Kingdom Animalia Family Noctuidae Scientific name Penicillaria jocosatrix Rank Species | Class Insecta Genus Penicillaria Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
Similar Butterflies and moths, Callopistria maillardi, Euteliidae, Ophiusa disjungens, Achaea serva | ||
The Mango Shoot Borer (Penicillaria jocosatrix) is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found from southeast Asia to the Pacific. Records include Borneo, Guam, Hawaii, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.
Contents
Descripition
The wingspan is about 20-30 mm. Dark purplish red-brown in color. Fore wings with traces of sub-basal line, an indistinct antemedial line angled on median nervure and a postmedial line angled beyond cell with chocolate below the angle. It joint by a chocolate patch from costa inside the indistinct sub-marginal angled white line. There is a pale streak and slight fold from center of cell to outer margin. Hind wings white, with dark cell spot. Outer are purplish-brown. Underside with prominent black cell spot.
Eggs are pale blue-green. Larva green with sub-lateral dark stria. Somites with small purple spots and a sub-dorsal series of larger spots. There are few hairs arise from spiracles. Larva completes five instars to become a pupa. Pupa dark-brown, much round with no distinguishing lumps or lobes.
Ecology
The larvae feed on Mangifera indica, Anacardium occidentale, Schinus molle, Terminalia belerica and Terminalia carolinensis. The larvae are translucent mauve, with greenish sides and tail, and are covered sparsely in red dots. It has a light brown head. It is considered an agricultural pest.
Attack and control
Fruits, inflorescences and leaves are attacked by the caterpillars. It is a minor pest attacking many cultivated crops. Caterpillars harm the plant parts by external feeding, and few borings.
Biological control is the most successful method. Parasitoids like Trichogramma platneri, Aleiodes circumscriptus, Blepharella lateralis and Euplectrus parvulus. Chemicals are also used in cultivations.