Ectropis bhurmitra

Ectropis bhurmitra, the tea twig caterpillar, is a moth of the family Geometridae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1860.[1] A widespread Asian species, it is found around Indo-Australian tropics from India, Sri Lanka[2] and Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, New Guinea to Australian Queensland and the Solomon Islands.

Ectropis bhurmitra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Geometridae
Genus:
Ectropis
Species:
E. bhurmitra
Binomial name
Ectropis bhurmitra
(Walker, 1860)
Synonyms
  • Boarmia bhurmitra Walker, 1860
  • Boarmia diffusaria Walker, 1860
  • Scioglyptis semifascia Warren, 1897
  • Ectropis sabulosa Warren, 1897
  • Heterostegane semifasciata Warren, 1900
  • Ectropis brevifasciata Wileman, 1912
  • Ectropis bhurmitra Walker; Sato, 1992

Description

The wingspan of the adult is 3 cm. Its ground colour is fawn with a brown fasciations with complex patterns. A blurry dark blotch is found near the middle of each forewing.[3] The caterpillar has a dull, pale yellow dorsum and fuscous ventral side with pink suffusion. A rusty colour appears towards the posterior end. Setae arise from black dots. Pupation occurs within a silken cell woven between leaves.[4]

Biology

It is a polyphagous species. The caterpillar has been recorded from several plant species of many families. Host plants include Bombax ceiba, Terminalia, Artemisia vulgaris, Shorea, Aleurites, Phyllanthus, Albizia, Eucalyptus, Lantana camara, Sambucus, Uncaria gambir, Cassia, Indigofera, Leucaena, Allium, Eugenia, Syzygium, Champereia, Grevillea robusta, Anthocephalus, Coffea arabica, Elettaria cardamomum, Camellia sinensis, Gliricidia sepium, Citrus, Schleichera, Theobroma cacao, Taxodium, Gmelina, Vernicia montana and Tectona grandis.[5][6]

Caterpillars feed on the epidermis of tender leaves causing holes on leaves. Mature caterpillars tend to feed leaves with small pieces started from margins and then eat the leaf entirely. They are mostly active during early morning and night.[6]

Control

It is a minor pest of tea. However, caterpillars can be removed by hand picking or other mechanical methods. Adults are attracted to light and pheromones. If the outbreak is heavy, insecticides such as trichlorfon, chlorfluazuron or tebufenozide can be applied to eradicate immature stages of the caterpillar. Using biological control, China has successfully experimented with viruses like nuclear polyhedrosis virus against larval stages.[6]

References
  1. "Species Details: Ectropis bhurmitra Walker, 1860". Catalogue of Life. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. Koçak, Ahmet Ömer; Kemal, Muhabbet (20 February 2012). "Preliminary list of the Lepidoptera of Sri Lanka". Cesa News. Centre for Entomological Studies Ankara (79): 1–57 – via Academia.
  3. Herbison-Evans, Don & Crossley, Stella (16 September 2013). "Ectropis bhurmitra (Walker, 1860) Tea Twig Caterpillar". Australian Caterpillars and their Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  4. "Ectropis bhurmitra Walker". The Moths of Borneo. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  5. "HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants". The Natural History Museum. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  6. "Tea twig caterpillar (Ectropis bhurmitra)". Plantwise Knowledge Bank. Retrieved 7 March 2018.

Research articles
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