*Corresponding author e-mail: drcks31@gmail.com, Mobile: +91 8872203040 International Journal of Pure and Applied Zoology ISSN (Print) : 2320-9577 Volume 3, Issue 2, pp: 137-141, 2015 ISSN (Online): 2320-9585 http://www.ijpaz.com Rishan Publications Research Article TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON THE GENITALIC FEATURES OF TWO SPECIES OF GENUS CTENOPLUSIA DUFAY FROM WESTERN GHATS OF INDIA Jagbir Singh 1 and Charan Kamal Sekhon 2* 1 Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala-147001, Punjab, India 2 Department of Zoology, Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University (SGGSWU), Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab-140406, India Article History: Received 1 st March 2015; Accepted 11 th April 2015; Published 8 th May 2015 ABSTRACT Male and female genitalic attributes of the type species of genus Ctenoplusia Dufay i.e., limbirena (Gunee) have been studied and illustrated in detail for the first time. These characters can be incorporated in the diagnostic features of the genus. Keywords: Lepidoptera, Noctuidae, Ctenoplusia, Western Ghats, Moths. INTRODUCTION The noctuid subfamily Plusiinae is distributed throughout the tropical, temperate, and arctic regions of the world. Plusiinae is a smallish (for noctuid standards) subfamily of the moth family Noctuidae. The larval forms (loopers) are leaf feeders, which damage economically important crops, garden vegetables, greenhouse plants, and ornamental herbs. Dufay (1970) has erected a genus Ctenoplusia on the type species limbirena Guenée. In the present work, external male genitalic attributes have been incorporated to update the diagnosis of the species. Because the present species is the type of the genus and its diagnostic features can be incorporated in the revised characterization of genus. MATERIALS AND METHODS The adult representatives of two Noctuid moth species were collected from the florescent lights fitted at different places in Western Ghats of India. The collected moths were killed and preserved in air tight wooden boxes. For the preparation of slides of external male and female genitalia, abdomen of preserved specimens were detached and potashed in 10% solution (Robinson 1976), washed in 1% glacial acetic acid and dissected in 30% alcohol for taking out male and female genitalia. After proper dehydration in different grades of alcohol, the genitalic structures were cleared in clove oil and then mounted in Canada balsam on cavity slides. The photography of external male and female genitalic structures was done with the help of image processing unit in the department of Zoology, Punjabi University, Patiala. The terminology given by Klots (1970) has been followed in the present studies for nomenclature purpose. The adult Noctuid moths along with dissected specimens were preserved in insect cabinets. OBSERVATIONS 1. Genus Ctenoplusia Dufay Dufay, 1970, Faune Madagascar, 31: 91. Type species: Plusia limbirena Guenée. Distribution: Africa; N.E. Asia; Kenya; Uganda; Mauritius; Palaearetic region.