LABORATORY CULTURE OF TEAK DEFOLIATOR (Hyblaea puera)

Abstract

The Teak defoliator, (Hyblaea puera) is the most serious pest of Teak in Sri Lanka causing severe annual defoliation. Teak plants may sustain considerable growth loss due to the loss of foliage and reduced vigour.

Rearing this insect in the laboratory is essential for conducting studies on control strategies.

The experience gained by maintaining culture in the laboratory for several generations of the insect's life has been used to produce some guidelines for successfully maintaining a laboratory culture.

The method of field collection, rearing in the laboratory, implements, tools, the problems arising when long term culturing and possible solutions are discussed.