About LepIntercept

Lepidoptera is one of the largest and most economically important orders of plant eating insects. More than 6,000 species are considered agricultural pests, with the largest number of pests in the superfamilies Noctuoidea, Pyraloidea, and Tortricoidea. Thousands of lepidopterans are intercepted at U.S. ports of entry each year, and all life stages are encountered; however, the overwhelming majority of interceptions are larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
. Identification of these specimens is essential to prevent the introduction of damaging agricultural pests into the U.S.

Although a large number of Lepidoptera are intercepted at U.S. ports of entry, relatively few species make up the majority of named records. Thirty-five taxa listed in the USDA's PestID database (see list below) comprise nearly 80% of the total number of larval interceptions in the past ten years; e.g., positive identification of only 35 taxa results in an 80% success rate for Lepidoptera larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
that are currently being identified.

LepIntercept is a comprehensive identification resource for intercepted Lepidoptera larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
. It is specifically designed to be used by identifiers working at U.S. ports of entry, although the information contained in the fact sheets and keys will be valuable to any lepidopterist working with larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
and/or exotic pests. LepIntercept includes detailed fact sheets treating the most frequently intercepted Lepidoptera larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
, an interactive identification key for these taxa, a comprehensive dichotomous key treating all intercepted Lepidoptera, smaller dichotomous keys for various genera, and more than 300 photographs of diagnostic larval characters. Each fact sheet contains information on taxonomy, host/origin, recorded distribution, and a highly detailed larval diagnosis and identification authority discussion. In addition, detailed setal mapsetal map:
a flat, diagrammatic drawing of the arrangement of the setae on one side of a larva
illustrations are provided for all taxa; these are the first complete setal maps published for many of these species.

The following species are treated in LepIntercept (ordered by number of interception records). *Non-Rep* denotes that the species is non-reportable according to USDA-APHIS guidelines and is permissible when found entering the country.

About LepIntercept

• How to Use LepIntercept
• Materials and methods
• Authors and acknowledgments
• Copyright, citation, and disclaimers
• References