Litchi Fruit Borers

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is one of the important subtropical fruit crops contributing significantly to the growers' economy in Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in India. Among several factors affecting the production and productivity of litchi, insect pests are of major concern. Among them, fruit borer complex mainly comprising Conopomorpha spp. (Lepidoptera:Cossidae) has become a serious problem in the recent past causing 40-80% yield loss. The caterpillars enter the fruit from the pedicel end and feed on the pulp resulting in rotting and premature dropping of fruits. Besides fruits, they also bore tender shoots. Presently, insecticides are being used heavily for management of litchi fruit borers. Considering the safety to the consumers as well as environment, it is highly undesirable to depend solely on chemical pest management. Hence it was felt that there is an urgent need to take stock of the situation of litchi fruit borers and identify research gaps which could form the basis to develop safe and effective management strategies. With this background a national level conference on litchi borers was recently organized.