Indian Journal of Entomology
Open Access
SCOPUSWeb of Science
  • Year: 2023
  • Volume: 85
  • Issue: 3

First Report of Infestation of the Agar Defoliator Heortia vitessoides (Moore) on the Agar Wood Tree Aquilaria malaccensis Benth. in South India

  • Author:
  • K D Prathapan1,*, T Santhoshkumar1
  • Total Page Count: 3
  • Published Online: Oct 18, 2023
  • Page Number: 654 to 656

1Entomology, Vellayani P. O., Thiruvananthapuram695522, Kerala, India

*Email: prathapankd@gmail.com (corresponding author): ORCID ID 0000-0001-8493-1555

Online Published on 18 October, 2023.

Abstract

Massive infestation of the agar defoliator Heortia vitessoides (Moore) (Lepidoptera, Pyraloidea, Crambidae) was observed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts in Kerala on agar wood tree Aquilaria malaccensis Benth. (Thymelaeaceae), during February – December, 2022. Of the 119 trees observed in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, 115 were infested and six of them died due to the pest attack.

Keywords

Aquilaria malaccensis, Heortia vitessoides, Thymelaeaceae, Crambidae, Pest, South India, Kerala, Damage, Death of tree, Defoliator, Agar wood