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

2. Coconut skipper

2. Coconut skipper - Gangara thyrsis Moore. (Hesperidia: Lepideptera)

Damage

• The caterpillar constructed tubes out of the leaves and feed from within on the leaf blade leaving behind only the ribs.
Bionomics

• The adult butterfly is brownish, 80 mm in wing expanse with brownish wings bearing 6 yellow spots on fore wings.
  
• It lays eggs in irregular masses.
  
• The incubation period is 7 days.
  
• The caterpillar is pale green with reddish markings but the body is concealed in a covering of white waxy filaments.
  
• The larval period is 35 days.
  
• It pupates in the leaf tube for a period of about 10 days.