Rc(', ::(}()/. SlOT, India: 1l1(Part-3) : 79-101, 2012 A CHECKLIST OF NOCTUIDAE (INSECTA: LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUOIDEA) OF INDIA K. S[VASANKARAN, S. IGNAClMuTHu*, M. GABRIEL PAULRA.,. AND S. PRABAKARAN Entomology Research Institute Loyola College, Chennai-600034 *Corresponding author E-mail:
[email protected] INTRODUCIlON 10. AGARISTINAE 18. Athetis The family Noctuidae commonly known as Owlet 11. BAGISARIN~ 19. Callyna moths is one of the largest families in the order 12. CONDICINAE 20. Dyptergina Lepidoptera which comprises more than 35,000 known 13. EREBINAE 21. Elusa species placed in 29 sub-families and 4,200 genera. The 14. GONOPTERINAE 22. F eliniopsia noctuid moths can be easily recognized from other 15. OPHIDERINAE 23. Nonagria lepidopterans by 'their prominent eyes and 16. ACONTIINAE 24. Trachea comparatively robust structure. The noctuids mostly 17. PLUSIINAE 25. Xylostola have drab forewings, although some have brightly 18. PALINDIINAE 26. H elicoverpa coloured hind wings. The overwhelming majority of 19. SARROTHRIPINAE 27. Heliothis nnctuids fly at night and is almost invariably strongly 20. STICTOPTERINAE 28. Xanthia attracted to light. Noctuid are well represented in all 21. CATOCALINAE 29. Glotulla important zoogeographic regions and occur in lower 22. EU1ELLIINAE 30. Elwesia 1110ntane to upper montane, sandy ocean beaches, 23. EARIADINAE 31. Pyrrhia dunes. river basins deserts and a wide variety of 24. FOCILLINAE 32. Adisllra hahitats. Noctuids are a prominent group of terrestrial 25. STREPSIMANNlNAE 33. Chariclea insect fauna and food web, including innumerable List of genera 34. Raghuva ecological and economically important species. Several 1. Agrotis 35. Epi/eeta species have larvae that live in the soil and agricultural 2.