Tamarisk flower-feeder Characoma nilotica Rogenh. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) a potential pest in Pakistan.
Habib R.
Author Affiliation: Pakistan Station, Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
Proceedings of the 1st Pakistan Congress of Zoology, 30 April -- 1 May, 1980, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad : 307-311
Abstract : Characoma nilotica (Rogenh.) is recorded for the first time from Pakistan, feeding on the inflorescences of Tamarix spp. and mango. In view of the potential economic importance of this noctuid, studies were made of its distribution in Pakistan, its phenology, biology, food-plants and natural enemies. It was collected from almost all the ecological zones of the country from flowers of 8 species of Tamarix and from mango. At Rawalpindi, there were 3 complete and 1 partial generations a year on T. aphylla, and one or more generations developed on other food-plants (possibly mango) before T. aphylla was infested. Some adults were reared from larvae infesting mango inflorescences in May. In larval feeding tests with flowers of plants from 8 families, appreciable feeding occurred on Campsis radicans and some on Quisqualis indica, but develoment to the adult stage was only completed on flowers of Lagerstroemia indica, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Rosa indica (in addition to Tamarix). Peach flowers were also accepted by the larvae. The status of Characoma nilotica as a potential pest in Pakistan is discussed.