BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LEAF EATING (ERICEIA SP.) ASSOCIATED WITH ACACIA MANGIUM AND ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS IN VINH LINH, QUANG TRI

Abstract

Leaf eating insect of four years old Acacia mangium Wild and Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn plantation in Vinh Tu commune, Vinh Linh district, Quang Tri province was identified as Ericeia sp. (Noctuidae family, Lepidoptera order). Its life cycle has four phases: adults, eggs, larvae and pupae. Adult female is usually larger than the male, the male with length of 20mm to 23mm (body light grey in colour) and the female 22mm to 24mm (body dark grey in colour). The antenna is string-shaped.  All four eyes (including 2 compound and 2 simple eyes) are light grey in colour. Larvae have six instars: first instar is green; second instar is brownish green; third instar is light brown with the head and back of abdomen are bluish in colour, fourth larval instar is light brown and back of abdomen are bluish in colour, fifth and last larval instar are brown in color with black along the under of abdomen. Using chemical insecticides in laboratory showed that Trebon 10EC (0.1%) and Sherpa 25EC (0.25%) were the best insecticide with 100% of larval mortality after 8 hours appplying.