Spodoptera

Taxonomy

Classification

Noctuoidea: Noctuidae: Noctuinae: Spodoptera

Common name

armyworms

Synonyms

LaphygmaProdeniaCalogrammaRusidrinaDouzdrina

Before the current concept of Spodoptera was accepted, some species were placed in the genus Xylomyges.

Larval diagnosis (Summary)

Identification of "Spodoptera" is usually justified when:

1. The orgin is unknown or the larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
is too young (swollen thorax stage).

2. The larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
is atypical and from the Caribbean. Spodoptera androgea and S. pulchella are both common species and their larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
are both poorly known. We can expect individuals that do not match published descriptions.

3. The larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
is from some parts of South America. We know the larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
of S. ochrea and S. albula are almost identical. Larval variation in S. cosmiodes and S. descoinsi is poorly studied. These should be left at genus.

Some Old World species have poorly know larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
(see introduction to Spodoptera key below).

Key to recognizing Spodoptera litura littoralis intercepted at U.S. ports of entry (includes other Spodoptera)

Host/origin information

Because Spodoptera is a worldwide genus with many polyphagous species, larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
can be intercepted from nearly any origin on most any host. A complete list of the host and origin data for "Spodoptera spp." is listed on the Interception Records tab. Common host/origin combinations for the four most frequently intercepted species of Spodoptera (S. exiguaS. frugiperdaS. littoralis, and S. litura) are provided on the respective fact sheets.

Recorded distribution

Although Spodoptera is a cosmopolitan genus, S. exigua is the only species that is distributed worldwide. Other species are generally distributed across the New World or the Old World (Pogue 2002Pogue 2002:
Pogue, M. G. 2002. A world revision of the genus Spodoptera Guenee (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Memoirs of the American Entomological Society 43. 202 pages.
).

Detailed information

Larval diagnosis (Detailed)

Diagnosis of mature larval Spodoptera was given in the fact sheet for S. littoralis. This discussion focuses on early instar Spodoptera and those Spodoptera that can only be identified to genus.

Several noctuid genera such as ElaphriaGalgulaSpodoptera (Wagner et al. 2011Wagner et al. 2011:
Wagner, D. L., D. F. Schweitzer, J. B. Sullivan and R. C. Reardon. 2011. Owlet caterpillars of eastern North America. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 576 pp.
), and some European relatives (Beck 1999-2000Beck 1999-2000:
Beck, H. 1999-2000. Die Larven der Europaischen Noctuidae. Revision der Systematik der Noctuidae (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Herbipoliana 5/1(1): 1-864; 5/1(2): 1-448; 5/3(3): 1-512; 5/3(4): 1-336.
) have larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
with a "swollen thorax" (may include A1, A2 as well), especially in the early instars. In the case of Spodoptera, the most obvious examples are in the former genus Prodenia and Xylomyges, and the "Laphygma group" (S. frugiperda and S. exigua in North America) do not show this character as clearly. This is significant for identification of these species. Early instars of S. frugiperda and S. exigua can be named if they show the characteristic mesothoracic dark spot or large pinaculapinaculum:
a small, flat, or slightly elevated chitinized area bearing a seta or setae
respectively (see fact sheets on these species). Worldwide, early instar larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
Spodoptera at the swollen thorax stage should not be identified past genus because all show basically similar markings. There is one exception: early instar S. litura from orchids from Thailand can also be identified to species based on host/origin until evidence of a sibling species in this pathway is documented. In addition, young S. eridania may well have characteristic dorsaldorsal:
at the top or back or above
and laterallateral:
to the side, or at the side of
swellings, but early instar Spodoptera are too poorly known to fully evaluate this character.

Elaphria nucicolora is often intercepted on pineapple from Latin America (PestID database). It differs from Spodoptera by having a banded head and a pair of dark dorsaldorsal:
at the top or back or above
spots on A2 (see Wagner et al. 2011Wagner et al. 2011:
Wagner, D. L., D. F. Schweitzer, J. B. Sullivan and R. C. Reardon. 2011. Owlet caterpillars of eastern North America. Princeton University Press, New Jersey. 576 pp.
although the dark spot on A2 is more obvious in preserved material, Vargas Carrillo 2011Vargas Carrillo 2011:
Vargas Carrillo, E. 2011. Guide for integrated pest identification and management in pineapple. PROAGRION. San Carlos, Costa Rica. 31 pp.
). It too has a "swollen thorax" and potentially could be misidentified as Spodoptera. There is an early instar larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
from Latin America with dark spots on T2, T3, A1-3 that may also be part of this complex. Spodoptera or Elaphria is a good guess for these larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
, with Spodoptera the most likely possibility.

Identification Authority (Detailed)

Identification of "Spodoptera" is usually justified when:

1. The orgin is unknown or the larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
is too young (swollen thorax stage).

2. The larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
is atypical and from the Caribbean. Spodoptera androgea and S. pulchella are both common species and their larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
are both poorly known. We can expect individuals that do not match published descriptions.

3. The larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
is from some parts of South America. We know the larvalarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
of S. ochrea and S. albula are almost identical. Larval variation in S. cosmiodes and S. descoinsi is poorly studied. These should be left at genus.

Some Old World species have poorly know larvaelarva:
the stages between the egg and pupa of those insects having complete metamorphosis
(see introduction to Spodoptera key below).

