Teak Defoliator Moth

Teak Defoliator Moth Latest News

Recently, the Kerala Forest Research Institute has identified and mass-produced Hyblaea puera Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus (HpNPV) which offers eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides and prevents massive defoliation in teak caused by teak defoliator moth (Hyblaea puera).

About Teak Defoliator Moth

• It is a moth and cryptic species and a well-known pest which affects teak trees.
• It also attacks an alternative host plant, Avicennia marina, a prominent mangrove tree species abundant along the west coast of India, causing severe and extensive defoliation of Mangroves. 
• The teak defoliator Hyblaea puera was first recognized as a pest of teak in 1898 in the Konni Forest Division in Kerala State of India.
• Distribution: It is native to South Asia and South-east Asia and mainly occurs in forests across southern Asia from India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, through Thailand and the rest of south-east Asia to New Guinea, and north Queensland in Australia.

• The outbreaks of this pest are a regular annual phenomenon in teak plantations. 

• Impact: It causes significant economic losses on timber production from teak plantations during their seasonal outbreaks.

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How does it Affect Teak Tree?

• Larvae cause damage and attack commences with onset of monsoon rain.
• When the larvae attack, the tree spends its energy regenerating leaves instead of growing.
• Nature of damage: These moths defoliate trees and eat entire leaves and leave midrib.

What is Hyblaea Puera Nucleopolyhedrosis Virus?

• It is a potential biocontrol agent of the teak defoliator Hyblaea puera.
• It is considered to be the most promising biocontrol agent of this pest according to laboratory and field studies. 
• It causes lethal infection in the pest larvae and prevents widespread defoliation of teak trees.
• It multiplies at least a trillion times inside a single larva. When the body breaks open, it releases huge quantities of inoculum.
• Even if the infection is sub-lethal, the virus stays in the insect, gets passed on to the next generation, and proves lethal then.

Source: TH