Question

Which of the following is a Teak defoliator?

• A. Hyblaea puera
• B. Plecoptera reflexa
• C. Hoplocerambyx spinicornis
• D. Eutecto machaeralis

Hint:

Do not confuse the two major teak pests:
- Defoliator = Hyblaea puera (eats the whole leaf).
- Skeletonizer = Eutecto machaeralis (leaves the leaf skeleton).
Both are classic questions in forestry entomology.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Forest protection involves maging insect pests that cause significant economic damage to valuable timber species like Teak (Tecto grandis).

Step 2: Detailed Explation:
Teak is highly susceptible to two major insect pests that target its foliage:
1. Hyblaea puera: This moth belongs to the family Hyblaeidae and is commonly known as the Teak defoliator.
Its larvae feed voraciously on entire leaves, leaving only the major veins intact.
Outbreaks of this pest cause widespread defoliation in teak plantations, severely reducing tree growth and increment.
2. Eutecto machaeralis: This moth is known as the Teak skeletonizer.
Its larvae feed on the leaf tissues between the veins, leaving a delicate, brown skeleton of the leaf.
For comparison:
- Plecoptera reflexa is the Shisham defoliator.
- Hoplocerambyx spinicornis is the Sal heartwood borer, which is a destructive wood-boring beetle.

Step 3: Fil Answer
The primary teak defoliator among the choices is Hyblaea puera.