Status of Shoot and Fruit Borer, Conogethes punctiferalis, in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The genus Conogethes is a complex insect taxon that is widely distributed in South and East Asia, and its range extends to Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Pacific regions. Fruit and shoot borer, Conogethes punctiferalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is considered as one of the most widely spread and economically important lepidopteran pests inflicting direct injury to tender vegetative and reproductive plant parts. The Conogethes species are emerging as an important group because of speciation, ability to disperse, and wide host range comprising more than 120 species of diverse host plants. C. punctiferalis is reported as an economically important pest of several crops in Sri Lanka. But, scientific records of the pest status are limited, and there is no information on crop loss. Bioecology of the pest is highly variable and depends upon the host plant and habitat. Therefore, any formulation of general management strategy for the pest under different cultivated ecosystems is difficult.