Description of the immature stages of Aedia kumamotonis(Matsumura)with notes on the morphological differences from the sweet potato leaf worm, Aedia leucomelas(Linnaeus)(Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Aediinae)

Abstract

The immature stages of Aedia kumamotonis(Matsumura, 1926) are described and illustrated, and notes on the morphological differences from the sweet potato leaf worm, A. leucomelas(Linnaeus, 1758) are given. The following two points are revealed in this paper. 1: The number of larval instars of A. kumamotonis is estimated as six. 2: A. kumamotonis and A. leucomelas are not morphologically distinguishable in the first to second instar larvae but are externally distinguishable in the third to sixth instar larvae mainly by their head capsule coloration.