First record and taxonomic description of the genus Thysanoplusia (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Plusiinae) from Pakistan

Abstract

Species belonging to genus, Thysanoplusia Fabricius of the subfamily Plusiinae which are polyphagous in nature and pest of vegetables, foods, legumes, fodder, fruits, ornamental plants and cotton crops. Samples were collected from different localities of district Bahawalpur. For collection, comprehensive and comparative surveys were carried out during 2017–18 on taxonomic account of species of the genus Thysanoplusia Fabricius and resulted identified one species Thysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius) first time from Pakistan. Morphological characters viz., vertex, frons, labial palpi, antennae, compound eyes, ocelli, proboscis, wing venation, male and female genital characteristics were used for the identification and classification. Dichotomous keys and photographs are also provided. There is hardly any substantial research work on taxonomic studies of subfamily Plusiinae Pakistan. So to fill this gap the present proposal was designed to study the diversity of Noctuid moths from Pakistan and very fruitful results have been obtained.