Insect Pests of Fruit, Plantation, Medicinal & Aromatic Crops (2+1)

3. Hairy caterpillar - Hypsa ficus F. (Hypsidae: Lepidoptera)

Damage

• The larva defoliates the trees.
Bionomics

• The adult moth is yellow with black dots on the wings.
• The caterpillar is about 25 mm long, black in colour with yellowish brown warts bearing white hairs.
• It pupates in soil.
Management

• Collect and destroy damaged leaves along with larvae.
• Use light trap @ 1 / ha to attract and kill adults.
• Spray monocrotophos 36 WSC 2 ml /litre or malathion 50 EC 0.1%.