Outbreak of defoliator Coconympha iriarcha Meyrick on coconut Sujithra M*, Shashank P R1, Naik Santhosh1, Rajkumar M Division of Crop Protection, ICAR-Central Plantation Crop Research Institute (CPCRI), Kasaragod671124, Kerala, India 1Division of Entomology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi110012, India *Email: amitysuji@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Online Published on 11 July, 2023. Abstract A sporadic outbreak of the rare lepidopteran insect pest Coconympha iriarcha Meyrick (Gelechiidae: Lepidoptera) was recorded on the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.) (Arecales: Arecaceae). The larvae of these can be differentiated from the larvae of Opisina arenosella, the black headed caterpillar, by its size and colour. The former is with yellowish cream body with a pale brown head and is small (< 4 mm); latter is with a greenish body with red dorsal lines and a black head, and >11 mm long. In this study, reoccurrence of C. iriarcha is documented and it is redescribed with illustrations and damage symptoms. Top Key Words Coconut, Coconympha iriarcha, Opisina arenosella, Damage, Defoliator, Reoccurrence, Redescription, Illustrations, Larva, Differences. Top |