Species From the Heliothinae Complex (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Tucuman, Argentina, an Update of Geographical Distribution of Helicoverpa armigera

CAZADO, L; VILLAGRÁN, M. E.; GASTAMINZA, G. A.; CASMUZ, A.; VERA, A.; MURUA, M. G.; HERRERO, MARÍA INES; SOSA GOMEZ, DANIEL; CAZADO, L; CASMUZ, A.; VILLAGRÁN, M. E.; VERA, A.; GASTAMINZA, G. A.; MURUA, M. G.; HERRERO, MARÍA INES; SOSA GOMEZ, DANIEL

JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE

UNIV ARIZONA

Año: 2016 vol. 16 p. 1 - 7

1536-2442

The Heliothinae complex in Argentina encompasses Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (Dyar), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie),Helicoverpa armigera (Hu¨ bner), and Chloridea virescens (Fabricius). In Tucuman, the native species H. gelotopoeonis one of the most voracious soybean pests and also affects cotton and chickpea, even more in soybeanchickpeasuccession cropping systems. Differentiation of the Heliothinae complex in the egg, larva, and pupastages is difficult. Therefore, the observation of the adult wing pattern design and male genitalia is useful to differentiatespecies. The objective of this study was to identify the species of the Heliothinae complex, determinepopulation fluctuations of the Heliothinae complex in soybean and chickpea crops using male moths collectedin pheromone traps in Tucuman province, and update the geographical distribution of H. armigera inArgentina. The species found were H. gelotopoeon, H. armigera, H. zea, and C. virescens. Regardless of province,county, crop, and year, the predominant species was H. gelotopoeon. Considering the population dynamicsof H. gelotopoeon and H. armigera in chickpea and soybean crops, H. gelotopoeon was the most abundantspecies in both crops, in all years sampled, and the differences registered were significant. On the other hand,according to the Sistema Nacional Argentino de Vigilancia y Monitoreo de Plagas (SINAVIMO) database andour collections, H. armigera was recorded in eight provinces and 20 counties of Argentina, and its larvae werefound on soybean, chickpea, sunflower crops and spiny plumeless thistle (Carduus acanthoides). This is the firstreport of H. armigera in sunflower and spiny plumeless thistle in Argentina