Herpetogramma bipunctalis

Herpetogramma bipunctalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Crambidae
Genus:	Herpetogramma
Species:	H. bipunctalis
Binomial name
Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Fabricius, 1794)
Synonyms
List Phalaena bipunctalisFabricius, 1794 Botys detritalisGuenée, 1854 Botys lycialisWalker, 1859 Botys philealisWalker, 1859 Botys repetitalisGrote, 1882 Botys terricolalisMöschler, 1882 Herpetogramma simplexWarren, 1892

Herpetogramma bipunctalis, commonly known as the southern beet webworm moth or two-spotted herpetogramma, is a species of moth in the family Crambidae. ^[1] It is found from New England to Florida, west to Texas and north to Illinois. In the south, the range extends through Central America and the Caribbean to South America.

Description

Morphology of Southern Beet Webworm Moth

Eggs are circular to oblong in shape. They are laid in transparent clusters on the underside of leaves. Eggs appear colorless when freshly laid but turn pale brown before hatching. ^[2]

H. bipunctalis has 5 larval instars. They can reach up to 3–4 cm when matured. First instar has a pale green and slender type of body with a  dark head. Fifth instar appears to have a deeper green color on the body with a dark head. This stage is mostly seen in large groups. ^[2]

Pupal stage is found concealed within the leaf folds or on the soil debris. It is dark brown and obtect. Obtect pupa have appendages like legs and wings glued to the body wall. The pupa of H. bipunctalis has seven spiral crochets. ^[2]

Adults are moths having a wingspan of 23-24mm. Their fore-wings and hind-wings look similar to each other with a creamy brown color. Wavy and discoidal spots are present on the wings. The abdomen of Brinjal Leaf Webber has 2 dark dorsal spots. ^[3]

Life Cycle/Biology

The incubation period of egg lasted 4–5 days. The development period of I₁, I₂ and I₃ of larvae was 2–3 days. I₄ developed over a period of 2–4 days and I₅ ranged 3–7 days. ^[4] Initial instars affected leaves, later made exit holes in stem to reach soil for pupation. ^[5] Pupal stage lasted 7–12 days and adults were produced. The study showed development of H. bipunctalis from egg to adult ranges from 23–39 days. It showed evidences of holometabolous type of metamorphosis. ^[4]

References

1. "GlobIZ search". Global Information System on Pyraloidea. Retrieved 2012-03-22.
2. Subramoniam, Anjana; Chitra, N.; Prakash, Arul (2018). "Biology of Herpetogramma bipunctalis (Fabricius) with descriptions of larval chaetotaxy". Indian Journal of Entomology. 80 (4): 1420. doi: 10.5958/0974-8172.2018.00298.5 . ISSN   0367-8288.
3. Handfield, Louis; Handfield, Daniel (2021-01-29). "A revision of the Canadian species of the Genus Herpetogramma Lederer, 1863 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae: Spilomelinae: Herpetogrammatini), with descriptions of three new species" (PDF). doi:10.20363/BZB-2021.70.1.173.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
4. Pérez-Torres, B. C., Xochilt-Pérez, M., Hernández-Hernández, U., Aragón-García, A., & Molina-Martínez, A. (2018). CICLO DE VIDA DE Herpetogramma bipunctalis (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) EN CONDICIONES CONTROLADAS DE TEMPERATURA Y HUMEDAD. Dr. Néstor Bautista Martínez, 258.
5. Oliveira, Charles Martins de; Ribeiro Júnior, Walter Quadros; Camargo, Amabilio José Aires de; Frizzas, Marina Regina (2012). "First record of damage by an insect pest in a commercial amaranth crop in Brazil". Scientia Agricola. 69 (4): 271–274. doi:10.1590/S0103-90162012000400006. ISSN   0103-9016.