CRAMBIDAE  -  Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée)

Larval diagnosis (Detailed)

Capps (1948) described the larva of N. elegantalis and included a setal map. Diaz and Solis (2007), Diaz et al. (2013) and Hayden et al. (2013) added larval photographs, discussed its relationship to sibling species in the genus, and included detailed notes on identification. Other partial descriptions were given by Capps (1963), Passoa (1985), Weisman (1974, 1986), and Solis (2011).

Typically, the head and prothoracic shield are pale yellow, the body pinacula are not pigmented, and D1 on A2-8 lacks dark spots on the anterior margin of the pinacula (Weisman 1986). Capps (1963) mentioned that S1 is touching or anterior to a vertical line connecting stemmata 2 and 3, stemma 2 is closer to stemma 1 than stemma 3, and the prothoracic shield has light brown markings. He noted variation in the SV group of A1 (normally bisetose but frequently unisetose) and the crochets (often in a circle but weaker laterally on at least some of the prolegs). The first mandibular rib has an inner tooth (called a projection on the lower tooth by Capps).

Diaz and Solis (2007) separated N. elegantalis from the newly described N. silvaniae in several ways. Neoleucinoides elegantalis usually has flat pale body pinacula that is concolorous with the cuticle. These pinacula are dark, sclerotized, raised and contrasting in N. silvaniae, particularly on the mesothorax. The prothoracic shield of N. elegantalis has light brown markings but lacks a black reniform spot posterior to XD2. This is different from the dark brown prothoracic shield of N. silvaniae with a black reniform spot posterior to XD2. The SD2 seta on A3-8 is short and located on pale pinacula in N. elegantalis. Both SD2 and its pinaculum are more prominent in N. silvaniae.

Hayden et al. (2013) [see below] studied the larvae of N. elegantalis, N. torvis, and N. prophetica. Unlike most N. elegantalis, both N. torvis and N. prophetica have a spot on the anterior margin of D1 on A2-8 that is either dark or pale. The illustration of N. torvis differs from N. elegantalis in that the genal marking is large, only the dorsal surface is contrastingly pink and both the thoracic D and SD pinacula are large and pigmented. The prothoracic shield is mottled with no defined lateral spots and there is only a trace of a spot at the posterior margin. The larval photograph of N. prophetica, although dark from preservation, has the thoracic D and SD pinacula large and raised, perhaps being pigmented in living material. The large diameter of the prothoracic spiracle, compare to the spiracle on A1, seems unusual. The prothoracic shield is mottled, with no trace of spots. The SD1 pinacula of A2 and A7 are not reduced in any species of Neoleucinodes and SD1 is anterior or anterodorsad of the spiracle on A8 (Hayden et al. 2013).

As discussed in the data sheet for L. orbonalis, Weisman (1986) used the presence of a dark spot on the anterior margin of D1 on A2-8 to separate L. orbonalis from Neoleucinodes. However, some Neoleucinodes, including N. elegantalis, also have this spot (Solis 2011, Hayden et al. 2013).

Passoa (1985) cited a record for frequent captures of D. nitidalis in eggplant fruit from El Salvador. This could be a case of general confusion; both D. nitidalis and N. elegantalis have mature larvae with a similar coloration. It may also represent a case of N. elegantalis having a bisetose SV group on A1 as mentioned by Capps (1948). At least with port interceptions, most Neoleucinodes specimens are unisetose (SPIC).

Identification authority (Detailed)

Morphology, host, and orgin are important considerations when identifying N. elegantalis. The presence of a unisetose SV group on A1 seems to be very distinctive for recognizing Neoleucinodes and close relatives worldwide. It was used in several keys (Passoa 1985, Weisman 1986, Solis 2011, Hayden et al. 2013) for partially identifying Neoleucinodes. Other sibling species of Neoleucinodes with known larvae (N. torvis, N. silvaniae, and probably N. prophetica) have pigmented pinacula, at least on the mesothorax. The body pinacula of N. elegantalis are pale and D1 on A2-8 usually lacks dark or pale spots on the anterior margin of the pinacula.

Unlike other Neoleucinodes that occur throughout Latin America, N. silvaniae is currently only known from Colombia (Diaz et al. 2013). Old World interceptions cannot be Neoleucinodes.

It seems safest to restrict identifications of N. elegantalis to those larvae with stemma 1 and stemma 2 closely spaced, a prothoracic shield without spots that is at most faintly mottled, body pinacula that are pale, SD1 pinacula on A2 and A7 not reduced, an inconspicuous SD2 seta and pinaculum on A3-6, a unisetose SV group on A1, SD1 being anterior or anterodorsad of the spiracle on A8 and the host being a cultivated species of Solanum. Given the subtle larval differences among species of Neoleucinodes, and a need to study variation in the taxonomic characters, interceptions on wild Solanum species should probably stop at genus unless the specimen very clearly fits characters of N. elegantalis.

More information

Hayden, J. E., S. Lee, S. C. Passoa, J. Young, J.-F. Landry, V. Nazari, R. Mally, L. A. Somma, and K. M. Ahlmark. 2013. Digital Identification of Microlepidoptera on Solanaceae. USDA-APHIS-PPQ Identification Technology Program (ITP). Fort Collins, CO.

CRAMBIDAE  -  Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée)

Origin records

Neoleucinodes elegantalis has been intercepted from the following locations:

Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica (?), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Origins from outside of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean likely represent misidentifications and are not listed here.

Host records

Neoleucinodes elegantalis has been intercepted on the following hosts:

Abelmoschus esculentus, Araceae, Brassica sp., Cajanus cajan, Capsicum annuum, Capsicum pubescens, Capsicum sp., Coccinea grandis, Cucumis sp., Cucurbita sp., Cyphomandra sp., Diospyros sp., Fabaceae, Inga edulis, Inga sp., Lucuma sp., Lycopersicon esculentum, Lycopersicon sp., Mangifera indica, Mentha sp., Passiflora edulis, Physalis ixocarpa, Psidium guajava, Sechium edule, Solanaceae, Solanum aethiopicum, Solanum berejena, Solanum betaceum, Solanum integrifolium, Solanum melongena, Solanum muricatum, Solanum quitoense, Solanum sp., Solanum torvum, Solanum tuberosum, Spondias sp., Syzygium jambos, Vigna unguiculata, Zea mays

Plants listed here that are not cultivated species of Solanum need confirmation.

CRAMBIDAE  -  Neoleucinodes elegantalis (Guenée)

Setal map

Neoleucinodes elegantalis setal map

Click here to download a full-size printable PDF of this larval setal map