Biology, seasonal activity and natural enemies of Tussock caterpillar, Dasychira mendosa Hubner infesting on oil palm nursery
BIOLOGY, SEASONAL ACTIVITY AND NATURAL ENEMIES OF TUSSOCK CATERPILLAR ON OIL PALM
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Authors
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L SARAVANAN
ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi-534 450, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
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P KALIDAS
ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi-534 450, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
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K RAMACHANDRUDU
ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi-534 450, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
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T PHANIKUMAR
ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi-534 450, West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh
Keywords:
Biology, Dasychira mendosa, Natural enemies, Oil palm nursery, Tussock caterpillarAbstract
Tussock caterpillar, Dasychira mendosa Hubner (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), a polyphagous pest was observed to cause severe defoliation to oil palm leaves in the nursery. Biology, seasonal activity and natural enemies of this pest were studied at oil palmnursery, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, Pedavegi, Andhra Pradesh, India. The incubation period, larval period and pupal period lasted for about 5.5±0.2, 43.1 ±2.8 and 6.2±0.2 days, respectively. The larvae developed through seven to ten instars. The pest completed its life cycle in about 65.1±3.6 days (egg to adult). The longevity of the male and female was 8.4 ± 0.7 and 9.6 ± 0.2 days respectively. Each female laid an average of 302.9 ±39.9 eggs, mostly on the under surface ofthe leaves. The larvae of D. mendosa were found parasitized by a unidentified tachinid fly to the tune of 10.2 per cent and pupae were parasitized by Brachymeria albotibialis to the extent of 40.0 per cent under field conditions. The pest activity was active during July to first fortnight of November in oil palm nursery.
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