Biosystematics studies on lepidopteran pests of rice (Oryza Sativa L.) (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in Nagaland, India

In the rice crop, lepidopterans such as stem borers, leaf folders, caseworm, rice butterfly, skipper, etc. are some of the most devastating pests found all over the world. The present communication deals with the field survey conducted in the farmer's field, Chumukedima, Nagaland from July-November, 2022 by using portable light traps to document various lepidopteran pests occurring in rice. The study reveals that four lepidopteran insect pests such as Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée 1854), Leucania loreyi (Duponchel 1827), Melanitis leda (Linnaeus 1758), and Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker 1863) were reported as the major insect pests infesting rice crop in the area under reference. Out of these species, L. loreyi is the new record from Nagaland. Besides this, morphological and genital characters of adults and photographs and keys of these species are also described.