A preliminary study on moths (Lepidoptera) as pest of coffee plants from Northern Kerala

Occurrence of moths in agro-ecosystmes of Northern Kerala is little known, especially in coffee plant. The information given here is based on 27 species representing 16 genera of moths collected from the coffee plantations of northern Kerala covering five districts viz., Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannaur and Kasargod during October 2018 to October 2019 over 95 nights of survey. Five species are reported as major pests (Hyposidra talaca, Eupterotis lineosa, Eupterotis mollifera, Eupterotis fabia, Eupterotis sp. 1) and 20 as minor pests of coffee (Asota plana, Asota caricae, Asota heliconia, Olene mendosa, Euproctis lethiana, Euproctis fraterna, Euproctis sp., Somena scintillans, Aloa lectinea, Creatonotos gangis, Hulodes caranca, Biston suppressaria, Ectropis crepuscularia, Ectropis bhurmitra, Orgyia postica, Psilalcis bisinuata, Miresa bracteata, Miresa inornata, Parasa lepida, Theretra alecto).