, S. exigua, M. separata, H. armigera and O. furnacalis pupae were observed
under a microscope, and a key table and rapid discrimination table compiled to distinguish those
of S. frugiferda from those of the other species. [Results] The main diagnostic characteristics of S. frugiferda pupae were the midleg extending beyond the end of the
maxillae, the antenna reaching the end of the midleg, the slightly straight
front edge of the mesonotum, multiple lines of thick dots on the dorsal
anterior edge of the 4th-7th abdominal segment and a pair of terminal spines
with a wide angle of separation at the tip of the abdomen. This difference
between the terminal spines of S. frugiferda and those of S. litura, S. exigua, M. separata, H. armigera, and O. furnacalis is the main diagnostic feature distinguishing S. frugiferda from the other species. In
addition, differences in the position of the external grooves (sutures) between the tips of
appendages, the slightly straight front edge of mesonotum and the presence of abdominal spots are also
diagnostic. S. litura differs from S. frugiferda in
the shape of the
front edge of mesonotum and the terminal spines on the tip of abdomen. S. exigua differs from S. frugiferda in the position of the maxillae and midleg and the
terminal spines on the tip of abdomen. M. separata can be distinguished from S. frugiferda by the absence of abdominal spots and the
terminal spines on the tip of abdomen. H. armigera differs from S. frugiferda in the position of the end of the antennae and the
terminal spines on the tip of the abdomen. O. furnacalis differs from S. frugiferda in the structure of the abdominal legs and the
terminal spines on the tip of the abdomen. [Conclusion] The pupae of S. frugiferda, S.litura, S. exigua, M. separata, H. armigera, and O.
furnacalis can be distinguished
on the basis of morphological characteristics.