Question

Bark eating caterpillar, Indarbela quadrinotata
A. It is a defoliator of forest trees
B. Larva bores a short tunnel downwards into the wood
C. Presence of silken roofed path made up of frass and excreta is an indication of its damage
D. Removal of excreta web and inserting cotton swab soaked in insecticide solution into holes and sealing the holes with mud is practiced for its management
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. (A), (B) and (D) only.
• B. (A), (C) and (D) only.
• C. (A), (B) and (C) only.
• D. (B), (C) and (D) only.

Hint:

Distinguish a bark/stem borer's habits from those of a leaf-eating defoliator.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Indarbela quadrinotata is a bark or wood borer, not a leaf-eating defoliator, so statement (A) is incorrect right away.
Its larva bores a short tunnel downward into the wood (B), and a telltale sign of an infestation is a silken web or gallery on the bark made up of frass and chewed wood particles (C). Management involves removing this excreta web, pushing an insecticide-soaked cotton swab into the exposed holes, and sealing them with mud (D).
Since (A) is false while (B), (C) and (D) are all correct, the answer is option 4.