NEW RECORD OF WILD SILK CATERPILLAR CRICULA TRIFENESTRATA HELFER ON LARGE CARDAMON AND NOTES ON IT'S BIOLOGY
SUJATA YADAV *
REGIONAL RESEARCH STATION, SPICES BOARD GANGTOK-737 101 (SIKKIM), INDIA
ANAND KUMAR *
REGIONAL RESEARCH STATION, SPICES BOARD GANGTOK-737 101 (SIKKIM), INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Cricula trifenestrata Helfer (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) was recorded for the first time as a pest of cardamom in Sikkim. The caterpillars feed on foliage. The females laid 157-252 eggs in a mass. Incubation period was 10.40 ± 0.55 days. The larval and pupal periods were 87.16 ± 2.65 and 68.16 ± 2.13 days respectively. The longevity of the male was 4.08 ± 0.64 while that of female was 5.60 ± 0.87 days. Alternate hosts, natural enemies and control measures of the pest are discussed in the present paper.