Morphological study on the immature stages of the Banana fruit caterpillar, Tiracola plagiata (Walker, 1857) and its close relative, Tiracola aureata Holloway, 1989 (Noctuidae: Noctuinae: Leucaniini) with their host plant information

Abstract

• Immature stages of Tiracola plagiata and T. aureata are described and illustrated. • Morphologically they are distinguishable in the third to sixth instar larvae. • However not distinguishable in the eggs, first to second instar larvae and pupae. • The sixth instar is estimated to be the last instar larvae in both species. • Both species are polyphagous. Imature stages of the Banana fruit caterpillar, Tiracola plagiata (Walker, 1857) and its close relative, Tiracola aureata Holloway, 1989 are described and illustrated. We revealed the following four facts. 1: The sixth instar is estimated to be the last instar larvae in both species based on the width of head capsules. 2: Morphologically they are distinguishable in the third to sixth instar larvae, but not distinguishable in the eggs, first to second instar larvae and pupae by our study. 3: Both species are polyphagous. 4: Some of the formerly known host plant records of T. plagiata should be excluded because they are revealed to be the hostplants of T. aureata .