Delgamma

Delgamma is a monotypic moth genus of the family Noctuidae erected by Frederic Moore in 1885. Its only species, Delgamma pangonia, the strawberry cutworm, was first described by Achille Guenée in 1852.^[1]

Strawberry cutworm
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Superfamily:	Noctuoidea
Family:	Erebidae
Subfamily:	Calpinae
Genus:	Delgamma Moore, [1885]
Species:	D. pangonia
Binomial name
Delgamma pangonia (Guenée, 1852)
Synonyms
Bendis pangonia Guenée, 1852 Naxia calorifica Walker, 1858 Delgamma sanctae Prout, 1927

Distribution

It is found in tropical countries such as India, Sri Lanka,^[2] Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand,^[3] São Tomé, parts of Africa, and Australia.^[4]

Description

Palpi upturned, where the second joint reaching vertex of head and smoothly scaled, and moderate length third joint. A short frontal tuft present. Antennae fasciculate in male. Thorax and abdomen smoothly scaled. Tibia spineless and moderately hairy. Hind tarsi with first joint fringed above. Forewings with somewhat acute apex. Hindwings of male with the cell short and a large oval depression beyond it, veins 6 and 7 being bent and approaching vein 8. Veins 4 and 5 depressed and running along vein 3 to near margin.^[5]

The wingspan is about 4 cm. Adult has bright brown wings, each with a broad pale margin. Forewings have a dark triangle at the tip of each wing tinged with a purplish shine.^[6] The caterpillar is humped without tubercles and brownish with grey dots. First two pairs of prolegs reduced. Head pale pinkish to whitish with dark lines. Pupa has a white bloom. The caterpillar is a serious pest on strawberries, as well as other plants in the genus Connarus.^[7]