Spodoptera descoinsi Lalanne-Cassou & Silvain 1994

Spodoptera descoinsi Lalanne-Cassou & Silvain
Figs. 165, 510-512
Diagnosis. — The head can be yellowish brown to dark brown with a dark brown frons. The dorsolateral markings of the mesothorax are semicircular, but very faint to almost absent. These markings are also very faint and small on abdominal segments 2-6, becoming larger and more distinct on segments 7 and 8.
Description of preserved specimens. — Head: Color yellowish brown to dark brown; reticulate; frons dark brown; cutting edge of mandible serrate; P2 setae farther apart than PI setae; ratio ecdysial line: frons height, averages between 0.63-0.84. Thorax: Pronotum with dorsolateral stripe conspicuous, either solid or consisting of closely spaced spots and dashes; middorsal stripe narrower than dorsolateral stripe. Mesothorax segmental spot semicircular (very faint); with lateral dark spot absent. Metathorax with segmental spot absent; lateral dark spot absent. Abdomen: Body smooth; setal pinacula minute. Middorsal stripe inconspicuous, narrower than dorsolateral stripe. Segmental spots on abdominal segments 7 and 8 larger than on 1-6; narrow on segments 1-6, extending no more than half the distance between dorsolateral and middorsal stripe; with a dotted line along anterior margin; spot on 8th abdominal segment larger than on mesothorax. Segment 1 with lateral dark spot absent. Segments 2-6 with lateral dark spots in spiracular band absent. Spiracular band reticulate; spiracular band on segments 1-6 with white or light colored spot caudal to spiracle absent. Spiracles with black border and pale center; not stalked. Subspiracular stripe continuous through abdominal segment 1. Crochets uniordinal; total number on one side of body greater than 107.
Color description. — Known only from preserved specimens.
Plant hosts. — The only specimens available were those reared in the laboratory on a semi-artificial diet supplemented with cabbage and corn
powder (Monti et at. 1997). The hosts of S. descoinsi are probably similar to those of S. latifascia.