Damage potential of Carpenter worm, Xyleutes persona (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) in Cassia javanica

Abstract

Xyleutes persona (Le Guillou,1841) (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) otherwise known as carpenter worm was found infesting ornamental tree/ pink shower tree (Cassia javainca) in India. A short study was conducted at Regional Central Integrated Pest Management Centre campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India during 2022-23, to identify the pest damaging pink shower trees in the campus and the adult moths were collected and identified as X. persona for which C. javanica is a new host record. The damage inflicted by X. persona on C. javanica was too heavy and the extent of damage potential was determined. The damage potential ranged from 90 per cent to 100 per cent. An average of 8-9 pupal skins protruding from each tree was recorded indicating the severe infestation of cossid larvae. No other tree species pertaining to Fabaceae and other families were found infested by carpenter worm during the study period.