Spodoptera cilium Guenée

Spodoptera cilium Guenée, 1852, Hist. nat. Insectes, Spec. gen. Lep., 5: 156.

Spodoptera cilium Guenée; Brown & Dewhurst, 1975: 251.

Diagnosis

This species is more uniform in both sexes than S. pecten, with filiform antennae in the male. The hindwings are almost entirely white except for a narrow pale brown zone at the margin.

Geographical range

Old World tropics.

Habitat preference

The species is much rarer than Spodoptera pecten Guenée and Spodoptera mauritia Boisduval, but is found in similar habitats.

Biology

The larva has chisel-like mandibles as in mauritia and lacks black colouring, but the central segmental spots are usually not long and narrow (Brown & Dewhurst, 1975). In India (Sevastopulo, 1941b) the larva is variably greenish brown in general coloration.

The species is a grass feeder (Brown & Dewhurst) and has been noted from rice (Oryza) in the Oriental Region.