Mohammad Faisal , Mukhtar Ahmad

Abstract

Spilarctia obliqua, commonly known as 'Bihar hairy caterpillar', is a polyphagous pest of great economic value. Its sporadic presence has been recorded on variety of food plants of agriculture and forestry importance. Relative feeding preference of S. obliqua has been studied by providing measured leaves of its five main host plants including Brassica compestris, Paulownia fortunei, Populus deltoides, Tectona grandis and Toona ciliata to different larval instars. A single larva of S. obliqua during its total larval period has consumed 377.32 mg foliage of P. fortunei which is the maximum among the five host plants tested. It was followed by B. compestris (150.19 mg), P. deltoides (72.60 mg), T. grandis (60.00 mg) and T. ciliata (43.81 mg). Taking consumption of average leaf area as the criteria, maximum leaf area of 991.14 mm² of P. fortunei was found consumed while that of T. ciliata was minimum (138.15mm²). Larva consumed 442.86 mm² leaf area of B. compestris and 195.90mm² and 176.71mm² of P. deltoides and T. grandis respectively.

Keywords

Polyphagous Insect, Spilarctia obliqua Walk., Host Plants, Relative Preference

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Ramakant Mishra , Mukhtar Ahmad , Mohammad Faisal

Abstract

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Mohammad Faisal , Mukhtar Ahmad

Abstract

Spilarctia obliqua is a potential polyphagous pest of agroforestry importance which is capable to cause considerable damage to many forestry and agricultural crops in the absence of primary pest. Development of S.obliqua was studied by exposing larvae to main host plants including Brassica compestris, Paulownia fortunei, Populus deltoides, Tectona grandis and Toona ciliata. Total consumption of Toona ciliata foliage by the larvae was found maximum (6961.06mg) while that of Paulownia fortunei was minimum (3456.03mg). Taking consumption of average leaf area as the criteria, maximum leaf area of 13711.29mm² of T. ciliata was found consumed while that of P. fortunei was minimum (7381.93mm²). Among the five host plants studied maximum weight (754.43mg) was gained by the larvae when fed on P. fortunei and minimum (390.93mg) on T. ciliata. Maximum larval length gain by the larvae was 45.46mm when fed on P. fortunei and minimum (29.19mm) on T. ciliata.

Keywords

Spilarctia Obliqua, Walk, Host Plants, Development

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