Incidence of mango leaf cutting weevil, Deporaus marginatus Pascal on cashew plant, Anacardium occidentale L. and its induced oviposition

The study was conducted under laboratory conditions by maintaining a temperature between 30–32°c and a humidity range between 80–85%, on D. marginatus, exposed to young plants of cashew with tender leaves. the weevil was induced to oviposit on the tender leaves of cashew followed by the cutting of the leaves. the eggs laid on such unnatural host (cashew leaves) developed normally into adult weevil. this constitutes first report of D. marginatus feeding and laying eggs on cashew leaves in the laboratory and its subsequent development on tender cashew leaves. no oviposition and cutting of tender leaves was found on cashew plants in field.