Mahogany shoot borer, Hypsipyla robusta Moore (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its food plants - A review

The top shoot borer Hypsipyla robusta, commonly called as mahogany shoot borer is a major pest of S. macrophylla throughout Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. Larvae of H. robusta are polyphagous in nature and mahogany is its principal host plant. This pest generally occur in the months of September, October and November, which coexist with the rainy season and the flush of new growth on the trees. Considering the importance, nature and severity of the pest, a review has been done to study the different host plants of this pest and the possible control measures suggested. There are 29 species of food plants preferred by H. robusta including mahogany. Most of the plant species preferred by the pest belongs to the family Meliaceae. The details of the food plants and the possible control measures of this pest was discussed in this review.