Incidence of bark feeding borer, Indarbela quadrinotata Walker (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) on Sonneratia apetala in the Mangroves of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

The bark feeding caterpillar Indarbela quadrinotata is a polyphagous insect, which attack different tree species of forestry importance, horticultural plants and occasionally the mangroves. Though this pest is considered as minor pest, it occasionally causes outbreak if the conditions are favourable. This was observed causing damage to the mangrove plant species particularly on Sonneratia apetala in the mangroves of Airoli and Vashi creek of Thane district of Maharashtra in the year 2018. This is the first incidence of its infestation on S. apetala in this region. The intensity of the pest incidence was spordic to moderate level and the percentage of attack was 20-35%. The entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana spore solution at the concentration of 2.4×108 Spores/ml can control the pest.