Abstract

Studies on the genitalia of 13 species of Indian pyralids belonging to four families, viz., Galleriidae, Phycitidae, Crambidae and Pyralidae were made. The structure of vinculum, uncus, valvae and phallus of the male genitalia and the bursa, ductus and ovipositor of the female, were found to be useful in taxonomic segregation of these moths. This highlights the extreme practical importance of external genitalic structures in the identification of these moths and improves upon earlier characters for generic and specific determinations based mainly on the wing venation, size and shape of palpi, and frons