Key to recognizing Spodoptera litura littoralis intercepted at U.S. ports of entry (includes other Spodoptera)

Interception Records

Origin records

Spodoptera have been intercepted from the following locations:

American Samoa, Australia, Barbados, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway (?), Palestinian Territory, Panama (?), Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Tahiti, Taiwan, Thailand, Tortola, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom of Great Britain and N. Ireland, Viet Nam, Zimbabwe

Host records

Spodoptera have been intercepted on the following hosts:

Abelmoschus esculentusAconitum napellusAconitum sp., Allium ampeloprasumAllium ascalonicumAllium cepaAllium schoenoprasumAllium sp., Alstroemeria sp., Amaranthus sp., Ananas sp., Anemone sp., Anethum graveolensAnethum sp., Angelica sp., Annona muricataAnthurium sp., Antirrhinum majusAntirrhinum sp., Apium graveolensApium graveolens var. dulceApium sp., Arachis sp., Artemisia dracunculusArtemisia sp., Asclepias sp., Asclepias tuberosaAsparagus officinalisAsparagus sp., Aster sp., Asteraceae, Atriplex sp., Basilicum sp., Begonia sp., Brassica chinensisBrassica oleraceaBrassica oleracea var. botrytisBrassica oleracea var. italicaBrassica rapaBrassica rapa ssp. chinensisBrassica rapa ssp. pekinensisBrassica sp., Bupleurum griffithiiBupleurum sp., Calendula sp., Callistephus chinensisCallistephus sp., Campanula sp., Capsicum annuumCapsicum sp., Ceiba sp., Celosia sp., Cercis sp., Chamaemelum nobileChenopodium albumChenopodium ambrosioidesChenopodium berlandieri ssp. nuttalliaeChenopodium sp., Chrysanthemum sp., Citrus sp., Clematis sp., Cola acuminataColocasia esculentaColocasia sp., Corchorus capsularisCorchorus olitoriusCoriandrum sativumCrotalaria longirostrataCrotolaria sp., Cucurbita sp., Cuphea sp., Delphinium elatumDelphinium sp., Dendrobium sp., Dianthus caryophyllusDianthus sp., Dizygothecea sp., Dysphania ambrosioidesEruca sp., Eruca vesicariaEryngium foetidumEryngium sp., Eucalyptus sp., Eustoma sp., Evolvulus sp., Gardenia jasminoidesGardenia sp., Gerbera sp., Gladiolus sp., Gomphrena sp., Grevillea sp., Gypsophila sp., Helianthus annuusHelianthus sp., Heliconia sp., Hydrangea sp., Hygrophila sp., Hypoestes sp., Jasminum sp., Lablab sp., Lactuca sativaLactuca sativa var. longifoliaLactuca sp., Leucospermum sp., Limonium sinuatumLimonium sp., Lippia sp., Lisianthus sp., Lychnis coronataLycopersicon sp., Lysimachia sp., Majorana hortensisMajorana sp., Maranta sp., Melicoccus bijugatusMentha arvensisMentha longifoliaMentha moroccoMentha officinalisMentha piperitaMentha sp., Mentha spicataMokara sp., Momordica balsaminaMomordica charantiaMomordica sp., Moringa sp., Muscari commosumNymphaea sp., Ocimum basilicumOcimum sp., Oncidium sp., Oncidiums sp., Opuntia sp., Orchidaceae, Origanum majoranaOriganum sp., Origanum vulgareOrnithogalum sp., Paullinia sp., Perilla sp., Persea americanaPhaseolus sp., Phaseolus vulgarisPhlox sp., Physalis philadelphicaPiper sp., Pisum sativumPisum sp., Pithecellobium dulcePolygonum sp., Porophyllum ruderalePorophyllum sp., Portulaca oleraceaProtea sp., Pterocarpus sp., Ranunculus sp., Rosa sp., Rosaceae, Rosmarinus officinalisRubus sp., Rudbeckia sp., Rumex sp., Salvia officinalisSalvia sp., Scabiosa sp., Solanaceae, Solanum melongenaSolanum sp., Solidago sp., Solidaster sp., Spinacia sp., Spirea japonicaStellaria mediaSyringa sp., Tagetes erectaTagetes sp., Talinum sp., Thymus sp., Thymus vulgarisTrachelium sp., Veronica sp., Viburnum sp., Vitis viniferaZea maysZingiber officinale

Setal Map

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Spodoptera exigua Setal Map
 

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Spodoptera frugiperda Setal Map
 

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Spodoptera littoralis Setal Map
 

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Spodoptera litura Setal Map
 

Downloadable PDF

Click here to download a PDF of this fact sheet content and images

Fig. 1:  Spodoptera littoralis
Fig. 1: Spodoptera littoralis
Fig. 2:  Spodoptera litura
Fig. 2: Spodoptera litura
Fig. 3:  Spodoptera frugiperda
Fig. 3: Spodoptera frugiperda
Fig. 4:  Spodoptera exigua
Fig. 4: Spodoptera exigua
Fig. 5: Early instar  Spodoptera
Fig. 5: Early instar Spodoptera
Fig. 6: T2 bar on SD1
Fig. 6: T2 bar on SD1
Fig. 7: T2 bar on SD1
Fig. 7: T2 bar on SD1
Fig. 8: SV group on A1
Fig. 8: SV group on A1
Fig. 9: Head
Fig. 9: Head
Fig. 10: Mandible
Fig. 10: Mandible
Fig. 11: Mandible
Fig. 11: Mandible