Premium
Alkanes of four related moth species, Helicoverpa and Heliothis
Author(s) -
Carlson David A.,
Milstrey Susan K.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.940160303
Subject(s) - heliothis virescens , biology , heliothis , helicoverpa , helicoverpa zea , noctuidae , helicoverpa armigera , lepidoptera genitalia , botany , zoology , larva
Abstract Comparison of the presence and quantities of cuticular hydrocarbons has been used successfully for identifying sibling species and races of several groups of insects. This approach has been extended to four species of moths previously regarded as belonging to the same genus, Heliothis. Gas chromatography was used to quantify the numerous high‐molecular weight alkanes found on the cuticle of two pairs of closely related species: Helicoverpa zea and Helicoverpa armigera , and Heliothis virescens and Heliothis subflexa. Both sexes of H. zea and H. armigera contained different quantities of several alkanes that could be used for unambiguous identification. Similar comparisons of H. subflexa and H. virescens showed four peak ratios that were different for each species. Sexual dimorphism was minor in H. subflexa and H. virescens .