Looper caterpillar Biston suppressaria guenée - a new emerging threat to Acacia mangium plantations in vietnam

Abstract

The looper caterpillar, Biston suppressaria Guen. is a major defoliating
pest in many countries. It belongs to the Family Geometridae, Order
Lepidoptera. It is a destructive and major defoliating pest of Camellia
sinensis, Eucalyptus spp., Hevea brasiliensis, Aleurities montana,
Lagerstroemia indica, and several species of Fabaceae. Since 1963, in
Vietnam, this pest has caused many outbreaks to Erythrophleum fordii in
Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An
provinces. As the area of A. mangium plantations has increased across the
country, the looper carterpillar B. suppressaria has adapted to using A.
mangium leaves as a source of food. Since 2014, this looper caterpillar has
caused its first outbreak on A. mangium plantations in Tien Yen and Ba
Che districts, Quang Ninh province, causing heavy losses for the
plantations. The incidence of damage was assessed at between 13.6
(September) to 53.8% (June) and the damage index ranged from 0.11
(December) to 2.18 (June). The adult moths are grey. The males are in
general smaller than the females and are easily distinguished by the
antennae, which are bipectinated. The wing span of the male is 40 - 50mm,
whereas the female is larger at 60 - 70mm. The last instar are brownish -grey in colour and range in length from 50 - 62mm at the 5th instar. Pupae
are blackish brown, 20 - 23mm in lenght, and approximately 9mm in wide