BIODIVERSITY AND FAUNISTIC STUDIES OF THE SUB-FAMILY NOCTUINAE (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) FROM PAKISTAN WITH CLADISTIC ANALYSIS

Abstract

The taxonomic studies of the sub-family Noctuinae of the family Noctuidae with five genera and twenty four species is carried out with special reference to their head appendages including proboscis and palpi, ventaions of fore and hind wings and male and female genital components where available from Pakistan. A key to the tribes, genera and species is also formulated from most reliable characters for easy indentification. A new specie and twenty three already described species are described first time in detailed and compared with their closest allies from Pakistan. A cladogram is constructed showing the relationships of the included taxa based on the cladistic analysis of all the genera and species of sub-family Noctuinae. Characters are scanned and coded from entire body and male and female genitalia and the apomorphies including synapomorphies of the taxa are also briefly discussed.